Dogs are more than just pets, they’re beloved members of our families who bring us endless joy and companionship. Just like humans, our furry friends also need to engage in activities that keep them happy and healthy. One popular way to accomplish this is through “freework” for dogs.

Now, you may be wondering: what exactly is freework? Simply put, it’s a form of exercise that allows dogs to use their natural abilities and instincts, such as scent work, retrieving, and agility, without the constraints of traditional training or competition. It’s a fun and engaging way to help your pup stay mentally and physically stimulated. And the best part? It can be easily taught from the comfort of your own home!

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of freework for dogs, discussing the benefits of this type of exercise, the different types of activities available, and how to get started with freework training. Whether you have a high-energy working breed or a more laid-back furry companion, freework can be a fantastic way to bond with your dog and ensure they’re getting the exercise and mental stimulation they need to thrive. So let’s get started on this exciting journey!

What is Freework and what are the benefits fo trying it with your dog or puppy?

Freework is a form of exercise and mental stimulation for dogs that involves engaging in natural activities and instincts without the constraints of traditional training or competition. It’s a fantastic way to help your furry friend stay happy and healthy, both mentally and physically.

One of the primary benefits of freework is that it allows dogs to tap into their natural instincts, providing them with the opportunity to use their innate skills in a fun and engaging way. For example, scent work activities allow dogs to use their incredible sense of smell to track and locate hidden objects. This type of activity is particularly enjoyable for dogs, as it taps into their natural instincts and allows them to use their brain and body in a way that comes naturally to them.

In addition to being fun, freework activities provide significant physical and mental stimulation for dogs. Physical exercise is important for dogs to maintain their health, and freework activities provide a fun and challenging way to achieve this. Mental stimulation is also vital for dogs, as it helps prevent boredom and can even reduce problem behaviors such as excessive barking or chewing.

Another significant benefit of freework is that it helps strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. Engaging in activities together is an excellent way for dogs and their owners to bond and build trust. It can also improve communication between dogs and their owners, which can help make training and everyday life easier.

Space/Area Requirements

Even with limited space, you can still provide your furry friend with the benefits of free work. In fact, you can set up a free work area with just a few spots, making it suitable even for narrow spaces like hallways.

Don’t worry about creating a large, elaborate setup. Begin with a basic layout that includes the essential elements of free work. And the best part? You won’t need to buy any special equipment to get started. Here’s a simple suggested layout to help you and your pup get started.

How to create an engaging freework environment for your dog? Setting up your area.

To provide your dog with an engaging Free Work environment, it’s important to offer a variety of surfaces and heights for them to explore. You can use items like towels, rugs, or cardboard for different surfaces, but ensure that they’re not slippery. For varying heights, try using a box or an upturned plastic crate. A plastic crate is ideal since it can be cleaned easily and can also be used to smear food on.

To keep your dog engaged, provide them with different activities such as a noise box, enrichment toy, snuffle mat, or licky mat. If you don’t have a licky mat, there are many other plastic items you can use, like rubber floor mats (just make sure they’re clean first!). And don’t forget to include a water bowl in the area for your dog to stay hydrated.

How to incorporate food into your dog’s freework course?

Let’s talk about food! When setting up your Free Work area, you’ll want to make sure you have some tasty treats on hand. However, you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a bunch of fancy treats if you don’t want to, or if your dog is on a special diet. Your dog’s normal dinner can work just as well.

Make sure to scatter some food directly on the floor in the area, so your dog has the choice of engaging with the different elements or not. It’s important to offer a variety of food types and textures, such as small treats or kibble, wet food to smear on surfaces, and larger chewy items.

Licking, chewing, and sniffing are all great activities for our furry friends. Studies have even shown that these activities release endorphins, which can help to calm and comfort our dogs, reducing stress levels. To encourage licking, try smearing wet food on licky mats or the surface of plastic boxes.

