Free Work set up (Free Work designed by Sarah Fisher) скачать в хорошем качестве

Free Work set up (Free Work designed by Sarah Fisher)

Free Work for Dogs: A Calming, Enriching Activity for Building Confidence In this video, I demonstrate a basic Free Work setup for dogs, showing how simple, everyday objects can be used to engage your dog’s senses in a calm and enriching way. Free Work is a fantastic tool for mental stimulation, helping anxious or excitable dogs calm down while building confidence in a secure environment. By allowing dogs to explore their surroundings at their own pace, Free Work provides a positive outlet for natural behaviours like sniffing, exploring, and problem-solving. It’s a wonderful form of free dog enrichment that can easily be done at home with minimal equipment! What is Free Work for Dogs? Free Work is an activity designed to let dogs engage with their environment naturally, by setting out a variety of safe, dog-friendly objects. The goal is to allow dogs to explore these items at their own pace, using their senses of smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste, without the pressure of training commands or expectations. This kind of freedom helps dogs relax, while providing a fun, mentally stimulating activity that doesn’t cause over-excitement. It’s all about calm enrichment for dogs, perfect for anxiety-prone, nervous, or high-energy dogs. How to Set Up Free Work for Dogs at Home Setting up Free Work is simple! It can be done in even small spaces. You can use everyday objects that you have around the house or get creative with some new ones. Here are a few ideas to get started: Use Small Treats and Food Toys: Snuffle mats, licki mats, or simple puzzles where the food is easily accessible. This encourages your dog to sniff and forage, providing a rewarding and calming experience. Different Surfaces: Lay out a variety of textures for your dog to walk on. Rubber mats, fake grass, carpet tiles, foam, a blanket. This engages your dog’s sense of touch and helps with proprioception (body awareness), which is great for confidence building. Reachable Heights: Set up different heights for your dog to explore, such as low stools or cushions. Make sure everything is safe and easy to access without causing stress. Incorporate Different Smells: Smells are incredibly important to dogs! Borrow toys or blankets from friends with other pets, or place dog-safe plants like lavender nearby. Engaging Your Dog’s Senses Through Free Work Free Work is all about engaging your dog’s senses in a positive, non-overstimulating way. Here’s how you can focus on each sense: Smell: Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and Free Work is a great opportunity to engage it. You can also include dog-safe essential oils or herbs. Other fun options include boxes with holes that contain herbs, sheep wool, or other interesting natural scents you can bring home from walks. Touch: Different textures for your dog to walk on will stimulate their sense of touch. Let them feel the difference between walking on grass, carpet, rubber mats. Adding objects to walk under, such as a draped blanket, can add extra sensory stimulation. Sight: Free Work allows dogs to investigate their environment visually. Provide objects of different shapes and colors to engage their curiosity. Hearing: Play calming music, or nature sounds like birdsong or trickling water. Taste: Use a variety during Free Work, offering different textures and flavours. E.g. spreadable treats, crunchy biscuits, or a mix of fruits, vegetables, and meaty treats. How Does Free Work Help My Dog? Free Work is a great form of dog enrichment that can reduce stress and frustration. For anxious dogs, Free Work provides a safe, controlled way to explore novel objects without feeling overwhelmed. This helps them build confidence over time and can make them more adaptable to new environments or situations. By engaging their senses in a calm, focused way, Free Work can be a great tool for dogs who struggle with hyperactivity or anxiety. This activity encourages them to slow down, concentrate, and self-soothe, which can lead to better emotional regulation in their day-to-day lives. Free Work is also a wonderful bonding experience. By watching how your dog interacts with it, you’ll learn more about their preferences, sensitivities, and body language. This deeper understanding will help you better support your dog’s emotional well-being. Free Work: A Flexible Activity for All Dogs Free Work is suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities. Whether you have a young puppy who is just starting to explore the world or an older dog who needs low-impact enrichment, you can adjust Free Work to suit their needs. It’s also perfect for reactive or anxious dogs who may find walks or busy environments overwhelming. About Me - Naomi Andrews, Clinical Animal Behaviourist My name is Naomi and I run We Teach Pets, specialising in anxiety-related behaviour in dogs. Based in Worcestershire, I offer in-person and remote consultations. Check out my website for free resources and self-paced courses: weteachpets.com