Struggling to wear out the dog!!!

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

Ddog is a 4 year old show cocker. His walk pattern is shorter walks and massive walks at the weekend (hours) plus some weekdays with the dog walker to compensate.

He had a sickness big about a month ago and though he has recovered he has changed. Energetic and annoying at home but just potters off the lead whereas we used to say 'he walks himself' as he we stand still on the beach and he does manic laps and is flat out the rest of the day. Now he isn't exhausting himself he is more restlsss at home.

Thinking about changing his food he is on grain free Harrington's now.

Any guidance about any of this? Tia

[Bunnybigears]

Have you tried scent work at home or at a class? My ddog is absolutely shattered after even though it doesnt involve a lot of exercise I think it wears his brain out.

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

Noooo what's that??

[Bunnybigears]

My friend bought me a kit so I may not be doing it exactly how they would do it in a class but its basically training them to search for things using smells i.e like a sniffer dog. We have different bottles of scented oil. You start off with just one scent. We put some oil on a cotton wool ball and hide it under a plastic cup. When he indicates which cup it is under he gets a treat. Once they master this you can hide the cotton wool ball somewhere in the room, then somewhere in the whole house etc. Then you can introduce different scents to distract them etc or train them to locate more than one scent or start doing it outside etc.

[FortunaMajor]

Google 'Brain Games for Dogs'.

There are a lot of commercial brain game toys out there, but there are also lots of things you can do at home with stuff you already have. Loads of websites and books out here with ideas.

[NotwhereIshouldbe]

Agree with the previous suggestions, sounds like you dog needs to be tired mentally rather than physically. Scent work is ideal, agility might be one to try or competitive obedience if that's your thing. There are different levels for scent work which I believe progresses to outdoors which would suit a cocker!

[NotwhereIshouldbe]

Or look at your local gun dog training group which might have some retrieving classes which he might enjoy as well.

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

I am a lone parent and work full time so classes are a bit tricky but the scent work is genius I'm going to look for something to order thank you!