Should you teach your dog parkour tricks?

Parkour for Dogs: Boost Canine Confidence and Fitness!
Welcome to our exciting exploration of parkour for dogs! This engaging activity is perfect for enhancing your dog's physical and mental fitness, offering a fun way to build confidence while strengthening the bond between you and your furry friend. Whether you're looking to improve your dog's focus or help them navigate distractions, parkour can be a game changer!
What is Parkour for Dogs?
Parkour for dogs involves teaching your dog to navigate their environment by jumping over, ducking under, and balancing on various obstacles. This form of canine exercise not only keeps your dog physically fit but also mentally stimulated, making it an ideal outlet for high-energy dogs or those who may struggle with anxiety.
Benefits of Dog Parkour
Physical Fitness: Parkour provides an excellent workout, promoting muscle strength, coordination, and overall health. Your dog will love the physical challenge of jumping, climbing, and balancing!
Mental Stimulation: Engaging in parkour activities encourages dogs to think critically about how to navigate different obstacles, providing necessary mental exercise that can help alleviate boredom and encourage calm problem solving.
Confidence Building: As your dog learns to conquer various challenges, they gain confidence in their abilities. This newfound self-assurance can translate to better, calmer behaviour in everyday situations.
Focus and Attention: Parkour helps dogs learn to focus on their owners amidst distractions, which is invaluable for training in more chaotic environments like parks or busy streets.
Fun and Enrichment: Dog parkour is a fantastic way to enrich your dog's life, making walks and outdoor adventures more exciting and fulfilling. Reactive dogs can benefit by focusing on other aspects of their environment in a familiar and fun way. There are endless opportunities for creativity!
Getting Started with Dog Parkour
Starting with parkour is simple and requires minimal equipment. You can use everyday items such as benches, logs, and even curbs! Here are some beginner exercises to try:
Two Paws Up: Teach your dog to place their front paws on an object. This foundational exercise is great for grounding anxious dogs and can help build confidence. Show the dog a low platform or wall by tapping it and then offer them a treat to lure them forwards to put their feet on it.
Jumping Over Objects: Set up low barriers for your dog to jump over, gradually increasing the height as they gain confidence and skill.
Walking Along Edges: Encourage your dog to walk along the edges of pavements or low walls, enhancing their balance and focus.
Ducking Under: Create a tunnel type set up using a broomstick or other low object for your dog to duck under, promoting flexibility and awareness of their body. Make sure the thing is secure enough not to fall down and scare them!
Linking Exercises: As your dog becomes comfortable with individual elements and skills, start linking them together. For instance, you can combine jumping, balancing, and tricks to create a fun routine!
Engaging in Parkour Safely
Safety is key when practicing parkour. Always start with appropriate obstacles and assess your dog's comfort level. Gradually increase the difficulty, and don’t hesitate to take a step back if your dog shows signs of anxiety.
Conclusion
Parkour for dogs is not just about physical exercise; it's about creating a positive and enriching experience that helps your dog confidently engage with their surroundings. This enjoyable activity can benefit virtually any dog-owner team, enhancing your relationship while improving your dog’s skills. Give your dog something positive and fun to focus on when they might otherwise start to overthink and worry, or become over-excited.
For more information on dog behaviour and training, check out my website and other videos on the channel. My name is Naomi Andrews, and I run We Teach Pets, specialising in anxiety-related behavior in dogs. I see cases in Worcestershire and surrounding areas, offering remote consultations to dog owners everywhere.
Explore my freebies and self-paced courses to help your dog thrive: weteachpets.com
Embark on this parkour journey and watch your dog grow in confidence and skill!
Music by Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay