Dog Wellness – The Importance of Challenge

May 19 / Canine Principles

It’s so easy to want to meet our dogs’ needs, all of them, but how can we be sure we are not affecting their quality of life when we do?

We consider what they have to work at, and make sure everything isn’t easy for them.

All animals have evolved to need some challenges. With that in mind, a life where we don’t face challenges can leave us unfulfilled, as it can with our dogs. Dogs are domesticated, but then humans are domestic too, and we still need some way to challenge ourselves, work at something and succeed. If we don’t have challenges, we can become bored and listless – and so can our dogs.

If we take away challenges, we take away our dogs' sense of purpose.

“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” Viktor Frankl

Simple things such as having a bowl of food available can take away the opportunity for success for our dogs. We can change that easily by putting one meal a day into a challenge scenario. Dogs are scavengers by nature, and less hunters than their wild cousins, so expecting them to catch their food isn’t fair. Yet to work out a puzzle and get their meal, that actually makes their life better!

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

It can be easy to say, “I don’t teach my dogs anything - we just live-in harmony” and living in harmony is a brilliant thing. Yet coaching through positive reinforcement is an easily crafted opportunity to present our dogs with a challenge. Canine coaching provides a simple learning opportunity for our dogs. Learning something new reminds them that they are capable of succeeding within which can easily boost their self-esteem and make them feel like winners.

Problem solving to a successful end is wonderfully enriching for our dogs. Admittedly most of the time it’s a good idea that they problem solve and get a reward, because it gives them something to think about and the motivation to actually tackle the problem. An example would be a bit of food in a tied-up sock. The challenge would be getting into the sock and the motivation would be the food.

Dig deep enough in every heart and you'll find it: a longing for meaning, a quest for purpose. As surely as a child breathes, he will someday wonder, What is the purpose of my life?
Max Lucado

When we love someone, we want their life to be as easy as possible don’t we? But sometimes that can cause more problems than it solves. Setting and creating challenges will empower your dog to use different areas of their brain. To build their self-belief and to remember how capable they are. Challenge helps dogs to live more fulfilling lives, and that’s part of our role.

People in prison get a safe bed, an exercise walk and presented with regular meals. Don’t our dogs deserve so much more than that?

Are you looking to enhance your knowledge and skills in the canine industry? Would you like to provide a more enriching life for your best friends? Look no further than the Canine Principles CPD Skill-Hub!

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Thank you for enrolling on your learning experience. Your enrolment includes entry to the Canine Principles Facebook Study Group which is a highly positive group, filled with a vast range of experience. It would be great to have you join us.

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Get Some Exercise
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.

Limit Distractions
Distractions can easily break our train of thought or pull us away from study all together. Find a suitable place to study that is conducive to learning. Set some time aside, ask for some privacy and turn off your phone.

Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes towards fatigue and poor memory. A 2012 study, conducted by the universities of East London and Westminster, found that results improved by an average of 10% when students kept hydrated throughout exams.

Read Out Loud
In 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.

Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.

Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.

Research
Even when you feel that you have fully understood a subject from the course material, take some time to research further by looking online, reading books or talking to others who are involved in the subject. The study group is a great place to meet like minded people who are also learning new topics.

Review
Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.

Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.

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To maintain academic integrity, this policy outlines the prohibition of AI generated content and plagiarism in assessments. Our goal is to ensure that all work submitted by students reflects their personal understanding, effort and original thoughts.

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Students are strictly prohibited from: a) Using AI tools to generate any part of their assessment submissions. This includes but is not limited to text, ideas, or structures created by AI. b) Engaging in any form of plagiarism, including but not limited to:

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External research is a great way to improve your knowledge on any subject. Often, a course subject will be focused on the specific area that is relevant to the type of course. A course that covers the topic of scentwork may describe the scenting ability of a dog in great detail, whereas a course that covers dog training in general may only include a foundation knowledge of the same subject. For this reason, external research can provide an invaluable way of expanding on specific course subjects.

When you choose to include external research as part of your assessment, it is important that the work is clearly referenced. If you have previously studied at a higher level, you will be aware that there are many ways to reference your research. For the purpose of Canine Principles assessments, we are happy for you to include your references at the end of each answer.

