Easter is just around the corner, and this year we're making ourselves comfortable at home. This also means that our four-legged friends can be fully involved in family activities. We asked animal welfare-qualified dog trainer Michaela Strohmayer how you can make Easter an unforgettable experience for your dog. Here are her tips!
Easter with dog: ideas and tips
1. Lettuce as an Easter nest
Why not create a special Easter nest for your dog? Take a head of lettuce, spread some liverwurst or peanut butter on it and hide treats, carrots and your dog's favorite snacks between the leaves. Hide the nest in the garden or in the house and let your dog search for it. This is not only a healthy reward, but also an exciting search game.
Warning: Make sure your dog doesn't get hold of your children's chocolate treats. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can cause serious health problems.
2. Eggs instead of chocolate!
A boiled chicken egg is a healthy treat for your dog, but only in moderation (maximum twice a week). A great Easter greeting from the kitchen is to collect the yolk of fresh eggs when blowing them out and add it to your dog's food. This provides essential fatty acids and vitamins. Uncooked eggshells are also a natural source of calcium - but please wash them thoroughly!
3. Sniffing mat as Easter decoration
Dogs love to sniff. So why not offer a sniffing mat with a spring look that you only bring out at Easter time? This special decoration provides variety and fun without your dog nibbling on dangerous plants or garlands.
4. Egg hunt on four paws
The egg hunt is the highlight of every Easter celebration. Let your dog take part in it too! Start with simple hiding places and increase the level of difficulty as soon as your dog has got the hang of it. In the garden, hiding places are ideal in tree bark, piles of earth or under flower pots. Indoors, you can hide treats under carpets, behind cushions or in boxes.
Tip: Wrap the treats in paper. This way your dog has to unwrap them first and can enjoy them for longer.
But be careful! The following Easter hiding places are only for top-class sniffer dogs!
Of course, it is important to get your pet used to searching and all the hustle and bustle beforehand, and to choose hiding places where the treats remain within reach of the dog, for example not hiding them too high up. At the beginning it is helpful to choose simpler hiding places so that the dog gets an idea of the game; the more practiced it becomes, the more difficult the hiding places can become.
When the weather is nice, the search takes place in the garden, where there are many tricky corners and places for hiding. The possibilities range from small treats scattered on the lawn to homemade Easter nests, hidden in the bark of tree trunks, buried in a pile of earth, or under empty flower pots. As long as you give your pet the opportunity to be active too, Easter fun is guaranteed.
Use your petWALK pet door to help you search and leave your four-legged friend in the house while you hide everything. When you're done, just get your dog out by opening the dog door!
Tip: The treats can also be wrapped in paper, then your dog has to unwrap the paper first and thus has longer enjoyment when unpacking.
An excellent and fun Easter experience can also take place indoors. Small items such as treats are ideal for hiding under carpets, behind cushions, under the sofa or in boxes. Laundry baskets can also be repurposed and converted into a varied hiding place. The petWALK pet door is also recommended here as an unusual hiding place for a small item that your four-legged friend can only find when the door is opened.
Tip: You can make simple dog toys out of egg cartons, which can be expanded as desired. Simply wrap treats in newspaper and put them in the holes, or put individual treats in and then cover with newspaper or balls.
