Self isolating - entertainment

[LightTheFlameThrower]

Just realised that when self isolating we can’t walk the dog.

Any top tips on how to keep a 3 year old dog used to a 5k run and 45 min off lead walk happy and entertained for two weeks.

In the middle of building works (which have stopped) so garden a quagmire.

I would have to ask a neighbour or friend or use a dog walker I think as mine would go a bit bonkers stuck inside, is that an option for you?
Otherwise I would have to try and tire their minds out my teaching them to do tricks or buy a couple of brain games for them to play with,

Surely they’d be less risk of spreading Covid if you took him out yourself at an unsociable hour than getting people to come to your house, touching your dog, his collar, his lead, your doorbell..

That’s my thought. Not really happy with the risk of spreading it by getting people to come and get her. But the rules are quite clear we can’t walk her.

Trick training it is.

When you work it out please tell me. Garden is blocked off so we have a very muddy front path and a dog that needs to poo but won't.

When we haven't been able to take ours out I do trick training, scatter treats round the house and then get him to hunt them out as well as getting two balls roll them about on the floor which he goes crazy for (spaniel) as he wants both but can't get them at the same time. All of those things have him panting hard after 10 mins and help tire him out.

I'm a dog walker and will walk dogs from positive/isolating households.

The guidelines for dog walkers state we have to use our own leads, so we ask the dog to left somewhere where we can just attach the lead and go. If a household is isolating then the dog could be released in the garden for example or left in a porch area.

Of course this is difficult if you don't have a walker who's familiar with your dog as many won't just go with anyone. During the first lockdown there were also lots of volunteers who walked peoples dogs for them too - it's certainly worth asking around on Facebook.

I know lots of dog walkers who would really appreciate the extra work as many people are working from home and don't need us at the moment

Do you have a treadmill? It's actually quite easy to train most dogs to use one! And yes, I am being serious.

You will be amazed at how quickly they (unfortunately) get used to less exercise. Hence all the dogs that seem happy to be left alone all day.

Scatter feed all food, hide the food and that can take up to 30 mins for them to eat.

Low arousal trick training so not running around tricks but calm thinking tricks eg lifitng each leg on command, learning to shake and nod the head, lowering chin to the floor and putting their chin into your hand etc.

Unfortunately she isn’t used to a dog walker (or being walked by anyone she doesn’t know). I would have to hand her to whoever took her to get her go at which point we’ve got to close.

Don’t have a treadmill- that would be fab idea.

So far the boys have taught her how to spin, I threw her breakfast round what little lawn is left and we hid treats all over the house. She is currently snoozing in the sunshine.

Next we might try twirl for turning round the other way. We’ll be on BGT by the end of this.

Ooh I like the lifting each leg in turn trick - that’ll help get the mud of her as well. Definitely trying that one.

What tricks does she know? Some other ideas would be:

Roll over (both directions)
Weave through the legs.
High five (both paws)
How to put her toys away
Jump over/go under a bar.
Running through a tunnel.
Weaving through cones.
Play dead.

KikoPup has some great ideas - search her on YouTube.

If you can get her to do a:-
Nose target (to your hand to start with)
A foot target
Tug on something
You can do thousands of tricks

Tidy up toys is very easy to teach and looks impressive!

Have a box and a toy
Be close to the box and the toy
When the dog picks up the toy mark/click and put the treat in the box
Do this over and over again it does not matter at this point where the dog drops the toy.
Soon and very soon the dog will turn to the box with the toy and drop the toy in the box to get the treat -make sure the praise is impressive for this and the treats are amazing.

You can build this up to have several toys and name each toy to be tidied up.

Looks really impressive but dont tell anyone has easy it is to train

It is illegal for anyone who has tested positive, or has been contact traced not to self isolate. But for others in your "household" the guidance to self isolate for 14 days is just that "guidance".
I would ask someone in your household who has not tested positive or been contact traced to walk the dog late at night v early am. It is guidance not law and if you aren't near to, or meeting anyone then ??

We have all been contact traced so no one can’t go out.

Thanks for all the tips.

Going for weaving through legs tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for the advice.