Fun Dog Activities

One of the most effective ways of bonding with your dog is through walks, playtime and training.

Most breeds will tire quicker from mental stimulation than from physical exercise.  Each dog is different and an exercise which is fun for one dog isn't necessarily going to suit every dog.

First, find what motivates your dog, whether it is food, a toy, or verbal praise.  This then becomes their reward for doing well.  If you are using a toy it is best to choose something that you can keep hold of when you play with your dog.  Below are a few suitable examples;

When you have selected a suitable toy, only let your dog play with it when you say so.  That way your dog will give the toy a higher value and therefore work harder to get the reward.

The same principle is true for food treats.  If you use the same food that your dog has everyday at meal times you will not get the same response as when you use fresh chicken for example.

Take care not to use treats and toys as a lure to get your puppy to do what you want.  The treat or game is the reward for the correct behaviour.  For example, if you teach the 'watch' command to get your puppy to look at you, the toy or treat would be in your right hand and you would use your left hand to get the attention on you.  If you just hold the toy or treat next to your face, the puppy isn't learning to watch you.

The most important thing to remember when you are training or playing with your dog or puppy is to set everything up for success.  Never stop play or training with a failed exercise, as this is what your dog will remember.  Even if you have to go right back to the first stage of teaching the game or exercise make sure the dog finishes with a success.

Introducing Dogs Name for Attention

The best thing to start teaching your puppy is their name.  Any training or games you play with your puppy will go more smoothly if you can easily get their attention.

To start, get your puppy's attention on you using a treat, a toy or your voice (arms, legs, whatever it takes), then say their name while they are still watching you and give them a reward.  Repeat this a few times, getting their attention first then saying your puppy's name and give them a reward. 

Then when they are sat or laying down say their name and reward them when they look at you.  If they don't look at you straight away, attract their attention and when they look at you say their name again followed by good boy or good girl and give them a reward.  Once they start looking at you as soon as you say their name every time, you can reduce the number of rewards.  Never develop a pattern as they soon get to know every third time you call them they get a reward. 

The next stage is to wait until your puppy is engrossed in a scent in the garden or watching a bird, then call their name and if need be make lots of noise and movement so that they look at you.  As soon as they look at you repeat their name and then reward then.  You want to make sure that the reward is very good at this stage so lots of verbal praise along with a game with the ball, or a very nice treat will help fix in your puppy's mind that responding to their name results in a much greater reward that what they were doing when you called them.  Then, as with the first stage, you can gradually reduce the number of rewards.  Make sure you always verbally praise your puppy when they respond to their name so that there is no doubt in their mind that the response was what you wanted.

When you start taking your dog for walks, introduce this exercise first when your puppy is on the lead and then when it is off lead.  When you are at home it is easier to get your dog's attention as you will be the most interesting thing in the room.  So don't be surprised when it takes a lot more effort to achieve the same results when there are distractions.

Some breeds will do better than others, for example, German Shepherds will excel, whereas a Siberian Husky will take a bit (actually a lot) more work.

Hide and Seek

A great game to start playing with your puppy from an early age is hide and seek and it follows on nicely from teaching your puppy its name.  When your puppy isn't watching, you hide somewhere in the house, then call your puppy.  When he finds you, he gets his reward.  This game is great for bonding with your puppy. 

When you start taking your puppy for walks and letting it off lead this game is great to play as it teaches your puppy to regular check you are still close by.  As soon as your dog or puppy gets further away from you than you would like, hide behind a tree or a lamp post and call their name.

Chase

This game is a great foundation for the Puppy Recall.  You can start this game in your back garden if you have space, if not then the local park or forest.  Your puppy will be off the lead, or on a long line/ flexi lead.  Have either a treat or your puppy's favourite toy in your hand and show it to them, then run away, calling their name.  Depending on how your dog responds you may need to make lots of noise and arm movements to achieve success.  Start with very small distances and lots of praise and a reward when your puppy reaches you.  Then gradually increase the distance that you let your puppy chase you.

Fetch

Some breeds will need very little assistance from you to learn this game.  It is a great way to exercise breeds like Greyhounds that just need small amounts of fast and furious exercise.  For other breeds it is a good way to start or finish a walk and is a great way to bond with your dog.

If you are wanting to compete with your dog in any discipline then I suggest reading the Retrieve paragraph in the Obedience section.

For the pet dog owner this exercise can be started with a puppy as soon as you bring it home.  It does require your puppy to have an interest in toys, however dog toys do come in all shapes and sizes so you should manage to find at least one that they are interested in.  Below are a few examples of toys with a difference...

Once you have found the toy that your dog is most interested in start by moving it around the floor.  You can use an excited voice if you need to get your puppy more interested in the toy.  When you are sure that there is nothing your puppy wants more than to get the toy, throw it a very short distance and as soon as your puppy picks the toy up, praise it by rubbing under its chin and saying good boy or girl.  This will encourage them to hold the toy a bit longer.  You must then take the toy before they lose interest and repeat the process. 

It is important not to take the toy from your puppy straight away.  You want your puppy to learn that when it has the toy you praise them, rather than you take it off them.  This is vital for the next stage. 

Once your puppy is confidently chasing the toy you can start to increase the distance.  If at any time they stop chasing the toy or lack enthusiasm then reduce the distance again.

The next stage is for the puppy to come back to you with the toy in its mouth.  Start by throwing the toy a short distance, then as soon as your puppy takes the toy in its mouth say good boy or good girl and run backwards encouraging your puppy towards you.  When they reach you remember praise under the chin and verbally good boy/ good girl.  While your puppy is still holding the toy have a little tug of war game then take the toy off them when they start to get really excited and throw it again.  Repeat the process of calling them in to you.

It is important to finish this game when your puppy is really getting into it.  That way it will always be exciting for them.  If you wait until they have had enough you will find it harder to keep their enthusiasm next time.

Remember the toy you use cannot be left on the living room floor for your puppy to play with whenever it feels like it.  The toy you use for retrieve should be a special toy that your puppy only gets to play with, with you.

Tug of War

This is a great game to teach your puppy or dog, that you are the boss.  This game may not be suitable for some dogs and if you feel that your dog is showing aggression then stop play.  To introduce the game to a puppy rope toys are best such as... Drag one end of the toy along the ground until your puppy grabs it then gently (depending on the size of your puppy) tug.  Gradually walk backwards as you keep the tug of war going, then when your puppy is really getting into it take the toy off them.  Similar to the game of fetch, by ending the game when it is really fun for your puppy they will be keen to play again next time.  It also teaches your puppy that you are the boss and you decide when the game is finished.

If you want to teach your puppy or dog fun tricks to impress your friends and challenge your dog then I would recommend the book below.  'Hide' in particular is very cute!