August 2023
Fun Games to Play With Your Dog
August 3, 2023
Games bond you to the dog and build trust. Dogs learn most of their social skill from play. Here are four besides fetch.
Musical Squares
A game I invented for classes — I start with it to see how each person handles their dog. Towels or bath rugs for squares. Music: Atomic Dog, Who Let The Dogs Out, Big Dog. Six-foot leashes. When the music plays, walk nicely. When it stops, get to a square and sit. Then pull a square, like chairs. Later: down, sit pretty, speak. It teaches focus, loose-leash walking, sit, place, and some social heat when two dogs want one square.
Hide and Seek
You hide. The dog finds you. K-9 units use this for search work. Sit-stay or a helper holds the dog. Call, then praise and a treat. Outside, use a long line if the dog is a runner. Builds recall and finding.
Recall Race
Family or play-date race. Sit-stay at the start. Handlers back up — 10 feet beginners, 20 advanced, 30 or more for experts — then call. First dog to reach the handler and sit wins. Add treats or toys in the middle to make it harder.
Reverse Recall Race
Same setup, backwards. Dogs stay at the finish. Handlers race to them. If the dog moves, you reset the stay before you can win. Teaches stay while someone runs at them. Variation: leash them in a sit, then race back.
Have fun. That is the point of the time.