Dog Games

Dogs need to be constantly stimulated both physically and mentally so that they don’t develop unwanted behaviors due to boredom. There are many different games that one can play with their dogs in order to use up that energy such as fetch or chase. The following page gives some ideas of what kind of games your dog might like and the difference in physical and mental stimulation that each game provides.

A tired dog is a good dog

Many of the common problems dog owners face are largely due the lack of physical and mental stimulation, these problems include but are not limited to chewing, barking, digging, jumping, and lead pulling (more on these issues on the Dog Problems page). Each different breed of dog will require a certain amount of exercise and mentally stimulating games, finding out what works best for your dog is the owner’s job.

While it may not seem like it both mental and physical stimulation are equally important, a dog can still become destructive if they too little of one. For instance, putting a dog on a treadmill is great to physically tire out a dog but does very little in the manner of mentally stimulating the dog. However once again everything depends on the individual dog. One might suffice with a quick jog on a treadmill while another may not.

Lastly we cannot ignore the fact that games are not only beneficial for the dog but also for their human owners. They give a motivation to get out and exercise and can be one of the reasons that pet owners tend to have a little longer life than people that don’t have pets. Also the interaction between the pet and his owner goes a long way for bond building which is all too important for successful training and being a good leader. Always try to aim for making it you who ends the game (always initiate them though), it’s best if your dog is left wanting more this way the next time is much more special. So don’t wait for your pooch to walk away from you.

The rest of this page is dedicated to give ideas on how to meet your dog’s needs. (The levels of mental and physical stimulation are estimated by stars in each game).

 Hide and Seek

Relatively self explanatory game. You hide and your dog looks for you. This game is an excellent time to practice your dog’s Recall (come) and Stay. Here’s a step by step on how you can play it with your dog.

1. Go to a room (always use this same room to start off) and put your dog on a stay. (If your pooch decides to get up and doesn’t stay long enough for you to hide, have someone else close the door or ask them to tell the pooch to stay put).

2. Go somewhere and hide well (choose different spots each time).

3. Call your dog’s name (or use your recall command) in an excited voice (only once). If your pooch can’t find you right away you can call him again if they aren’t in sight.

4. Once your dog finds you greet him very excited, tell him he’s a good boy and give him a high value treat.

5. Walk back to the room and place him on stay again and start again!

 Find the Treat

Here’s a good game for dogs that highly food motivated. Making it more difficult with each success makes this game more mentally stimulating for the dog. Also a good way to practice the stay or down commands. It’s similar to hide and seek only you are going to be hiding a treat now. Its best to use a really strong smelling treat at first to make it easier, change it later to make it more challenging.

1. Put your dog on a down or stay.

2. While your dog is watching you place a treat in a place where your dog can see it.

3. Release your dog and encourage him to get the treat.

4. Once he gets it, praise him verbally and place him on a down/stay again.

5. Do the exact same thing over again only make #2 harder, here’s how: place the treat in an area in the same room but hidden (allow your dog to see), place the treat in a different room but not hidden, place the treat in another room this time hidden, and just keep making it more harder and farther.

 Clean up Toys

This game might take a bit more training and a few tries, it will require your pooch to drop toys when told (learn how to teach Drop on the Commands Page). Try to stay away from using toys that your dog likes to keep away from you. Not only is this game challenging for your dog and thus more mentally stimulating but can also be a useful command to teach to get your dog to pick up his own toys!

1. Start by placing a few toys on the floor and having a basket a couple feet away.

2. Entice your pooch to pick up a toy. Don’t chase your dog if he starts playing keep away.

3. Call to your dog and say drop (into your hands) and trade his toy for a high value treat.

4. After a few practices with #3 stand straight above the basket and ask your pooch to drop another toy into your hands. Reward and drop the toy in the bucket.

5. Once number #4 is done flawlessly take away your hand when you ask your dog to drop the toy, so that the toy fall directly into the basket.

6. Repeat 1, 2, and 5 over and over again until your dog almost does it automatically. Don’t forget to vary when you give treats so that your dog doesn’t always expect a food treat, but always verbally praise.

7. Don’t make this seem like a chore, be excited and once your dog has got this exercise down you can play a little, move quickly to the basket, point to it say “Basket, Drop!” and go to the next toy. You can make this step a bit more challenging later on by moving slightly away from the basket but always pointing to it and saying “Basket, Drop”; so that your pooch understands that you want him to drop it into the basket. 

