My Favorite Games Now

Certain games are just natural “dog games”, like fetch and tug o’ war. But if you really want to spend some more time with your animal, you would like a few more options to keep it from becoming monotonous, both for you and the dog.

Let’s start by suggesting a variation to the age old game of fetch. Erect (or use available structures) barriers to create obstacles. You can decide if the dog has to pass over, under, or need to find another route. Make sure that it is within the dog’s capabilities, or it might just wait for you to help it.

Instead of a stick, or ball, use a Frisbee. Many dogs find it great fun trying to catch it in mid-air, and it’s fun to watch - even for those sitting on the sideline. The Frisbee can easily be thrown a lot further than anything else, giving some extra exercise to those species that were bred to run around a lot.

The dog’s keen sense of smell could also be a source of fun. Hide an object, and have the dog find it. One option is to use a favorite toy, due to the familiar scent. The other option would be to hide a treat, which can then be eaten as a “reward” for having found it.

When your kids are playing with the dog, be sure to keep a watchful eye. The kids, while enjoying themselves, do not pay enough attention to the dog’s behavior. The animal might start “playing rough” after a while, or in a moment of frustration or hurt, snap at someone. The line between playful and defensive is crossed, but the children fail to notice, possibly with severe consequences.

When playing games for dogs, you have the ability to use it to your advantage for obedience training. This could be for simple commands, like “drop it”, or “sit up”, just “sit”. The dog will associate the command with the game, and will thus be much more likely to remember it.

On the other end of the scale, there are games intended more for your enjoyment than the dog’s. They lack in providing active involvement in the game (for the dog), but compensates for it by affording the animal rather large amounts of attention. Dogs love human contact, so they “bear with it”. This includes games like dog dress up games (becoming very popular), and “dog parties”.

Games for dogs are limited only by your own imagination and patience. There are many options and variations, and the animals quickly catch on to most of them. Besides strengthening the bond, you will also do your dog a favor by having it exercise.