B+G dog training

Category: Blog

  • Dog enrichment ideas

    Food and treats

    1. snuffle mats- hide kibble or treats for your dog to sniff out. My favorite is to use a towel and roll it up (to make it more difficult tie that towel in a knot)
    2. Kong or Toppl- stuff with yogurt, peanut butter, or a mix of kibble and pumpkin (freeze for a longer lasting treat)
    3. Puzzle feeders- use muffin tins, cups, or boxes to hide food (put things over the treats like balls, toys, paper towel rolls, to add difficulty)
    4. Scatter feeding- toss kibble around the yard or floor to encourage foraging and slow eating
    5. Frozen lick blocks- mix broth, fruit, and treats into a bowl, freeze, and let your dog lick their way to the treats

    Scent games

    1. Hide and seek (treats or toys)- hide small snacks around the house or yard and encourage your dog to “find it”
    2. Find the human- have your dog stay while you hide somewhere nearby, then call them to search for you
    3. Scent trails- drag a treat or toy along the ground to create a scent path, and let the dog track it
    4. Scent work kits- introduce simple scent detection training using essential oil kits made for dogs (like birch or clove)

    Interactive play

    1. Hide and seek with toys- hide your dogs favorite toy and encourage your dog to find it
    2. Name that toy- teach your dog to identify and names of different toys
    3. Indoor obstacle course- use chairs, blankets, boxes (anything to make your dog crawl, weave and balance!)

    Training as enrichment

    1. Trick training- teaching fun tricks like bow, spin, paw keeps your dog mentally sharp and boosts confidence!
    2. Body awareness games – try target training, pivoting, stepping on different textures and walking over obstacles
    3. Problem-solving tasks- present easy puzzles (picking objects or moving objects to get treats underneath)
    4. Calm focus work- practice “place” “down” “settle” in new environments to build impulse control and to work on relaxing

    Mental enrichment isn’t about keeping your dog busy, it’s about giving them a purpose.

    At B+G dog training, I help owners and dogs build stronger communication through balanced, positive, and practical training methods. Whether your goal is to build more confidence, obedience training, or simply to have a better bond with your pup, we will work together to bring out the best in your dog. One step – and sniff- at a time!

    Ready to get started? Reach out today to schedule a consultation and learn how personalized training and enrichment can transform your dogs day to day life- for the better!

    comment below if you tried any of these enrichment ideas!

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  • Training is how well we speak “Dog”

    Dog training is not about domination or control- it IS about communication. Every sit ,stay, come is a little piece of the language we build and speak with our dogs.

    When we slow down, stay patient, and make learning fun, our dogs start to understand what we are asking. More importantly, they want to listen because they trust us.

    Here is some good reminders:

    • a trained dog isn’t always a perfect one- it is a confident one
    • clear communication makes life easier for both of you.
    • boundaries and love go hand in hand

    whether you are working on leash manners, recall, or simply learning to slow down together, your dog isn’t giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time.

    celebrate small wins, be consistent, and dog forget to have fun along the way. You are building a special bond based on trust, not fear.

    What is one thing your dog learned or does that makes you proud? Share below- I would love to cheer you both on and celebrate with you!!

    Leave a comment

  • Zitis’ training

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  • What is my goal

    My hope and goal long-term is to be able to train and help people train service dogs, and donate them to those in need. As of right now it’s to be the best trainer I can be and raise awareness about service dogs.

    My favorite task to train

    My favorite thing in general to train is scent work as well as item retrievals.