References from online research can be included as a link to the source of the information:

Example:

...During a stressful experience, the canine immune system will begin to shut off nonessential functions in order to maximise the chances of survival. “The body sees no point in digesting food when danger is upon it. Neither does it place emphasis on fighting disease, for it is putting all that effort into fighting the threat on life itself, so the immune system shuts down.”...

(https://canineprinciples.com/fear-dog-physical-illness/ accessed online Feb 2018)

References from printed publications can be included in the following format:

Example:

A common mistake made by dog owners is to misinterpret canine communication in a way that suits our own style of communication and body language. “Anthropomorphism, the attribution of Human characteristics to non-human creatures – to phenomena such as weather, and even inanimate objects like rivers and mountains – is an intrinsic part of human nature.”

(John Bradshaw, In Defence of Dogs P.148)

In both examples, the external research is highlighted as a quotation and clearly referenced.

The following section includes 3 different answers to the same question. All of these answers are correct, however they will each vary in the level of demonstrated understanding.

Question: Describe how you would apply an emergency improvised muzzle to a dog, for the purpose of performing first aid safely.

i. Create a large loop in a bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer describes the correct process of applying an emergency muzzle. The method is correct; however, no consideration has been given to safety. To improve on this, and answer the full question, we can include more detail...

ii. Slowly approach the dog, talking gently. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point, it is best to stand behind the dog. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer has improved and includes personal safety advice. We now have a correct answer that covers the whole question. To demonstrate our understanding of the subject, we can go one step further and cover the whole subject in greater detail.

iii. Any injured dog, no matter how gentle they are normally, can bite when painful or panicked. Unfortunately, an injured animal is highly likely to bite, even if you are trying to help them. You may also be in a situation where you need to help a strange dog during an emergency. It is a useful and important skill to be able to muzzle a dog in an emergency situation. Some people will carry a muzzle in their car for emergency situations. However, you can also use a shoelace or gauze bandage. Slowly approach the dog side on, talking gently to reassure them. Be mindful of the dog’s body language and communication efforts while he is experiencing pain. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point it is best to stand behind the dog to prevent direct eye contact. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it. NEVER apply a muzzle if the dog is struggling to breathe or vomiting.

This final version is an excellent demonstration of the whole subject. We have added information about the subject of emergency muzzles and included advice for keeping the dog free from additional pain or suffering.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from tutors who are always available to answer any questions and guide you through your learning experience. If you ever have any questions about course material or assessments, you can contact us here via email or through the study group.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Canine Principles offers both self-paced and time sensitive courses.

Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.

Qualifications - All regulated qualifications inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When the 2 year registration period expires, students may re-register for an additional registration fee. Fees vary by course, please contact us for details.

CPD Courses
Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by the CPD Standards Office. All Certificates are available to download on successful completion and marking of the final exercise.

Qualifications
Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by AIM Qualifications, an independent awarding body. Both certificates will be available as a digital downloads only.

All Other Courses & Workshops
These courses come with a single Canine Principles digital certificate of completion.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from Tutors who are always available to answers any questions and guide you through your learning experience. Tutors will respond to assessments within 48 hours (72 hours during weekends)

Students are also encouraged to support each other through built in student community and private Facebook Study Group. where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Thank you!

Dog Wellness – The Importance of Challenge

Succeeding Through Challenge

The Challenge of Learning & Problem Solving

Why Not Make Their Lives Easier?

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Dog Wellness – The Importance of Challenge

Succeeding Through Challenge

The Challenge of Learning & Problem Solving

Why Not Make Their Lives Easier?

Commitment Free Access

Start Your CPD Skill-Hub SubscriptionToday

A Huge Library Of Self-Study Online Dog Courses, Workshops & Resources.

Worth Over £1500 + VAT

When Sold Separately

Your CPD Skill-Hub Subscription includes the following courses:

Latest From Our Blog

4 Dog Behaviour Problems - & the fun fix most people miss

Running an Ethical (and Professional) Dog Business

Follow Us

Exclusive News & Offers

Canine Principles#Dog Skills For Humans

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