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Ways to keep your Border Collie happy while you're away
 

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What can you do to entertain your Border Collie while you're away for hours at work?? Locking him in a crate may save your furniture, but it does nothing for the neural pathways in his brain! Hiring a sitter to come in for an hour at lunch time is a good solution, but also costly. Well? You ask what other options do I have for keeping Einstein happy?? Read on and find out!

I really like the little book Caninestein, Unleashing the Genius in Your Dog, it is chocked full of wonderful ideas on how to maintain a healthy and intellectually stimulating relationship with your dog. I've learned a lot myself just from skimming through the book for ideas to put on Newt's Page. One of his pages, Smart Dog, is a result of my browsing through the book.

The authors (Fischer & Delzio), of the above mentioned book, state that adults dogs need toys as much as pups to exercise their brain power. Bored dogs get into trouble chewing up couches, pulling sheets off beds and ripping linoleum from the kitchen floor. Dogs with plenty of toys, safe chewies and reminders of mom or dad tend to be better behaved, happy and well adjusted companions.

Did you know that the wolf, our domestic dog's closest wild cousin, has a brain 16% larger than Rover?? The wolf has plenty of daily activities to stimulate the building of new neural pathways. Hunting down wild game keeps his mind and body in constant tune. Obviously, you cannot let your dog loose to chase deer through the woods while you're pushing papers at the office nor would he probably do it. However, there are ways to compensate past buying your own game reserve or a farm complete with sheep!

Here is a nice list of activities to have planned ahead of time for keeping your Border Collie out of the "dog house" when you're not home.

1. Dogs who spend the better part of their days home along can benefit from the "goodie bag". Carol Schatz, a San Diego Trainer, recommends that little trick as a means to keep your dog happy when you leave for the day.

 
2. The goodie bag consists of a brown paper bag filled with small "safe" toys, chews (that cannot cause choking), treats, and then sealed tightly.

 
3. Before you walk out the door take your dog to his favorite spot in the house and give him the goodie bag, then turn and leave. Do not make a big fuss over going out the door. You want your dog to keep his attention focused on the goodie bag not you.

 
4. The goodie bag operates sort of like a play schedule for your dog since it contains a variety of treats. You might find it useful to take you idea to the local PetsMart or PetCo and ask them what "goodies" would be best. This way you won't feel apprehensive about anything causing your dog problems.

 
5. The best part of the goodie bag is helping your dog see that when you leave he doesn't need to feel anxious because you've provided him with plenty of fun and tasting treats to occupy his time.

Below is one more list of motivating enticements you can do to keep your dog happy (if he is an indoor dog) while you're gone. 

1. If your dog is completely housebroken or has his own door to keep down accidents then allow him more space to explore inside. Open as many doors in your house as you feel comfortable with for your dog to check out.

 
2. Does one of your room have a window that the dog likes to look out when you are home? If he cannot be trusted to stay loose in the house all day, then try placing him only in this area so that he can at least see outside and watch the happenings of the day.

 
3. If your dog is on the small side and can only get his front paws to the window, then build him a box upon which to sit or lie down to look out the window. Cover the box in some of the same carpet you have already in the room as this will keep it from looking so conspicuous.

 
4. Giving your dog a window to his neighborhood does not mean he will bark more. Most often, dog's bark at strange noises then cannot see.

 
5. Another wonderful idea for helping your dog ward off boredom is to hide goodies throughout the house whether sterilized marrow bones, a Kong with peanut butter stuffed inside or a squeaky toy under the sofa perhaps. If your dog is prone to wonder around the house looking for something to get into these options will hopefully stop him from going for your shoes or the rugs! 

 
6. Following the above activity be sure to let your dog see you hide a couple of the articles, but not all of them. You can always put him outside while you finish or have a family member occupy him in another room. Once he get's use to the game start varying the schedule of days when you play it and the location of which room you hide things for him.

 
7. Last but not least, leave a radio on for your dog. The sound of human voices will help to comfort your dog. Make sure he cannot get to the radio or it's electric cord!! Another suggestion would be to use an appliance timer to vary the time when the radio comes on and/or the TV. The timers can be purchased at most any home improvement store. Copyright (c) 1997 Fischer & Delzio.

I hope these suggestions will help make life easier for both you and your dog. It will certainly give you more peace of mind knowing your Border Collie has plenty of activities at home to keep him occupied.

Take us outside for a game of Frisbee
Check out Newt's Fabulous Fotos page for more pix like the one above.