"Oh, do you let your dogs dig holes in the meadow... Mine can't, because then she'll just dig up the garden at home even more?". "Wow, you're brave, giving your puppy cardboard boxes to tear apart - what does the rest of your home look like?"...
I hear comments like this from time to time when I talk to other dog owners about what our dogs can and can't do in their everyday lives. Yes, my dogs are allowed to dig and tear things apart. And no: they don't dig more holes in the garden or tear more of my things apart at home. In fact, I would say: quite the opposite. They are also allowed to bathe, get dirty, chew on things, play and other things that I describe as "being a dog".
Most of us, myself included, have high demands on our dogs: They must not bark, not jump up, not chase, not ... - yes, the list is long of all the restrictions we place on their ability to express their natural behavior.
That's why it's important for me to also allow my dogs to be dogs. and not always forbid them. Dogs love to dig and tear things apart, for example, and if they are allowed to live out these needs, I get more satisfied and happy dogs. Which therefore also have less need to destroy things or dig in the garden when I don't want them to.
In the same way, we also get happier dogs if we can also meet some of their specific breed needs instead of suppressing them. Most dogs, if they are not allowed to live out their natural needs, will find less appropriate alternative behavior patterns. This must of course take place under controlled conditions, so that our dogs do not bother others. But if you look around a little, there are plenty of options. For example, we practice canicross ourselves, where many dogs that are eager to run and pull can find an outlet for their needs. And many of the specialist clubs offer training that is open to everyone, where your dog can try different activities - even if you are not going hunting, herding sheep, or doing dog sports at a competitive level.
My goldens have always been given "free rein" to various objects at home, because a retriever is happiest when it is allowed to retrieve things. So that both of them, especially as puppies, retrieved both shoes and socks, was simply received with enthusiasm and not scolded. I can always correct the behavior later, if necessary. Of course, it can take a little time to teach the puppy what it is allowed to do and when, but our dogs are easy to learn and intelligent creatures, so it usually doesn't take long. That's why it wasn't that difficult to teach my dogs that digging takes place in the meadow and not in the garden.
With the many demands we place on our dogs' behavior, I believe it is our responsibility as good dog owners to also remember their origins and give them the best opportunities to develop and thus live happy dog lives.
What does it look like at your home? Is your dog allowed to "be a dog"?....
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper at the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower
Is your dog allowed to "be a dog"?
"Oh, do you let your dogs dig holes in the meadow... Mine can't, because then she'll just dig up the garden at home even more?". "Wow, you're brave, giving your puppy cardboard boxes to tear apart - what does the rest of your home look like?"...
I hear comments like this from time to time when I talk to other dog owners about what our dogs can and can't do in their everyday lives. Yes, my dogs are allowed to dig and tear things apart. And no: they don't dig more holes in the garden or tear more of my things apart at home. In fact, I would say: quite the opposite. They are also allowed to bathe, get dirty, chew on things, play and other things that I describe as "being a dog".
Most of us, myself included, have high demands on our dogs: They must not bark, not jump up, not chase, not ... - yes, the list is long of all the restrictions we place on their ability to express their natural behavior.
That's why it's important for me to also allow my dogs to be dogs. and not always forbid them. Dogs love to dig and tear things apart, for example, and if they are allowed to live out these needs, I get more satisfied and happy dogs. Which therefore also have less need to destroy things or dig in the garden when I don't want them to.
In the same way, we also get happier dogs if we can also meet some of their specific breed needs instead of suppressing them. Most dogs, if they are not allowed to live out their natural needs, will find less appropriate alternative behavior patterns. This must of course take place under controlled conditions, so that our dogs do not bother others. But if you look around a little, there are plenty of options. For example, we practice canicross ourselves, where many dogs that are eager to run and pull can find an outlet for their needs. And many of the specialist clubs offer training that is open to everyone, where your dog can try different activities - even if you are not going hunting, herding sheep, or doing dog sports at a competitive level.
My goldens have always been given "free rein" to various objects at home, because a retriever is happiest when it is allowed to retrieve things. So that both of them, especially as puppies, retrieved both shoes and socks, was simply received with enthusiasm and not scolded. I can always correct the behavior later, if necessary. Of course, it can take a little time to teach the puppy what it is allowed to do and when, but our dogs are easy to learn and intelligent creatures, so it usually doesn't take long. That's why it wasn't that difficult to teach my dogs that digging takes place in the meadow and not in the garden.
With the many demands we place on our dogs' behavior, I believe it is our responsibility as good dog owners to also remember their origins and give them the best opportunities to develop and thus live happy dog lives.
What does it look like at your home? Is your dog allowed to "be a dog"?....
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper at the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower