How to Enterain an Injured Dog

Looking for ways to keep a dog entertained without straining themselves physically? This is the guide for you.

Entertaining an animal whose primary hobby is walking when they have to restrict how much they walk isn’t easy. Sometimes they’ll feel too ill to try to exert themself, other times they may act like an excited puppy. The pups that know they’re ill need cheering up and the ones that act like there’s nothing wrong need a safe activity to burn their energy.

Whatever category your pup fits into and whatever their injury, there are options to keep them as happy as possible until they’ve recovered and are healthy again.

1. Puzzles

Puzzles can keep your dog’s mind busy and give them a rewarding task. The key is to pick ones that require your doggo to use their nose to move parts of the puzzle and not something where they have to throw or move the puzzle itself.

They will sniff out the treats within the puzzle and can use a lot of energy without a lot of movement working out how to get them all.

If your dog struggles to work it out or tries to throw it around, show them how to do it and give them the treat you release.

2. Training

You might be limited with what training you can do but there are non-physical commands that you can practice with your dog. This will give them something to do and help you bond.

Commands you can practice with an injured dog:

Respond to name.
Leave it.
Drop it.
Speak.
Quiet.

3. Chews

Providing your dog’s recovery doesn’t come with dietary restrictions that say otherwise, natural chews can keep them entertained. Chewing requires a lot of energy and lets them indulge a wild instinct when they can’t go outside to sniff around and play with other dogs.

Dried Liver Strip

£1.50

Fish Skin Cube

£0.50

Long Trachea

£3.50

Beef Spaghetti

£0.75

Goat Skin

£0.50

Rabbit Ear with Fur

£0.60

4. Sniffing

Did you know that sniffing uses more than three times more energy than walking? So it your dog’s not up to walk, there are still activities they can do.

If your dog is completely immobile, then your options are limited. To give your pup a chance to sniff, you must bring the smells to them! Grab something natural from outside like some fallen pinecones or grass clippings and bring them to your dog. Present them to your dog on something else that they can smell like socks, and they can have a sniff dish to take their mind off things.

If your dog can still move a bit, then snuffle mats or dice are a good options. As long as your dog can stand and move their head and neck, you can use snuffle mats. Snuffle dice need a bit more mobility to turn them around and release the treats.

Dried Liver Strip

£1.50

Fish Skin Cube

£0.50

Long Trachea

£3.50

Beef Spaghetti

£0.75

Goat Skin

£0.50

Rabbit Ear with Fur

£0.60

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How to Enterain an Injured Dog

1. Puzzles

2. Training

3. Chews

Dried Liver Strip

Fish Skin Cube

Long Trachea

Beef Spaghetti

Goat Skin

Rabbit Ear with Fur

4. Sniffing

Dried Liver Strip

Fish Skin Cube

Long Trachea

Beef Spaghetti

Goat Skin

Rabbit Ear with Fur

From Farm to Fido: Easy Ways to Minimise your Dog’s Carbon Paw Print

How to Enterain an Injured Dog

What to Teach your Dog First

Antlers, Horns, and Hooves for Dog’s

What Bones Can You Feed Your Dog?

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