Give your dog a Job!

[Meb]

I have backpacks for my two GSD's,weather permitting just going for a walk with a backpack on is a mental exercise. I have put my mail in the backpack and walked to the postoffice to deliver the mail. I have also used the backpacks so the dogs can help bring in the groceries from the car to the house but this took "forever" but was fun for them. I also do the "Find Mommy" game with Shay. I also put their treats under a plastic bowl sometimes so they have to "work" to get it. Shay always brings me my gloves or socks. I love this post and am always looking for more ideas.

[Amaruq]

Originally Posted By: adasAloha, all. any ideas on mental tasks that last a long time. Something that occupies 1/2 to one hour at a time without any human intervention.

Frank

This might be better answered in it's own post. Or you can continue to follow this one and see if someone elses idea can work for you.

[angelaw]

Originally Posted By: AmaruqAngela's dogs are from the lines that worked on Hogan's Heroes so they learned about about escaping for the greater good.

I keep waiting to find the spoon their using as shovels, lol.

[Amaruq]

Originally Posted By: doggiedadthis is an interesting post. upon further reading i noticed you answered your own questions and given us ideas for our dogs.

I simply gave some ideas of what you CAN teach them and asked others to contribute as well.

Quote:working, performing a trick or listening to a command, arethese the same thing? when we play find it, is my dog working or playing? when my GF or i hide in the woods and we send our dog to find one us is he playing or working?

"Working" and "Job" in this thread are basically interchangable. For the purpose of this thread "physical action + THINKING= work/job"

Quote:as you said not all GSD's are cut out to do sports, herd or protect. i do think most if not all GSD's can become a pet with nothing more to do than greet you at the door when you come home, be fed well, exercised and loved.

I do not fully agree with this. The GSD bred as it was intended to be bred should require more mental stimulation that eatting and crashing on the couch. They are a thinking and devoted breed that has been watered down to an extent over the years. But that is a different discussion.

[Brightelf]

GREAT thread, Ruq!!

I also disagree that pet GSDs wouldn't be interested in having tasks to do. Even the laziest, most couch-spud-y GSD has a craving, an urge, to be needed. They crave a sense of HELPING. Think perhaps not? Give your GSD a job! A task to do regularly.. and watch the change in the dog's attitude. My showline dog who has passed away, was quieter about this than my workingline dog is, but ohhhh.. how clear it is when you see them realize that they are NEEDED! The vibes emmanating from Grimm are: "Yes.. YES! I am doing this. I *am*! I am The Star. Me. It's all about ME stepping in to fill THIS role, THIS job! I'm the MAN!! YES!!" His eyes speak volumes about how proud he is... and it is the ONLY thing that makes his craziness go away. Amazing, huh?

Carrying an item while in heel really works for my dog.

You can have your dog bring his foodbowl to you after he has eaten, so you can wash it after each mealtime.

Have your dog carry a few LIGHT groceries home from the corner store in a doggy backpack.

Your dog can carry in his mouth:

Your keys from car to house.
The newspaper from the end of the driveway to you at the front door.
A grocery plastic bag filled with light items such as a loaf of bread or box of rice.

Make a JOB out of sitting by the door, waiting politely for collar and lead to go on before going out on walks.

Make a JOB out of holding a down-stay on returning from your walks, while you hang collar and lead up, hang up your jacket, etc.

GSDs-- even pet GSDs-- crave a sense of helping, and REALLY act fulfilled and happy when given a job to do!

[DianaM]

Renji brings in the newspaper as his regular task. Other than that, we just do a lot of training so I guess his other task is to be my "practice dog." I train him to do a bunch of different things and he gives me feedback when things work or don't work. He's also our alert system.

He takes his job as alarm system WAY too seriously, though.

[sleachy]

Tooz's official job title is Crumb Cleaning, Cat Wrangling, Visitor Greeting, Newspaper Fetching, Bear Patrol Officer who escorts her person on daily rounds as a petsitter/dog walker. In her spare time, she dabbles in agility, obedience, sheep herding, rally, and dock diving.

[IliamnasQuest]

The first job for all of my dogs is to be a good companion to me. They're to always focus on where I am, what I'm doing, and be responsive to my voice when I say their names.

Other than that, each dog has some different jobs. Trick, at nearly 13, doesn't have to do much now but at one time she fetched beer from the fridge, brought me pretty much anything I sent her for, guarded my van when I went into a store, did tricks and behaviors to entertain people of all ages (from pre-school demos to nursing home visits) and also competed in obedience and agility. She also has been an absolutely perfect dog to help me teach classes and do private training - she is so non-reactive that I could assess other dog's temperaments and use Trick to help calm nervous dogs. She has also had the job of helping to raise several pups.

Tazer is in the process of learning her jobs. Eventually (hopefully) she will work as a Service Dog.

Just a note about the "pet" comment in the first post. Dogs in the Non-Sporting group were not bred as pets necessarily. The Non-Sporting group includes poodles and dalmatians as well as chows and some of the other spitz type dogs. Chows were a highly versatile breed until people decided to push the heavy bone and heavy face and made so many of them into overdone "foo-foo" dogs. I consider my chows as working type dogs, however. Khana is currently working as a Service Dog and is doing a wonderful job. She's also been a therapy dog, visited at the nursing home, and is a very willing worker. So while her breed is very different from the GSD, she still needs a job to do. I think most dogs do, in all honesty. Dogs with no real job find ways to entertain themselves and that often means "bad" behaviors.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

[Tetley's Mom]

My dog's job is to:
(a) be my best companion/bud
followed by...
(b) become a therapy dog

[Amaruq]

Melanie, I forgot my disclaimer about "most" or generally speaking. I am still baffled that there are at lease three HOUNDS, one sheepdog, a spaniel and a terrier in the "Miscellaneous". Very confusing when there is a whole group dedicated specifically to those "groups" yet they are in the "Miscellaneous"......WTG AKC! <sarcasm>. Anyway, generally speaking I am speaking in broad terms in situations like this as I know there are many exceptions.