Play with your Dog !

There are so many good reasons to play games with your dog.

It will strengthen your relationship.

It will keep the dog from getting bored, which will keep him from things you don't want him doing, and make him healthier. Many of these games mentioned here will actually help train your dog.

It's important that you can establish control of your dog even when he's very excited, and of course most people get a dog for companionship – So isn't playing with your dog the whole point? One thing to keep in mind is your attitude while playing.

Most dogs will have fun if it's clear you're having fun, too.

Games as Rewards

Remember that any simple act that your dog likes but which you control can be used as a reward for good behavior.

Use a favorite game like tug or fetch to reward him for his good play habits, long stays, when you’ve ask him to wait, and his commendable Behavior when he comes back after loose-leash walking.

(Click here for more information on games as rewards.)

Hide and Go Seek

When you are just out of sight from your dog, call him to you. You can either use your normal "come back" command, what ever you choose, or just His name.

Don’t forget to be very excited when he arrives. Start making it more difficult by hiding behind doors, couches, etc. If he doesn't find you at first, call him again.

If your dog is very good at "stay" you can use this to keep him in place while you hide. Some dogs will use their sniffer tackle, others will just look. Most of them will learn a faster recall, or “find Me” message from this. This is a great game for kids to play with dogs, as long as the kids don't encourage the dog to chase them, as it could get a little out of hand.

Treasure Hunt

Get your dog in a “lie downdown & stay” and place a treat ,food or toy, within his sight. Go back to your dog and release him, and encourage him to go for the treat – he should hopefully can eat it or play with it. Then repeat this, varying where you put the treat. Next time, "hide" the treat where the dog can't see it, but he can see you putting it there (behind a piece of furniture, for example). Let him go again, and let her get the treat, maybe show him if he can’t find it, just until he gets the idea. Next, hide the treat in further away, then in another room, out of sight, and if he stays in him "stay" let him find it. You can increase the distance, difficulty, and even number of treats ,several small food bits maybe, as your dog gets better at "stay".

This is especially good for dogs that have begun to learn "stay" but are nervous about having their people go out of sight.

(Thanks to Janet A. Smith for this one!)

Fetch

Some dogs are natural fetchers, others are not. All can learn to enjoy this game. Be sure to teach and practice "drop it" or “Thank You” first. Then throw it so he has to go get it, he’ll so learn he’ll get the praise when he brings it back to you, play with him a bit before you make him Drop it, then give him prise when he does. If your dog refuses to return the ball or toy (and this is pretty instinctive), or drops it too far away, end the game and tell him “he’s just not Playing”. If he doesn’t bring it back, No Game !

"Fetch" can be shaped by rewarding interest in a toy, then approaching a toy, then touching it, then mouthing it, then picking it up. Use a clicker or just a treat when he retrieves faster, or catches in the air, or quick good return.

Clean Up Your Toys

Get a box or bucket and collect a number of toys and other dog-safe favorite things, But don't start with things your dog likes to hoard or that you don't want them ever touching.

Scatter the toys in a small pile on the floor. With a bit of talking and teasing, get the dog to pick up the things one at a time, and place them in your hand, (a bit like fetch) Once the dog is lifting the items high enough to get your hand underneath to receive, you are well started.

Be sure to reward each "gift" with a food treat. Make it harder and harder to put stuff in your hand, while maintaining the fun of this "fetch for refund" game.

Each toy retrieved is dumped into the bucket. The dog will leave harder ones for later, so over time make substitutions that make the items increasingly difficult for the dog, just to keep his interest going.

Some dogs take the leap and start putting things directly into the bucket themselves.

(Thanks to Diana Hilliard for this one)

Simon Says

If you have a good attitude, you can make obedience training into a good game. Let your dog prove how clever he, or she is by sitting when you say "sit", lying down when you say "down", giving his paw for a handshake etc. Try it when your eyes are closed, your back is to the dog, or you are in a different position like lying down or even standing on your head!

Mix up "drop it", "take it,” “fetch it", "hold it", and "leave it". Just keep playing and they’ll enjoy the game more and more, remember, they always want to please you, just not sure what you mean somethimes, practice and repetition is the key.

Tug of War

The secret to playing this game successfully is for you, the human, to be in control of it. For this game, choose one particular toy that will be used as your tug rope (don't use one of your socks, or food items, or is lead). You can make a good quick “Tuggy” by rolling up a square of strong fabric, then tying some big knot in it. Never play tug with any other toy as you will quickly find your dog with just bits of toys left. You start the game by picking up the toy and encouraging your dog to also pick it up. Give a particular cue that the game has started, like "Pull ! or Mine !". Some dogs may refuse to do this with you, maybe if they've been punished for tugging on things in the past. You can start small by encouraging them and treating them for holding one end while you hold the other. However, tugging is instinctive for dogs as it's a cooperative act in packmate feeding, so your dog should catch on quickly. Tug a few times, then tell your dog "drop it or let go". (You can use the same cheerful possitive tone of voice you use for "sit" or "thank you"). You can reward him for dropping it with either a treat or another round of tug (preceded by " PULL !").

Make sure that you end the game if your dog gets too rough or agitated. Simply ask for "drop it", praise for it, and put the toy away. If the dog refuses to let go, you let go of your end and walk away (it takes two to tug). Don't try to take the toy back because that will be starting the game over.

Ignore the dog if she or he tries to start the game. Wait until she or he has stopped bugging you and is doing something your want to reward (even if that's lying quietly). Practice Tug - Drop it - Tug - Drop it. If the dog starts anticipating and grabs the toy, drop your end and leave in disgust. You decide when the game is over; reward the last "drop it" and then put the toy away where the dog can't get it.

Some books will warn against this because of the fear that the dog will try to establish dominance, or that the dog will refuse to drop other items (see side box). Dogs and wolves do not try to establish dominance through tug-of-war games, and the fact that you start and stop it the game at your will maintains your "dominance". If your dog has a problem with guarding items or refuses to drop things, work on that first. One way to train "drop it" is to give the dog a large item to hold, then offer a very desirable treat in exchange. Be patient -- don't try to chase the dog around, offering the treat (why should the dog take food from you when getting chased by you is so much fun? See "Keep Away", below). When the dog goes for the treat, click as soon as the toy is dropped and give the treat. Don't grab for the toy yourself. If the dog picks it up again, try another exchange. When the dog is dropping the toy regularly, start giving the cue "drop it" before each treat offer.

Some more information on playing "tug" from ClickerTraining.com is here, and from SF/SPCA here.

See also:

Go Wild and Freeze game and others

by September Morn