Welcome to the Pack: Bowdie
This handsome little guy is a Puggle, which is a Pug and Beagle mix, and let me tell you… he is CRAZY!
Bowdie is one of the loviest little guys you’ll ever meet, but personal space? Never heard of it.  He wants to be in your bubble 24/7, jumps like it’s his full-time job, and taking no for an answer? Absolutely NOT!
This little guy is constantly on the move. His brain is going a million miles a minute, and slowing down just doesn’t seem to be in his vocabulary!
Today, we spent a lot of time talking about ways to help Bowdie channel some of that energy into something productive, and his family went home with some pretty strict homework assignments!
Assignment number one?
FIGURE OUT WHAT TIRES THIS GUY OUT!
And I’m not just talking about physical exercise. We talked a LOT about mental enrichment and how important it is for a dog like Bowdie.
For starters, we are ditching the traditional food bowl! From now on, his meals need to come from some form of enrichment that makes him use his brain.
Kong Wobbler: Think of a giant buoy that he has to push, paw at, and knock around to get his food to fall out.
Traditional Kong toys: Great for stuffing with goodies and giving him something productive to work on between meals.
Snuffle mats: Perfect for encouraging him to use that nose and work for his food!
Scatter feeding: This is one of the easiest forms of enrichment, and you can do it right inside your house or out in the yard! Think of it like feeding chickens. You’re simply tossing pieces of his regular dog food around and letting him search for them. Of course, we want to start with a small area so he can learn to put that nose to work and understand the game. Once he figures it out, you can start scattering his food over a much larger area, making him really work to find every last piece!
And here’s something important to remember. Bowdie is part Beagle! Beagles were bred to use their noses, and sniffing is a HUGE part of who they are. Giving him opportunities to use that natural instinct can be incredibly fulfilling and mentally tiring.
Sometimes, the answer to a dog who never seems to slow down isn’t MORE physical exercise. It’s giving their brain a job, teaching them how to settle, and helping them understand that life doesn’t always have to be lived at 100 miles per hour.
Next week, we’re tackling leash walking because, well… let’s just say Bowdie has some pretty strong opinions about how a walk should go, too.
He’s wild, he’s lovable, he’s got enough personality for about five dogs, and I am determined to help turn this little tornado into a very good boy!
Are you ready to start your training journey with Ashton & Co. K9 Academy? Start here to see our current classes. Not sure where to start? Request a consultation and I'll help you formulate a training program that works for you.
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