If all Lucky did was run bases around the Bull’s infield, he would be bored, bored, bored.  Lucky is rarely bored because he gets to learn all kinds of fun tricks, visit with children at local events, and meet people in many different environments.  Lucky wants to remind us that he is well-behaved not just because it is in his nature, but because he is well socialized and well trained.  All dogs can be well-behaved if you keep them from getting bored.  Boredom often leads to annoying and destructive behaviors like excessive barking, digging, and chewing. 

Here are a few of Lucky’s favorite tips for avoiding doggy boredom: 

·         Take walks!  Sniffing that same spot in the backyard every day gets really boring.  Walk around the block after work, walk in a different park each weekend, or go to a dog park.  You will both be happier and healthier.

·         Teach tricks.  Tricks like shake, speak, crawl, and fetch are easy to teach after your dog masters basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, down, and off.

·         Play!  Kick a soccer ball, throw a tennis ball, squeeze a squeaky toy!  Dogs love to play and active play helps to lower stress levels that lead to destructive behaviors.

Bulls' mascot Lucky is the APS Ambassador for Responsible Pet Ownership. Lucky is owned by Gene Lonsway, owner of the Canine College of Chapel Hill (www.cc-ch.com).