Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn. Read my introduction to study extra about me and my 5 humorous canines, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.
A number of months after we introduced residence a fluffy little German Shepherd pup, we started to suspect there’d been a fox within the henhouse. Or on this case, a Malinois within the German Shepherd kennel.
As Kodah received older and bigger, he grew to become extra lively, chaotic, and troublesome to maintain stimulated, and his means to leap remarkably excessive solely strengthened our suspicions about his genetics. Thankfully for us, he by no means let his frustrations have an effect on his candy nature, and our pint-sized Chihuahuas at all times be certain that he stays in line!
Kodah ♥️ Water
It’s one factor to maintain up with the train necessities of a canine like Kodah, however protecting his mind stimulated, in addition to his physique, has been a relentless problem, as he shortly turns into obsessive concerning the issues he enjoys. One exercise he completely loves is chasing water. What began as a playful squirt of water in his course while watering the backyard, shortly grew to become his new favourite factor, and it additionally allowed me to offer him with much-needed enrichment from the consolation of my backyard chair.
The physique twisting, top leaping acrobatics Kodah carried out in pursuit of a jet of water was extra spectacular than something he did when out for a run on the beach or throughout a recreation of chase, and even the littlies, Ned and Fred, loved racing after the smaller drops of water as they landed, so long as they stayed away from the falling German Malinois!
As I discussed, Kodah’s enjoyment can quickly transform into obsession and hyperfixation, which grew to become apparent anytime I attempted to water the crops and even stroll previous the backyard hose. And if some forgetful particular person left the hose nozzle inside his attain, Kodah would destroy it in his efforts to get it to shoot water. This occurred 3 times.
I Don’t Need to Be a Killjoy…
I used to be torn between wanting to permit Kodah to proceed with an exercise he so clearly loved, and one which thoroughly tired him out, however I didn’t need him to hyperfixate on the hose, or have to interchange yet one more nozzle. The answer was clear: a water pistol, an enormous one.
Kodah isn’t any much less excited by the looks of this newfound supply of enjoyable than he was by the hose, however having the ability to finish the sport and pack it away has not solely taken his focus away from the hose, however he additionally appears extra accepting when the sport is over. Beforehand, in Kodah’s eyes, the hose was nonetheless there, so there was no cause the sport couldn’t maintain going. Now that we don’t use the hose when he’s within the backyard, he merely enjoys his enjoyable with the water gun, and strikes on to different issues when it’s put away, serving to his sanity and my water invoice.
Let The Good Occasions Roll
So carry on summer time, carry on the sunshine, and convey on an enriched and active Kodah. The truth that an enriched and lively Kodah turns into an exhausted and quiet Kodah is only a joyful little profit for me and the remainder of the family!
