Top Activities For A War Dog

Introduction

Canines have fought alongside humans for centuries. But, it wasn't until the year 2000 that the U.S. gave military working dogs (MWDs) the "oppawtunity" to come home after completing their service to their country. Thanks to Robby's Law, these pups not only have the chance to return home, but they're "offured" to their handler's family for adoption.

As a result, hundreds of MWDs have returned home over the past two decades and are looking for "pawsitive" activities to fill their schedules. Right now, there are around 1,600 pups in the US military who one day will come home to loving families.

If you have an MWD, you know that they deserve to live a full life outside of the military. So it's crucial to find engaging activities to keep your military mutt's tail wagging during their retirement.

Becoming a Therapy Dog

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Moderate

Normal

1 - 2 hrs

Items needed

Leash

Activity description

Therapy dogs brighten up the lives of hospital patients and nursing home residents by offering support both emotionally and physically. Typically, a therapy dog can register with a facility, like a hospital, and schedule regular visits once certified.

Special requirements for therapy dogs include obedience training, which many MWD breeds like Labradors and German Shepherds excel at.

Therapy dogs will need to register with an organization, like usserviceanimals.org, and pass a series of tests. Before registering, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends all dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. Once you know the requirements for therapy dogs at your local hospitals, you and your MWD can lend a helping paw to those in need.

Step

1

First steps

The first step to becoming a therapy dog is brushing up on your MWD's basic training. You should take your dog to obedience classes and ensure they've mastered basic skills, like accepting strangers and coming when called. Your pup can usually earn a certificate from training facilities, though this isn't necessary to become a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are exposed to busy hospital environments and therefore must be kind to all strangers and capable of maintaining a calm and obedient demeanor.

Step

2

Becoming certified

Before setting out to register your dog, ensure they'll pass any behavior tests on the first try. The AKC's Canine Good Citizen program gives your dog an excellent chance of being excepted by a qualified therapy dog organization. Then, seek out a qualified organization, and enter your MWD for a final evaluation!

Step

3

Scheduling visits

After your pooch is designated as an official therapy dog, you can look for opportunities to volunteer at facilities near you. Rules on volunteering vary from state to state; however, most areas have animal-assisted therapy programs that your qualified canine can join. Once you've contacted the hospital or nursing home and you're given the go-ahead, you schedule regular visits and help bring some extra happiness to people in need!

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The Muffin Tin Game

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Easy

15 - 30 mins

Items needed

Dog treats

Muffin tin

Tennis balls

Activity description

MWDs are clever canines that require lots of mental stimulation to lead a fulfilling life. Luckily, there are tons of fun and easy games you can play with your military mutt to keep them on their paws. MWDs are used to activities like sniffing out explosives, so plan a game that plays to their past experiences. The muffin tin game is super simple — all you need is a bag of treats, some tennis balls, and a muffin tin.

Step

1

Understanding the game

The muffin tin game involves putting a treat into cups of a muffin tin and placing a tennis ball on top. Your pup will have to use their nose and paws to figure out the location of each treat. This game requires paw dexterity and will be mentally stimulating for your MWD.

Step

2

Encouraging your MWD to play

If your pup is new to the game, show them there's a treat under one of the tennis balls. Use high-value treats to encourage your pup to play. Ensure you praise your pup for getting it right to get them excited to play again in the future.

Step

3

Switch it up

Once your pup has figured out there's treats in each muffin cup, switch up the game. Put only one or two treats in a tin so your pup will have to sniff each treat out. Then, try using a 12-cup tin instead of 6-cup tin to make the same extra challenging.

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Daily Obedience Fun

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

15 - 30 min

Items needed

Treats

Activity description

Military working dogs spend their formative years receiving vigorous training to prepare them for complex tasks. It's important that you continue to provide your pooch with mental and physical stimulation through regular obedience training.

Your pup has likely learned all the basics, so try to push the boundaries of what your hound can learn. MWDs are among the smartest dogs around and should be able to master complex tricks with a bit of perseverance. Playing obedience games is a "grrreat" daily activity that can take as little as 15 minutes or as long as an hour.

Step

1

Reviewing the basics

Start off your obedience session by getting a feel for what your pup already knows. If you weren't their military handler, understanding what your dog knows and responds to could be tricky. Try having them sit, lay down, roll over, and stay using conventional training techniques. They're likely used to intense training drills, so keep sessions casual to add a little extra fun.

Step

2

Making obedience fun

Once you've established what your pup knows, you can now plan activities that are engaging and fun yet mentally stimulating. Try playing games such as object retrieval or hide-and-seek to make use of the "stay" and "seek" commands. You can also introduce your pup to "toy tidy-up", where they learn to pick up all their toys and return them to a designated location on command.

Step

3

Using positive reinforcement

To encourage the behavior and make the activities rewarding and fun for your pup, use positive reinforcement when training. Do this by giving your pooch either a physical or verbal reward when they're successful. You can use praise and treats to encourage any behavior you'd like to see more of.

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More Fun Ideas...

Doggie Spa Day

After spending countless days and nights in extreme temperatures and uncomfortable situations, it would be nice to pamper and comfort your MWD. That’s why treating your pooch to an at-home spa day is an excellent way to meet their needs. Grab the necessities from your local pet shop, set the mood with relaxing music, and enjoy pampering your pooch with a manicure, pedicure, and bath.

Visit the Dog Park

Give your MWD a chance to let loose and play by visiting your local dog park. All military dogs receive and are tested on their socialization training, and a trip to the dog park is a "furrific" way to put that training into practice!

Conclusion

MWDs spend most of their lives working tirelessly with humans to protect folks back home. They perform heroic hounds return home, they live their best lives. No MWD deserves to lead a boring life devoid of any real excitement after they retire.

From becoming therapy dogs to playing games to enjoying spa days, there are tons of ways your MWD can make the most of life back on US soil. These brave barking buds performed their duties for their country, so now it's our duty to give them a meaningful life back home!