All dogs have physical, mental and social needs that can be fulfilled in the environments they experience and through the activities that they do. [1] A dog field is a place that owners can take their dogs to ensure their dog’s physical needs are met, whilst providing them with natural enrichment for their mental wellbeing, an opportunity for socialisation, either through quality time with their owners, freedom to play with their siblings or social met-ups, and it is an ideal setting for the dog to learn, either through owner-dog, one-to-one or group training.
Training is one of the most important activities that a dog can do with its owner. It should always be a fun and rewarding experience and it can help to develop a strong bond between the owner and the dog. A very common training issue that is highlighted by owners when they are exercising their dog is that they want to let their dog off the lead, but they are afraid that if they do the dog won’t come back. There are a multitude of reasons for this, the dog may be a rescue dog that’s never been on a lead, it could be a puppy, or a dog with a high drive to chase other dogs or wildlife. In these situations, I would always explain to my client the benefits of using an enclosed dog field as a safe place to start training the dog’s recall. The main benefit being that it provides a controlled environment for the owner and dog to work together to establish the solid foundation of the recall and, at the same time, the environment enables the dog to exercise safely. The dog doesn’t know it’s gone to the field because it’s a secure space, to them this is another walk. Therefore, the field alleviates any stress that the owner may have from being in a public space and not knowing if the dog will come back. This can make the training enjoyable and as such enhance the dog’s learning experience. By using positive energy, high value rewards and this perfect setting, it is possible to teach the dog that being with their owner is the most rewarding place to be.
The dog field is a safe place that a dog can be off the lead and when a dog is able to roam, they experience sensory enrichment in the most natural way and as owners we are setting ‘free the canine senses’ (Berkoff 2019). This can benefit a dog’s mental health. Like humans the dog relies on five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. When a dog is free to explore, they utilise all their senses helping them to learn. The desire to sniff is perhaps the most obvious of these. A dog will inhale and then interpret smells, storing some of them in their memory to help them understand the world around them. For example, most spaniels are natural hunters and on the walk their nose is often to the ground. They walk quickly in a zig zag fashion, known as quartering, with their tails wagging at what seems like 100mph. For an owner this may feel like their dog is pulling them or jerking them in different directions when in fact the dog is simply doing what comes naturally and following a scent. However, it is not always practicable or safe to allow our dogs to sniff freely in a public space. In the dog field the dog is free to sniff and take the time it needs to interpret everything that’s been going on in their favourite place, track wildlife and smell any familiar visitors. This process is often likened to a human reading a newspaper, and it’s really making the dogs’ brain work. We don’t need to move them on or interfere as we know our dog is safe. This sensory enrichment is giving your dog vast amounts of information from the smells we don’t even know are there. Having the freedom and time to sniff is one important aspect of a dog’s mental wellness as it both a natural and calming experience for the dog. This can help build their confidence and reduce anxiety as they are learning about their surroundings and becoming familiar with new smells, sounds and textures.
Whilst it is important to recognize the importance of mental stimulation and training, some dogs also need a lot of physical exercise. Whilst all dogs need exercise some are naturally high-energy whilst others are bred to work and so would be quite happy to be on the move all day. If these dogs do not have an outlet for their physical energy this can lead to a frustrated dog who finds their own way to keep busy which isn’t a desirable outcome. There are, however, very few safe places where we can let our dogs run freely all year round without some apprehension. A real benefit of the dog field is that it provides an excellent resource for owners whose dogs just need to let off steam and run around. Many owners use balls or frisbee’s to channel their dogs natural drive to chase. Turning it into a controlled game that again enhances the dog-owner relationship and fulfills their dogs’ breed needs. Other dogs may live in a multidog household, and the field provides them with an opportunity to play and bond with their siblings.
Overall, the benefit of the dog field is that it provides a safe space that can be used for training, play, exercise or simply relaxation whilst enhancing the relationship the dog has with its owner and siblings and most importantly as Berkoff notes ‘unleashing your dog, literally and metaphorically, is fun for all involved’ (Berkoff 2019).
[1]Bekoff, M. (2019). Unleashing your dog: a field guide to giving yourcanine companion the best life possible. Novato, California: New World Library.
