Going Mental

During the alarming outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001, many owners found it difficult to give their dogs their usual amount of exercise. But, interaction with your dog is always important, whether or not you are restricted in where you can walk him.

Depending on his individual needs, you need to make sure you are keeping your dog both physically fit and mentally alert. Jack Russells are highly intelligent and will need plenty of additional stimuli at home regardless of whether or not you are with them all day.

Game On - physical stimulation

Interactive games involving both you and your dog working together are an excellent and enjoyable way of training your dog in simple tasks. They can also provide him with some of the mental stimulation he may be lacking. Here are some guidelines for a simple retrieval exercise which you can try at home in the garden:

Step 1: "FETCH!"

• Tell your dog to sit, and start by throwing something - perhaps a favourite toy or a ball- about six paces away from you.
• As you throw it, tell your dog to "fetch".
• As he runs after it, follow him for a few paces.

Step 2: GIVE AND TAKE

• As the dog picks up the toy, run away from him, so he chases you.
• When he catches up with you, turn to him and put one hand out, telling him to "give" you the toy.
• As he does so, reward him with a treat from the other hand.

Step 3: UPPING THE ANTE

• Practice this often over a few weeks, gradually increasing the distance you throw the toy.
• If your dog starts getting bored with the game stop straightaway, as you need to keep him motivated.
• Once you've mastered this you can start to introduce new items; e.g. a shoe, a towel or a lead
• Repeat the game, but say, "Fetch the shoe/towel/lead!" as you throw it
• Over time, your dog should be able to retrieve these by name, and you will both have fun in the process!

You could also try other games - such as tug of war or hide and seek - in the garden.

Give a Dog a Bone - using food for training and stimulation

Food is an important part of your dog's daily routine and if used inventively can keep him amused for ages.

• Rather than just feeding your dog from his bowl you could hide his food in small portions around the house, allowing him to hunt for it by sniffing it out.
• Kongs are great for encouraging your dog to hunt for his food and treats.
• Place some food or treats inside the kong and then leave it for your dog to work out.
• For added mental stimulation you could hide the toy somewhere in the house for your dog to find.
• Activity balls work on much the same basis, but with small, dry treats or food. Place a handful of treats inside so that they fall out as it rolls along the floor.

Whether you are temporarily restricted in the areas where you can walk your dog or not, it's a good idea to continue these games and activities as a way of spending time with him and showing him that you are happy to give him lots of attention.