Reward The Dog

09/04/2025

It’s super easy and the dogs LOVE it! Give it a try!

06/22/2025

Keep those pets safe out there! It’s a scorcher!

From Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

☀️ Summer begins today — and a major heat wave is right behind it. ⚠️

From overheating and sunburn to dehydration and heatstroke, extreme temperatures can be life-threatening for both dogs and cats.

This quick guide shares simple steps to help keep your dog safe in the summer heat. While it's especially important for brachycephalic breeds, dogs with dark coats, and those with underlying health conditions, high temperatures pose a risk to all dogs.

The safest place for your pet during extreme heat is indoors, ideally with air conditioning.

Check out more tips from AMC’s Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education at the link below.
https://www.amcny.org/usdan-institute-for-animal-health-education/

03/24/2025

Puppies need to experience the world before they’re fully vaccinated to grow into confident, well-adjusted dogs. Safe socialization—like controlled playdates, carrying them in public places, and positive exposure to new sights and sounds—helps prevent fear and behavioral issues later. Just be mindful of where you take them! Reward the dog and make socialization fun and stress-free. Here are 5 safe ways to take your pup out.

01/28/2025

Ditching the food bowl and placing your dog’s kibble in their toy box is one of the easiest and quickest ways to feed your dog while meeting their natural needs. By encouraging them to sniff, search, and forage for their food, you’re tapping into their instinctual behaviors in a fun and rewarding way.

This simple change not only slows down their eating but also provides essential mental stimulation. Dogs thrive when they have “jobs” to do, and this activity helps prevent boredom, which is often the root cause of many unwanted behaviors like chewing, digging, or excessive barking.

By engaging their brains and fulfilling their need to forage, you’re reducing the likelihood of these problem behaviors while creating a more satisfied, well-behaved pup. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to do and requires no extra tools—just their food and their toys!

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01/25/2025

📢 🛑 PLEASE STOP DOING THESE 4 THINGS WITH YOUR DOG‼️

1. Using Punishment-Based Training Methods: Punishing your dog for unwanted behavior can lead to fear, anxiety, and even aggression. Instead, focus on rewarding the behaviors you want to see—it’s more effective and builds trust.
2. Ignoring the Importance of Socialization: Skipping socialization during your dog’s critical developmental periods can lead to fear or reactivity later in life. Expose your dog to new people, animals, and environments in a positive way.
3. Skipping Mental Enrichment: Dogs need more than physical exercise—they thrive on mental stimulation too! Incorporate puzzle toys, training games, and scent work to keep their minds sharp and engaged.
4. Expecting Perfection Without Training: Dogs aren’t born knowing our rules. Be patient and teach them with clear guidance and consistent training. Remember, good behavior doesn’t happen overnight—it’s learned!

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10/11/2024

Netherby has an important message to share!

Enrichment is vital for ALL pets and animals as it keeps their minds engaged, combats boredom, and supports their overall well-being. Whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, or rabbit, enrichment activities allow them to express natural behaviors like exploring, foraging, and hunting in a safe and productive way. This mental stimulation helps reduce anxiety and prevent destructive behaviors. From interactive toys to puzzles or new environments, enrichment plays a key role in promoting both physical and emotional health. All animals benefit from opportunities that challenge their minds and bodies, leading to happier, healthier lives.

10/11/2024

Reward-based training is the best approach because it focuses on positive reinforcement, encouraging dogs to repeat desirable behaviors by associating them with rewards like treats, praise, or play. This method strengthens the bond between you and your dog, building trust and cooperation rather than fear. It fosters a positive learning environment where dogs are motivated to learn and respond enthusiastically. Reward-based training not only produces long-lasting results but also supports your dog’s mental and emotional well-being, making it the most effective and humane training method.

10/10/2024

Allowing dogs to shred boxes can be beneficial for their mental stimulation and overall well-being for several reasons:

1. Natural Instinct: Shredding taps into a dog’s natural instinct to tear and rip things apart. In the wild, dogs and their ancestors would tear into prey to access food, so allowing them to shred provides an outlet for these ingrained behaviors.
2. Mental Stimulation: Shredding engages a dog’s brain by providing a problem to solve. It requires focus and concentration, offering them a fun challenge that keeps their mind active. This mental exercise can reduce boredom, which is crucial for preventing destructive behaviors.
3. Relieves Stress and Anxiety: For some dogs, shredding is a calming activity that helps relieve stress and anxiety. It can serve as a way to release pent-up energy in a healthy manner, particularly for dogs who may feel nervous or overwhelmed.
4. Physical and Mental Exercise: Shredding provides both physical and mental stimulation. It can be a low-impact activity for your dog to burn some energy, while also giving their brain a workout as they engage in a focused task.
5. Enrichment: Allowing dogs to shred boxes or safe items is a form of enrichment that enhances their environment. It mimics real-world scenarios that challenge them, and this helps improve their cognitive abilities and overall happiness.

By allowing dogs to shred in a controlled way, such as giving them cardboard boxes or paper to tear, you’re providing a healthy and enriching activity that stimulates their mind, reduces stress, and fulfills their instinctual needs.

10/09/2024

Snuffle mats are an excellent enrichment tool for dogs that taps into their natural instinct to sniff and forage. These mats encourage mental stimulation by allowing dogs to “hunt” for treats or kibble hidden in the fabric, helping to reduce boredom and anxiety. They are perfect for slowing down fast eaters, offering a fun and engaging way to make mealtime last longer. Whether you have a high-energy dog that needs extra mental exercise or just want to add some variety to your dog’s routine, a snuffle mat is a simple yet effective way to keep your dog happy and healthy!

It is estimated that around 40-60% of unwanted behaviors in dogs can be attributed to boredom. When dogs lack mental and physical stimulation, they often develop destructive behaviors such as excessive barking, chewing, digging, or escaping. This is particularly common in high-energy or working breeds that require more enrichment and activity to keep their minds and bodies engaged. Providing mental stimulation through training, interactive toys, or activities like snuffle mats can significantly reduce these unwanted behaviors.

10/08/2024

Pro tip for dogs that are destructive in the backyard!

10/07/2024

Why Sniffing is So Beneficial for Your Dog 🐾

Did you know that sniffing isn’t just something your dog enjoys—it’s essential for their well-being? Dogs explore and understand the world through their noses, and allowing them to sniff on walks or during playtime provides incredible mental stimulation. Here’s why sniffing is so beneficial:

1. Mental Exercise: Sniffing engages your dog’s brain, keeping them mentally sharp. Just a short sniff-filled walk can be as tiring as a longer, fast-paced one!
2. Reduces Stress: Letting your dog follow their nose allows them to decompress and process the world around them. This can lead to a calmer, more relaxed dog.
3. Natural Instincts: Dogs are natural foragers, and sniffing taps into those instincts. It gives them a sense of purpose and allows them to engage in species-appropriate behavior.

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