1. Engaging Activities
Variety is Key:
Just like humans, dogs need a variety of activities to stay stimulated. By rotating through different physical and mental exercises, we ensure that all dogs have an enriching and balanced day.
Develop a schedule of rotating activities to ensure dogs don’t get bored with the same play routines. This can include alternating physical games with more relaxed activities like resting, chewing toys, or individual attention.
Physical Play:
Structured Play Sessions: Teach staff to organize and facilitate structured play sessions such as fetch, tug-of-war, or agility-style obstacle courses. Make sure they vary activities based on the dogs’ sizes, energy levels, and personalities.
Example Games:
Fetch: A classic for high-energy dogs. Staff should run group games of fetch, making sure to use multiple balls and engage with different dogs in short bursts to maintain energy balance.
Tug-of-War: Best for dogs with higher strength and interest in physical engagement. Teach staff to assess the strength of individual dogs to ensure safe play, avoiding situations where smaller or timid dogs are overwhelmed.
Obstacle Courses: Create simple obstacle courses for dogs to run through, jump over, or crawl under. Staff can rotate dogs through these courses in smaller groups, tailoring challenges to the dogs’ physical abilities.
Interactive Group Play: Staff should regularly introduce group play activities where multiple dogs can engage with one another safely under supervision. Examples include:
Chase Games: Dogs chasing each other in a controlled manner can help burn off energy. Staff should monitor to prevent overly dominant behavior or too much rough play.
Group Ball Play: Roll a large ball around for a group of dogs to chase and engage with, encouraging cooperative play among the dogs.
Mental Stimulation:
Puzzle Toys and Scent Games: Staff should incorporate mentally stimulating activities, especially during quieter times or for dogs that aren’t as physically active.
Puzzle Toys: Introduce puzzle feeders or treat-dispensing toys to challenge dogs mentally. Teach staff how to select appropriate puzzles for different skill levels and breeds.
Scent Games: Use scent work to engage a dog’s powerful sense of smell. Staff can hide treats or toys around the daycare and encourage dogs to find them. This can be done in groups or as an individual game to help build confidence in shyer dogs.
Training as a Play Activity:
Obedience Training: Incorporating short training sessions such as teaching sit, stay, and recall not only stimulates the dogs mentally but also helps staff maintain control over the play environment.
Behavioral Reinforcement Games: Staff can use games like “Red Light, Green Light” to practice commands while keeping dogs engaged. For example, when a staff member says “stop,” all dogs must sit or pause, teaching control while playing.
Rotation of Activities: