Playing games with your dogs helps meet their social needs - and is just plain fun!
Games are physically and mentally stimulating for dogs. They also give you a great way to connect with your dog and enrich a meaningful relationship. If played properly, games also give you an opportunity to teach dogs boundaries and rules.
Games can even help dogs overcome certain behavioral challenges. To be sure games don't inadvertently worsen hidden behavior issues, follow the tips below. Enjoy!
Tug of war
Tug of war encourages bonding through play and is a great workout for you and your dog. It is a great way to teach your dog to listen to you even while excited and distracted. Tug-of-war can help to build up trust and cooperative skills if the rules below are followed. (Caution: Tug of war should not be played with dogs that are easily over aroused or overly protective of their resources.)
- Teach your dog your cues for beginning and ending the game. You can start the game by presenting the tug toy and engaging in active play with your dog. If play gets too rowdy, either ask your dog to drop the toy or drop it yourself and walk away. Rowdy play, mouthing, or over arousal stops the game. When the playtime is over, let your dog know by saying “all done!” and walking away and putting the tug toy away completely.
- You do not always have to win the war! Give and take is best.
- If your dog wins the game and takes the tug toy away from you, feign disinterest and walk in the opposite direction. Never chase your dog to try and get the toy from him. You can either ignore him until he comes up to you with the toy or get another toy and put all your attention onto the toy you have. Your dog will most likely drop what he has in his mouth to come and investigate a better option.
- If your dog reengages in the game and drops the toy in front or tries to give it to you, praise him and let the game continue.
- Teach your dog a reliable take it and drop it cue before you play tug so that he understands what you mean when you ask him to drop the toy.
Find it!
This game is a great one for dogs as it is so easy to learn, has them using their nose, and can actually be played in the home, in the backyard, or on walks when you need to distract your dog. “Find it” is simple to teach and simple to learn, but can create endless opportunities for having fun with your dog. Here’s how to teach “find it.”
- Drop your dog's toy a few steps away from where she is sitting, so that she can see it, and ask her to find it. This initial step is just to see which toy she actually likes! Once she goes to the toy, praise her immediately, even if she does not touch it. Repeat this each time she is close to the toy and encourage her to take the toy into her mouth.
- The first time she picks up the toy, praise her and play with it together for a few minutes.
- After she learns this game, make it more challenging by putting the toy further away, but where she can still see it. Then further away. Eventually, you can take her out of the room and place the toy somewhere in the room that is partially hidden (at first). Bring her back into the room and use the “find it” cue or the name of the toy if she knows it, and release her to go sniff out the toy.
- You can also play “find it” with hidden treats. Used cardboard boxes are a fun place to hide treats, but there are endless possibilities. You could place two boxes in front of the dog, and ask her to figure out which box has the hidden treat, or hide multiple treats so she needs to sniff around the whole room to find her rewards (this is a great rainy day activity). You can also play “find it” when on a walk with a couple of treats thrown ahead or off to the side.
- You can play “find it” in the backyard, in the park on a long line, or on walks (either drop the toy or treat behind you or throw it far ahead if she’s not looking).
Fetch / retrieve
This game is easier to teach if your dog enjoys carrying things in her mouth and she’s mastered the “Find it” game. Some dogs like to go chase after things but aren’t so willing to bring it back and give it back to you. Here’s how to teach your dog to fetch something you’ve thrown and retrieve it / bring it back.
- Sit on the floor, with your dog fairly close to you, within arms reach at least.
- Drop a ball (or a toy that they love) close to their paws. When they pick up the toy, offer them a treat to trade for the ball. When she drops the ball, mark it with a “yes!” and give her the treat.
- After a few repetitions where she is sitting close to you, move a foot or two away and repeat the process. Then you can toss the ball several feet away. Hold your hand out when she turns toward you again so she can see that you have a treat in your hand. When she comes back to you with the ball and drops it, mark and reward.
- When she’s doing this reliably, you can add a cue, such as “get it,” when you’re throwing the ball. You could say “bring it” when she’s got the ball in her mouth and is on her way back. The important part is that she sees the treat in your hand so she knows she’ll get paid for bringing it back.
Hide and seek
This is a great game to play with your dog indoors or outdoors and is usually best with two people.
- Have one person hold your dog while you go and hide somewhere in the same room or area where your dog can see you hiding.
- Call your dog’s name as the person releases your dog and praise and / or reward your dog as soon as she finds you.
- At this stage the game is easy because she is in the same room with you, but as your dog becomes more proficient, start hiding in areas that make it harder for her to find you.
- To add a bit of a challenge for your dog, while your dog is coming to find you, have the other person go hide in the same room. When the other person hears that she has found you, they can call the dog to come and find them. This back and forth will test your dog’s seeking skills and tire her out.
- You can also have the other person take your dog out of the room, so you can hide where she can’t easily see you. When the other person brings her into the room, you can whisper her name or more challenging still, don’t say anything but have the person ask her to find you instead. It’s almost like your very own search and rescue in your living room!
Tips for games
- It’s always a good idea for you to start the game and for you to end the game. Dogs begin to understand that they get to play, but not whenever they feel like it or when they’re barking or pulling on your arm.
- Keep the sessions short and fun! You want to end on a high note (before your dog gets bored and wanders off) but also not too soon that she gets frustrated. If she suddenly gets bored and wanders off, you can simply say “ok, all done” and end whatever game you’re playing. Go at her pace and keep having fun!
- Keep games short and only play if you and your dog are having a good time. A lackadaisical game of tug doesn’t do anything for everyone. If you find you’re the one doing all the finding, fetching, and you never get found when playing “hide and seek,” it might be because she isn’t understanding the game or she’s not into playing at that moment. Either go back a bit in the teaching / learning process or just play for shorter time periods.
