Dog Games

There are many avenues to explore when it comes to finding new and exciting K9 / dog games to entertain both yourself and your pooch. From group sports to games to play in the backyard, we have it covered!

You might like to consider group doggy activities and games such as Flyball or Agility Training . These activities offer fantastic exercise and socialization opportunities for your furred one. They also offer the exact same for your self! Flyball and Agility training both require basic obedience training. Most council's can direct you to your local dog training club.

Training / Behavioral Games

You Will Need (click on orange links to view or purchase the products, from a Aussie seller):

Assign your kongs and plush toy a point system. For example: Small Kong = 5 points, Large Kong = 10 points, Plush Toy = 20 points.

Lay your stuffed Kong's (with Kong stuffing, or your own filling) and plush toy on the floor when you dog isn't in sight. When your dog enters the room keenly watch for any attraction to the kong'sor plush toy. The minute he sniffs upon a kong or toy immediately say ‘5 points!' and lavish praise and excitement over this effort equally that of the points system.

For example; If your dog takes interest in the Small Kong, immediately state ‘5 points!' in a upbeat and excited manner as soon as contact is made with the kong. Praise your dog while he enjoys the yummy snack you have placed in the kong, and give him a good pat and or belly rub.

If your dog takes interest in the Large Kong, immediately state '10 POINTS!' in an even more ecstatic manner. Race over to your dog and lavish with affection and offer some liver treats or similar. Keeping your response in line with that of the 10 points.

If your dogs take interest in the Plush Toy, immediately state ‘WOW 20 POINTS' to the point you are almost whaling with glee! Pile on the affection, joy, belly rubs, treats and love.

Repeat until your dog begins to associate they toys with the points.

Where you take this game it up to your own imagination

You can opt to leave the kong'sand toys placed in new spots, each day for your dog to find and discover. The interaction will be something you will both enjoy and look forward to. And you dog will start to realizethe different reaction he receivesin accordance with the points system. This is great for clever dogs who need to exercisetheirabilities to think and react.

You can also integrate simple retrieving exercises in to your Kong games. If your Kong'sor toys are well hidden in the home it can keep your pooch thinking and working for quite some time! In order to retrieve your dog must already be head over heels in love with his Kong and plush toy. Hopefully you have achieved this via the pre-training.

Throw the small Kong a short distance away so he can reach it while on the lead. As soon as you throw it say the command "Fetch 10 Points!", it is important to say it once and clearly.

When he collects the small Kong, have him come to you. Encourage the dog as he comes back by crouching down. Take the Kong out of this mouth using a command such as "Give 10 Points", although you can choose whatever you like a long as it is simple and concise. Repeat so on and so forth with the different Kong'sor Toys and Points.

You can then hide the Kong's and direct your dog to go and find them with the appropriate commands.

You Will Need (click on orange links to view or purchase the products, from a Aussie seller):

The secret to playing this game successfully is for you, the human, to control 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 the leash!). Never play tug with any other toy. You start the game by picking up the tug rope and encouraging your dog to also pick it up. Give a particular cue that the game has started, like "Let's tug!". Some dogs will refuse to do this with you, especially if they've been punished for tugging in the past. You can start small by offering treats holding one end while you hold the other. However, tugging is instinctive for dogs (it's a cooperative act in pack matefeeding) so your dog should catch on quickly. Tug a few times, then tell your dog "drop it". (You can use the same cheerful tone of voice you would use for "sit" or "come"). You can reward him for dropping it with either a treat or another round of tug (preceded by "Let's tug!").

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 tug rope 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? When the dog goes for the treat, 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.

Game credit: http://www.wagntrain.com/Games.htm

Hoops (A great simple game for the kiddies to learn and teach)

You Will Need (click on orange links to view or purchase the products, from a Aussie seller):

Take the laundrybasket and weight it down with a heavy object (so it won't get knocked over).

Introduce your dog to the basket and the ball. As he watches, drop the ball into the bucket several times, while saying "drop."

Give him the ball, then bring him over to the bucket and say "Drop." Do this until he drops the ball in the basket, then immediately praise him and offer him a treat. You'll have to repeat this several times before he makes the connection between the reward and the action.

When the connection is made, roll or throw the ball to him and watch him doggie-dunk it!

Game credit: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/five-games-that-will-delight-your-dog/page1.aspx

You Will Need (click on orange links to view or purchase the products, from a Aussie seller):

This is a great game to play either in the house or when you are on a walk – it makes your dog use his nose which is good mental stimulation for him.

The idea of the game is to get your dog to carry a message back and forth between you and the other person; the game gets harder, or more fun for your dog, as the person he carries the message to moves out of sight and your dog has to search them out using his nose to track their scent.

Start by letting your dog see you place a message or treat in the pouch that's attached to his collar. This will become a signal to him that the game is about to begin. Then hold him by the collar while your friend starts to run away. Tell your dog "special delivery Bill (whatever your friends name is)" and release him, just as your friend begins to call him. When he catches up your friend he should praise him, take the pouch from his collar, and give him a treat.

Now the friend places a new message or treat in the collar and you begin to run away. Your friend directs the dog "special delivery Clare (your name)" and encourages him to run after you. When he reaches you, remove the pouch and praise and reward him.

Repeat this a few times over the course of several days so your dog learns what the command "special delivery" means, and he can find the target person without needing too much encouragement to do so.

Gradually increase the distance between you and the target person until they disappear around a corner or otherwise go out of sight before you release your dog. Most dogs can turn the corner and find their person, but returning to the original person – now out of sight – can be a stumbling block. Your dog may need to be taken to where they can see you before he returns – keep working on it slowly and he'll soon understand what he has to do.

One corner is all many dogs can manage. But some dogs are natural born messengers, and you can challenge them with increasing distances and varied terrain.

As with all games, remember that it is a game – if you see that your dog isn't understanding what he has to do, either make the game easier so he is successful at it or stop the game and play one you know he can be successful at and come back to it another day.