Enrichment & Living Quarters
Enrichment for shelter dogs is a key component to their overall well-being and happiness... and something we take very seriously here at Love Dogs. We make it an absolute priority to make sure our dogs are getting what they need to ensure their lives here, whether it be short or long term, are the best it can possibly be! Below is an overview of some of our enrichment programs as well as tools we've gathered over the years to make sure our dogs are as comfy and content as can be! We are always raising the bar and thinking outside of the box for the betterment of our Love Dogs dogs and growth of our staff.
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First let's talk about our dogs living quarters. A clam living environment is imperative and we do the best we can to observe our dogs stress levels in certain environments and place them accordingly. We are fortunate enough to have a few different options when it comes to where dogs have their "home base". The Barn where dogs have roomy, comfy kennels set inside a heated horse barn layout. The barn is perfect for dogs who like more movement in their environment. The main House where the dog’s either have a pen or their own rooms. It’s great for smaller or more needy dogs. The Victorian house where the dogs have their own room and corresponding yard for a more low key environment. The Vic house is the calmest are best for dogs who are extremely stressed by having too many dogs around them. And of course the Homies who live in Snowman’s Yard.
Now that are dogs are living in an environment that best suits them, our training and enrichment programs will be much more successful!
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In Kennel/Room Comfort and Games
Brownie in his room on HIS couch <3
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Obedience Training Programs
Obedience is incredibly valuable to dogs of all types. Obedience training gives dogs confidence and impulse control as well as giving them tools to make good decisions in emotionally conflicting situations. "Do I bark at the passing dog or should I sit and look at my human?" One of the best parts of obedience training here at Love Dogs is doing it with multiple different personalities of dogs that all learn differently! Some dogs are super food motivated and it's easy to teach them these behaviors.. others not to much! We don't force obedience on dogs rather we use different modes of training that will cater to them. This includes Luring, Shaping, Naming and Clicker training. Commands include but not limited to Sit, Look, Down, Stay, Wait, Go to your Mat, Heel and Come.
Obedience is incredibly valuable to dogs of all types. Obedience training gives dogs confidence and impulse control as well as giving them tools to make good decisions in emotionally conflicting situations. "Do I bark at the passing dog or should I sit and look at my human?" One of the best parts of obedience training here at Love Dogs is doing it with multiple different personalities of dogs that all learn differently! Some dogs are super food motivated and it's easy to teach them these behaviors.. others not to much! We don't force obedience on dogs rather we use different modes of training that will cater to them. This includes Luring, Shaping, Naming and Clicker training. Commands include but not limited to Sit, Look, Down, Stay, Wait, Go to your Mat, Heel and Come.
Scatter Game
The Scatter Game is when you place a small handful of food or treats on the ground to get a dogs nose working thus relaxing the rest of the dogs mind and body.
The Scatter Game is when you place a small handful of food or treats on the ground to get a dogs nose working thus relaxing the rest of the dogs mind and body.
The "Just Be" Exercise
The Just Be Exercise is an awesome way to bring down stress and fear responses in dogs. When dogs first arrive or if they have any spectrum of fear, going from point A to B can be daunting too them.. and often too much for them to handle. The Just Be exercise does just that.. you literally just sit with them using your calm energy to relax the scene. You're not looking to go from or to anywhere. You sit down and ground your self with the dog allowing them to process what is going on around them. This is a great time to use the Scatter game or simply have food with you to get the dogs nose activated which in turn relaxes their body.
The Just Be Exercise is an awesome way to bring down stress and fear responses in dogs. When dogs first arrive or if they have any spectrum of fear, going from point A to B can be daunting too them.. and often too much for them to handle. The Just Be exercise does just that.. you literally just sit with them using your calm energy to relax the scene. You're not looking to go from or to anywhere. You sit down and ground your self with the dog allowing them to process what is going on around them. This is a great time to use the Scatter game or simply have food with you to get the dogs nose activated which in turn relaxes their body.
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Group walks
Groups walks are two or more handler/dog pairings that walk parallel together with a purpose in mind. Group walks allow dogs to indirectly interact with each other while keeping their attention on their handler and enjoying the farm grounds. These walks are especially helpful with socializing dogs that otherwise don't do well in off leash play! We LOVE group walks here and do them multiple times a day with like minded dogs. |
Hikes and Perimeter walks
Hikes, walks in the woods and perimeter walks on the edge of the farm grounds are all time favorites for both handlers and dogs alike! These walks allow the dog to have a lot of freedom while they take in all the smells, leap over rocks and crawl under logs! Everyone loosens up and relaxes in nature and its the same for the dogs!
