"We Live in a nation of unemployed dogs"---Victoria Stilwell

---

Can you imagine if you just laid around the house all day, got to go out in the same backyard (no new smells...) a couple of times to "run around,"  or walked around the same block, then came back in and did it all over again the next day? Humans make an average of 35,000 decisions a day. How many do we get to make?

I'm happiest when I get to blow off some steam (you may have seen me do "zoomies...") and when I have a job to do, even if it's a made up one...

Have you heard of Chaser, the border collie who knew/could fetch over 1,000 of his toys by name and also by just being shown a picture of the toy? Who knows? Maybe I can beat that record!

There are so many ways to keep my mind and body busy. Here are some ideas. I'll bet you can think up some new ones yourself!

• Snuffle mats! (our number one favorite!).
• Sign up for agility or nosework (sniffing) classes
• Play fetch
• Play hide and seek
• Food puzzles
• Chasing a flat, stuffed "roadkill" toy on a rope
• Freework (like Montessori for dogs)
• A Kong stuffed with yummy food (and frozen...)
• Play "soccer"
• Fill an empty kiddie pool with plastic balls and hide toys and treats in it for me to find (or just let me play with the balls...)
• Hide treats around the house (under boxes, behind things, etc.) and ask me to "go find" them
• Lick mats with peanut butter or cream cheese
• DogTV
• Sports: FlyBall, FreeStyle (doggie dancing), Rally