If you have more than one dog, it’s important to consider whether Free Work is best done one at a time. If your pups tend to fight over food, it’s best to avoid doing this activity together.

Let Your Dog Go Naked (Not You, Though!)

It’s important to remove your dog’s collar before starting free work. Many pet parents don’t realize that wearing a collar can actually be annoying and distracting for their furry friends. Some dogs even wear their collars all the time, which can be uncomfortable.

Back when I first got dogs, I used to leave their collars on all the time, but after an incident where one dog’s jaw got stuck in the other’s collar during play, I learned my lesson. Now, I always remove their collars when they come home, and only put them back on when we go for a walk.

Even if you don’t think your dogs fight, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Removing their collars will eliminate any potential hazards and allow them to fully focus on the free work activity.

Now that your dog is collar-free, it’s time to let her roam around and explore the free work activities on her own. As tempting as it may be, try not to interfere with your dog’s movements and let her navigate the different elements in her own way.

This is where your observation skills come into play. Take the time to closely watch your furry friend and consider recording a video of her in action, so you can review it later and analyze her behavior in more detail. Through careful observation, you may be able to detect any preferences or dislikes your dog has with certain activities. This will help you better understand your pup’s unique personality and how to further enrich her life.

As an example, if your dog is a bit shy and tends to get nervous, especially around things that make noise. You may notice that they may tend to leave those activities for last, after all the food is gone. To help your dog feel more confident, make sure you include activities in the free work that allow your dog to explore safely and at their own pace.

How does freework help you understand your dog better?

By observing your dog during free work, you can gain a better understanding of her behavior and personality. This can give you insights into what she likes and dislikes, and how she responds to different stimuli. For example, does she run in confidently or approach cautiously? Does she seem relaxed or tense? Does she avoid certain activities or surfaces?

You can also learn about your dog’s physical abilities and potential issues by observing her movements during the activity. For instance, does she struggle with balance or have difficulty stretching to reach the food? These observations can help you identify potential problems and address them promptly, even by showing a vet a video of your dog’s movement.

It’s amazing how much we can learn about our furry friends just by taking the time to observe them closely. By doing so, we can better understand their needs and preferences and improve our relationship with them.

Using free work to build your dog’s confidence

In order to build confidence in our dogs, we can use a technique called Free Work. This involves setting up different stations with various activities, and allowing our dogs to explore and interact with them at their own pace. We can use Free Work to introduce new or potentially scary things to our dogs, such as a wheelchair or a car.

For example, if our dog needs a wheelchair to go on walks, we can introduce it to them gradually through Free Work. We can start by leaving the wheelchair near one of the stations and allowing our dog to explore it. If they seem comfortable with it, we can then place a treat or toy on the wheelchair and encourage them to interact with it.

Similarly, if our dog is scared of being in a car, we can set up Free Work outside of the car and gradually move the stations closer to the car as our dog becomes more comfortable. We should never force our dog to approach the car or any of the stations – it’s important that they feel free to explore at their own pace.

Once our dog is comfortable exploring the stations close to the car, we can gradually introduce new elements such as leaving the car doors open or starting the engine. We should continue to use Free Work and take things slowly, always keeping an eye on our dog’s body language and reactions.

The ultimate goal is for our dog to feel comfortable spending prolonged periods in the car doing Free Work, and for us to be able to take them on car rides without any fear or anxiety. By using Free Work, we can build our dog’s confidence and help them overcome their fears and discomforts in a safe and controlled environment.

Using freework to identify potential health issues in your dog

write in a human blog way, how freework could be used to identify potential health issues in your dog. E.g. reluctance to stand on back legs may be indication of arthritis etc

The takeaway

In conclusion, Free Work can offer your dog more than just a fun activity to pass the time. By paying closer attention to your dog’s behavior during Free Work, you can gain a deeper understanding of her personality, preferences, and even identify potential health issues. For instance, your dog may avoid higher surfaces and may avoid putting weight on the back legs which may be a sign of a bit of arthritis.