Avril Munson's Blog

After yesterday’s weather and again today, I am sure you are all as keen as me to find indoor entertainment for your puppy!! I have to confess that after Betty’s naughty day last week I had to get honest with myself:) and I know it was because I had been neglecting her training! At 6 months she has so much energy, enthusiasm and curiosity that I have to makes sure she is stretched more, even on my busy days, which is when I can be a bit sloppy!

Here are some of my ideas for channeling all that energy! :

Indoor training to include

• Sit, down and stand
• Stays, both sit and downs (I practise really long downs for 30 minutes in the evening:) )
• Sitting at heel and watching
• Sit and heel and turning in all directions while maintaining the watch
• Short recalls (10 of these on the trot) everyday
• Putting to heel from all sides and directions
• Retrieve

Games to include

• Tricks like Betty on the skateboard
• High five
• Waving
• Roll over
• Face wiping
• Lie flat
• Tricks with the hoop, going through, over etc

And for the pups amusement when I need a rest:

• A toy stuffed with treats, that take ages to lick out
• occasionally a big real beef bone (can cause constipation or tummy upsets so introduce slowly), do not leave 2 dogs alone with bones as they can cause fights!
• Chews either hide or munchy ones

Puppies of 6 to 8 months need to chew as their teeth are all through and are settling into the gums, but they do not need to chew 24 hours a day, if you allow them they will, but this can become a bad habit, so ensure they are with you part of the time without anything to chew on so that they develop healthy habits!

Here are my ideas, I look forward to hearing from you all with your tips for keeping puppies busy!! 🙂