Hikes, walks in the woods and perimeter walks on the edge of the farm grounds are all time favorites for both handlers and dogs alike! These walks allow the dog to have a lot of freedom while they take in all the smells, leap over rocks and crawl under logs! Everyone loosens up and relaxes in nature and its the same for the dogs!
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Multi-dog Playgroups
We LOVE watching dogs being dogs with other dogs. There is truly nothing like seeing a dog finally let loose in the yards with their new found freedom and other doggy friends! We take great care in ensuring we are matching the right dogs upland because this we rarely have altercations between dogs. We have six yards in total for the dogs to run free in.. the Sandbox, the Woods, the two Grass yards, the Vic Yard and Snowman's yard. The two Grass yards have a fence down the middle which allows us to see how dogs may interact through a barrier. This can be crucial information and also makes it so dogs can play with one another though the safety of the fence if direct off leash play isn't going to be a successful option. |
Canine Fitness and FitPaws
FitPaws is a fitness and body conditioning company that has specific products, programs and a community geared specifically towards dogs. The FitPaws program is excellent for confidence building, flexibility, muscle strengthening, balance and body and mind awareness. FitPaws is new to Love Dogs and we are absolutely loving it! The mental focus it is giving our dogs is unlike anything we've tried before.
FitPaws is a fitness and body conditioning company that has specific products, programs and a community geared specifically towards dogs. The FitPaws program is excellent for confidence building, flexibility, muscle strengthening, balance and body and mind awareness. FitPaws is new to Love Dogs and we are absolutely loving it! The mental focus it is giving our dogs is unlike anything we've tried before.
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This program gives something back to each dog in a different way. For Brown who hits the fear and panic button often, FitPaws helps him build enough courage to balance on a wobbly surface. For Delilah who had surgery for a torn cruciate ligament two years ago, it helps build core strength and stability in her core and around her knee muscles to prevent another injury. For Demi, it keeps her incredibly sharp mind and athletic body engaged and challenged. Did I mention we LOVE FitPaws?!
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Treadmill
We have two DogPacer treadmills that have completely changed some of our dogs lives here! The treadmill is a fantastic way to give dogs a channeled outlet for their energy that is collected and predictable. It takes some time for the dogs to learn to be comfortable walking on the treadmill at different paces. Once they gain confidence on it, it's a lot of fun!
We have two DogPacer treadmills that have completely changed some of our dogs lives here! The treadmill is a fantastic way to give dogs a channeled outlet for their energy that is collected and predictable. It takes some time for the dogs to learn to be comfortable walking on the treadmill at different paces. Once they gain confidence on it, it's a lot of fun!
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A touch of Agility
Agility jumps, weave poles, tunnels and the pause table are nothing short of miracle workers for building confidence and trust between handlers and dogs. Not only do dogs learn new skills like jumping over a jump or weaving through poles, they also learn to look to their handler in a fun, energetic manner! We usually set up group agility workshops as well as putting some jumps out for the day to incorporate into a dogs daily routine as they go out for their walk! Scent Work and Find it Games
Scent work and Find it games are a great way to give a dog purpose. Being a dog can get mundane.. the same walk, the same schedule... It's so important for dogs (and humans too!) to have a job to do and even more important, for them to feel good about the job they're doing! Scent work does just that! Activating the dogs incredible sense of smell and honing it is so much fun and rewarding for all. We have weekly scent work workshops where we have successfully trained a few of our dogs to smell out and indicate specific scents. Oakley in particular is a scent work champion! |
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Walks, Walks and more Walks!
We walk our dogs a lot. Our dedicated handlers can walk between 8-11 miles a day! Walks are great for mental stimulation, physical exercise and they provide opportunities to implement leadership training techniques also known as "working walks". Sometimes we even have dogs walk with a slightly weighted backpack for more of a "work" vibe. |
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At Liberty - indoors and out!
Freedom is one of the pillars to a happy and healthy psyche.. in humans and in dogs! The freedom to explore and to make their own choices. We are sure to give the dogs ample time out of their kennels, pens or crates and off the lead. In the Living Room, each dog has their own pen but most of them spend the entire day loose playing and relaxing on the couch! Long Line and Recall Practice
We use 10ft, 30ft and 50ft long lines on hikes, hanging out in the first large grassy paddock or for more freedom on walks. A long line allows a dog to feel almost off leash. This is a great way to train them to recall (Come) on command using various games and Follow Me exercises. |