 Fetch

This is a classic and an excellent way to burn energy without tiring yourself out. Not all dogs are all willing to go fetch a ball so don’t be discouraged if your dog doesn’t seem to be interested. Just remember a few things: don’t let this game became a keep away, never chase your dog if he doesn’t come back or drop the toy far away from you, always ignore this behavior. Never play fetch with a stick, dogs have been impaled while running with a stick in their mouths and there is always the risk of splinters. Here’s a good way to teach your dog to fetch without doing things such as running away from you or dropping the toy in any area other than your hand:

1. Call your dog’s attention tease him with the toy.

2. When he seems most excited throw it as far as you can and say “Fetch!”

3. Once your dog has got the toy in his mouth call him name and give the recall command.

4. As he is coming to you show him a tasty treat.

5. Say drop and allow the pooch to place the toy on the floor, give him a treat other than the one in your hand (so the one in your hand doesn’t become a bribe).

6. Grab the toy and toss again.

(You can vary this game by using a ball or a Frisbee)

 Tug o’ War

While some may say that tug o war is a bad game to play, it doesn’t necessarily have to be. If you as the owner takes charge in how it is played this can be a great game to play. Just remember a few things; only play tug o war with one toy and one toy only, so that he doesn’t tug at other things. Make sure that you begin and end the game, and always end the game if your dog is becoming too agitated (remember this is a game not a contest). Tug o war can be a good game for building confidence, while it’s always recommended for you to stop the game with normal and assertive dogs, occasionally if a fearful dog wins a tug o war game he may become a bit more confident. However always use things in moderation. Here’s how to play a healthy game of Tug o War:

1. Pick up a toy and encourage your dog to get it.

2. Once your pooch has it in his mouth, give it a little tug and say “Tug”.

3. The most likely thing is that your pooch also started tugging on it. If not wiggle the toy on the floor a little and act all excited for him to get it.

4. Keep tugging till your dog’s heart’s content.

5. After you think your dog has had enough (before he loses interest), stop tugging and say “drop”. If your dog complies, praise him and give him a treat. If your dog doesn’t stop, drop the toy and walk away.

 Keep Away

This is a fun game that can be played in two ways, either you chase your dog or your dog chases you. It is important to have control over this game meaning you end it and your begin it. In this game you don’t really need food treats as the game itself serves as the reinforcer here is how to play:

1. Choose one toy to play keep away with you and use this toy always for this game.

2. When your dog has the toy, move really slowly towards him and make it obvious that you are trying to get the toy (but don’t say anything).

3. When you are close enough make a quick dash for the toy (without really getting it) and say to your dog “Run!” (As the cue to a Keep Away game).

4. Chase after your dog for a while and then say in a serious manner “Come!” and ask him to drop the toy. If he doesn’t, then walk away and ignore the dog.

5. If the pooch drops the toy get it and run away from him and encourage him to come to you (this is an excellent way to reinforce the recall command).

6. Vary how you run away and trick your dog to make it challenging too, for instance you can run away go into a room hide besides the door and when your dog runs in you run out.

7. At this point you can give him the toy for you to chase or you can stop the game with a “good boy” and putting the toy away for later.

 Flirt Pole

This game is especially effective for dogs that have a high prey drive. If done correctly it can also be used to help control, to a degree, that prey drive by having an ending cue. Also a good game to have on hand if you don’t want to exhaust yourself.

1. Start by making a flirt pole. All you need is a handle or stick of some sort (for you to hold), a rope, and a toy.

2. Tie the rope to your handle and the other end to the toy (kind of like a fishing pole, your handle is the rod and the toy is the lure).

3. Entice your dog to grab the toy by wiggling it on the floor and then moving it away quickly.

4. You can run with the flirt pole, make the lure go around you or run away and make this a keep away game.

5. End the game by letting the dog catch the lure and after a few seconds say “Leave it!”, praise the dog for leaving it, and put the toy away for later.

 Dig for Treasure

This game is better played in an area where you will permit your dog to dig (such as in a sandbox). Stop playing this game if your dog starts digging in areas other than the designated spot; however, this might be a good alternative for dogs that already have digging problems and need a way to channel that digging energy. The key to keep this game from turning into bad behavior is to cue the pooch when to dig:

1. Arrange an area (like a sandbox) where your dog will be able to dig.

2. While your dog is looking, dig a hole and place a tasty treat (you can place it within a wrap so it doesn’t get dirty) in the hole. Or use your dog’s favorite toy if your dog prefers toys to food.

3. Cover the hole with dirt and pat it down.

4. Pat the area where the treat or toy is and encourage your dog to dig (you can make digging gestures yourself). Don’t forget to cue with a command such as “Dig!”.

5. Once your dog retrieves the treat let him have it and praise him. If you use a toy play a game with him.

6. Continue to do this and make it harder by not letting him see where you dig it, or by digging three holes and only placing a treat in one.

