Fun Dog Games and Activities to Play With Your Dog
Whether you recently adopted a dog or have had a family dog around for years, it’s important to provide your dog with a proper amount of physical activity. In addition to improving psychical health, dog games and activities can keep your dog mentally stimulated and out of trouble – in fact, when dogs don’t get the exercise they need, they may can act out by chewing, marking areas of the home and other troublesome behaviors.
To avoid this, it’s a good idea to have a list of dog games, activities and exercises that you can use on a daily or weekly basis. These games will keep your dog mentally sharp, healthy and entertained. Many dog activities are also great training aids when you are still shaping your dog’s behaviors.
The Classic: Fetch
Some dogs are genetically inclined to enjoy fetch more than others. For those dogs that enjoy chasing and retrieving objects, playing fetch with a tennis ball, frisbee or other object is a great way to have fun with your dog. When you successfully play fetch with your dog, he or she will cherish the fact that you are pleased with their fetching performance!
The Chase: Hide-and-Seek, Follow the Leader
If your dog can consistently stay in the ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ position, playing hide-and-seek and follow the leader are ideal dog games. To play hide-and-seek, have your dog stay in the ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ position, while slowly backing away. Once you find a hiding place, call your dog out of position and wait for him or her to find you. This is a great way to get your dog used to staying in a calm position before being called.
To play follow the leader, lead your dog through a series of obstacles – they don’t have to be actual obstacle courses, in fact, they could be natural barriers like trees, rocks or winding trails. Have your dog follow behind and take your exact trail. Once your dog is comfortable, up the difficulty level to keep your dog mentally stimulated.
The Power: Tug-o-war
As extremely social animals, dogs can always benefit from games and activities that play upon their social and genetic instincts. Tug-o-war is an activity that does just that: it taps into a dog’s basic desires and this is what makes tug-o-war such a fun, powerful game. To begin, use a rope-like toy that has enough space for you to hold and your dog to bite.
Go back and forth with your dog, allowing the power and tension to shift from time to time. After a bit of a struggle, allow your dog to receive the toy and immediately afterward, plenty of praise! Give your dog a treat once we “wins” tug-o-war and this will soon become a game he or she loves to play.
The Hunt: Treat Search
This dog game is similar to hide-and-seek, though your dog will be looking for treats instead of his or her owner. Keep your dog sitting or staying and plant several treats throughout your home. Once the treats are in place, release your dog from the position and let him or her find the treats. This dog game is a perfect way to let your dog use his or her sense of smell to find treats. Use moderation with this game, as too many treats can disrupt your dog’s diet and nutrition.
