The Power of Mental Enrichment in Recall Training

While many people believe that giving dogs something to chew on or lick, like a Kong or a Lickimat, provides sufficient mental stimulation, it may not be as effective as it seems. In this blog, we'll debunk this common misconception and explore how mental stimulation can truly enhance your dog's recall abilities.

The Limitations of Traditional Dog Toys:

While toys like Kongs, puzzle games and Lickimats have their benefits, they primarily serve to calm and entertain dogs rather than providing substantial mental stimulation. While these toys can keep dogs occupied and in a positive state, they don't necessarily tire them out mentally because they're not hard to do at all. Overall, if you've been using these to enrichment your dog, this is why the behaviour hasn't transformed.

BUT, how exactly does mental stimulation contribute to improved recall?

The Importance of Mental Stimulation:

Mental stimulation is a fundamental aspect of a dog's life. By providing true mental enrichment and breed specific outlets, we can address underlying issues such as frustration, desperation and stress, which are often the root causes of unreliable recall. Why? If a dog is living a life every day that isn't quite giving them what they need they will not be sleeping enough and they will also be desperately seeking every opportunity they get at 110%. Dogs are not just born energetic, if the dog is hyperactive all day, this is a key sign that they're not getting what they need. When dogs are truly stimulated & content, they become less desperate for social interactions, less obsessed with smells, and less hyperactive during walks. This means they won't need constant recalling, distracting and won't easily get bored of food, allowing them to listen and focus more effectively.

It's when the dog is getting what they need, instead of just being put through training, that training results work. Our dogs are results of the life they live everyday

To comprehensively address all factors influencing recall, including the mental well-being of your dog, we invite you to join watch The 2h45m Everything Recall webinar. This webinar covers a wide range of topics related to recall training and provides the necessary guidance to help your dog succeed. We understand that it's not solely about training; it's about creating a life that benefits your dog! MK9Plus.com