 Stream Chase

This game is particularly for those dogs that like water and don’t mind getting wet; it’s also a good way to cool down on hot days. Of course not every dog is going to like this game so don’t force your dog to play it if he seems afraid of the water. Lastly, you can take advantage of this game by giving your dog a bath right after the game if you like!

1. Use your hose to shoot a jet of water.

2. Move it around to entice your dog to chase after the stream.

3. Occasionally stop the stream where it is so the dog can actually get it; never spray the dog forcefully in the face.

4. The farther and faster you move the stream the more exercise this will be for your dog without you having to get tired.

5. Never allow your dog to chew the water hose, simply turn off and praise your pooch for a game well played.

 Soccer

This is much like fetch only you are using a ball that he won’t be able to carry in his mouth nor transport very easily. Not all dogs are enticed by this game but it’s definitely worth a try! Because your pooch will have to maneuver the ball without holding it in his mouth, it is more mentally challenging and also doesn’t need the “drop” command.

1. Entice your pooch to the soccer ball (or another big ball that won’t puncture easily).

2. Once you are a couple feet away from your pooch roll the ball to him encouraging him to get it.

3. As he moves around with the ball occasionally retrieve it and roll it away.

4. Try to get your dog to come to you while rolling the ball your way, this will take some concentration on your dog’s part but makes the game more fetch-like.

 Walks

While walking is one of the more basic ways dog owners help their dogs release energy it can be slightly different than jogging with your dog. A good walk should allow the dog to walk at a semi-fast pace while taking his time to sniff and mark. Allowing your pooch to smell new scents and to investigate provides more mental stimulation than a jog would or than a walk while heeling. Just remember a few things:

1. No leash pulling.

2. Allow the dog to sniff and investigate.

3. Don’t walk too slowly or too fast.

4. Walk to new places that offer new smells and sights.

 Running/Jogging

Jogging with your dog can be very healthy for the both of you. Jogging/running provides much more physical stimulation than does walks but also is less mentally stimulating because one isn’t going to be stopping to smell scents when in full jog/run. And because this is more about physical stimulation there is usually no need to take new routes or vary the scenery. Here are a few pointers though:

1. No lead pulling, your dog should be at your side or slightly in front of you.

2. If your dog tends to mark a lot, keep away from bushes, upright poles, and trees.

3. Remember to stop every now and then to allow your pooch to recover (have water handy too).

4. No running on full stomach or right before eating as this can cause bloat.

5. With giant breeds or long breeds (e.g. dachshund) running in length is not a good idea because their bones can be adversely affected.

 Kongs or Buster Cubes

These are toys in which you can place treats and have your dog work for them. While it may not be much of physical stimulation it is a great mental workout. Also because it will usually take a while to get the treats out, it’s a good toy to leave them with for a while to entertain themselves (especially with crating). Just some things to remember:

1. Make sure that kongs can be easily retrieved from the dog with the “drop it” command. This avoids any resource guarding problems. Always offer a high value treat after the exchange.

2. A good idea to put in kongs is kibble mixed with something moist and sticky (like peanut butter) and then sealing the opening of the kong with some peanut butter and lastly freezing the kong for later use.

3. Make sure you take into consideration how many times the dog is given the kong, whatever he is fed on the kong make sure to take that much away from his regular meals so that he isn’t being overfed.

 Teaching Tricks

Looking for new innovative tricks is an excellent way for your dog to get mentally stimulated. Obedience commands are also used to establish your authority and to teach the dog that good things come to those who listen. Some things that can help:

1. Check out the Dog Command page for some basic obedience ideas.

2. Even small kids in the household can help with this, thus teaching children how to properly interact with the dog and teaching the dog that even smaller children are still an authority in the household.

3. Keep sessions short so as to avoid boring the dog.

4. Don’t only use food treats as rewards, use any of the games described here as rewards too.

5. Don’t forget to phase out the food rewards, for more information on this check out the Phasing out Treats page.

 Get This! Get That!

This game is much like Clean up toys but focuses more on item recognition than the drop it command. You will have to teach your dog to identify an item and bring you the one that you ask for. An exercise like this can be converted into training to get specific items such as controllers or slippers!

1. Start off with one toy such as a Rope. Encourage your dog to get it by wiggling it on the floor and saying “Rope!”.

2. Once your dog has got the rope, ask him to bring it to you and drop it. Practice these two steps over and over again.

3. Next add another toy such as a stuffed animal and place it next to the rope.

4. Ask for the rope and point to it. If your dog picks it up give him excited praise and a high value treat.

5. Next you want him to get the stuffed animal, say “Toy!” and wiggle the stuffed animal to encourage him to grab it.

6. Once the stuffed animal is in his mouth ask him to give it to you in the same way you asked him to give you the rope. (Make sure that the rope is still next to the stuffed animal when doing this exercise).

7. Once he gets the idea what the ‘toy’ is, ask him to get the rope. Say “rope” and point to the rope (by this point in time you shouldn’t have to wiggle the toy, just point to it and say way it is).

8. Every time he brings the correct item praise him warmly. Alternate randomly which item you ask your dog to bring. If your dog gets the wrong one, don’t say anything just take the toy and place it back.

9. Later, once your dog has gotten better at identifying the items, add another toy that can be distinctly named (such as a ball or kong) and alternate between the items.

 Eeny-Meeny-Mieny-Mo

This exercise is an excellent way to mentally stimulate your dog. It’s really simple and makes use of dog’s most acute senses: smell. To play this game I would start by using a really smelly treat to make it easier, later you can change it to make it harder. Here’s how to play:

1. Place three large cups, all of same size and color, upside down on the floor.

2. Place your dog on a stay or down until you can place a treat under one of the cups.

3. Ask your dog, “Where’s the treat” and point at the cups.

4. Let your dog sniff them for a while and when he paws one take it off the ground.

5. If he chose the correct one, let him have the treat and praise warmly. If he didn’t get the correct one simply put the cup back without saying anything.

6. Once your dog gets better at this you can make it more challenging by: using less smelly treats, using more cups, or switching the cups around after every wrong answer.

7. Never put NO treats in the cups, this discourages the dog and isn’t fair.

 Toys in Pool

This game is best suited for breeds that really love to play in the water. Especially good game to play in the summer heat too. All you will really need is a kid pool a couple of toys that float and that’s pretty much it.

1. Fill the pool up with water (usually the more water the better).

2. Place toys that float and toys that are big enough so that they can’t be carried by the pooch (like a big ball).

3. Entice your pooch to play with the toys by submerging them underwater and letting them come up on their own (be careful that they don’t shoot out and hit your dog).

4. Usually this will be enough to get dogs playing a good game in the water and trying to catch the toys that won’t stay still.

Sports that can be done in competition trials

 Agility

This is one of many games that can be done in competition with other dogs within certain organizations. This exercise not only demands physical capabilities but mental ones too, thus providing a well balanced game. You don’t necessarily have to do this professionally to enjoy the game, many of course obstacles can be made with things at home or bought from a hardware store.

Obstacles include:

1. A-frame

2. Tunnel

3. Weave Poles

4. See-Saw

5. Pause table

6. Myriad of Jumps

7. Collapsed Tunnel

8. Dog walk

9. Hoop Jump

Rules:

1. Course must be completed within a certain time frame (officially called Standard Course Time SCT).

2. Course must be done in a certain order.

3. Dog must physically touch “contact zones”.

4. Must not knock down jump poles.

5. Owner can give commands but most not touch dog or equipment.

Site for more information: http://www.usdaa.com/rulesReg.cfm

Dog agility video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZd_ycqYD-0

 EarthDog Trials

This sport isn’t as well known as agility or obedience trials but is an excellent game for terriers and dachshunds. The way earthdog is done is by making a maze like tunnel that in one way leads to the “quarry” or objective. In official trials, rats are often used for a dog to follow the scent of. Even if you don’t want to do this game with an official organization you can always try it out at home.

1. Start by making a maze of tunnels. You can actually make the tunnels or use cardboard boxes and connecting them together.

2. Encourage the dog to go into the tunnels and fetch whatever it is you want to use as your objective (e.g. a toy, an actual caged rat, or bedding that has rat scent).

3. Allow your dog to go in and retrieve the toy or alert you of where the quarry is found.

4. You can make this much more challenging by placing more tunnels and making the pooch look farther into the tunnel.

Site for more information and rules: http://www.akc.org/events/earthdog/index.cfm

Earthdog Trial Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGxLhhSDbc

 Flyball

Flyball is almost like a dog relay race. 4 dogs are in one team, they have to cross a 51 ft distance to a ball that is on a flyball box. One dog runs down the course, jumps over 4 hurdles, gets the ball from the box, runs back and as soon as he crosses the starting line the next dog goes and runs to get the ball and back. Usually the first hurdle is 6 ft from the starting line, each hurdle is 10 ft apart and the flyball box is 15 feet from the last hurdle. This can definitely be a fun game to play with a real team or a makeshift course at home with a couple other dogs.

You will need:

1. 4 dogs

2. 4 hurdles

3. A flyball box (or someone can simply hold the ball out for the dog to get)

4. 4-8 tennis balls.

Rules:

1. Dogs must clearly jump over all hurdles.

2. Get the ball without dropping it.

3. Dogs at the starting line must wait until runner has crossed the line before starting to go.

4. Smallest dog sets the height for hurdles (meaning that hurdles are set to match his height).

5. Must finish within a certain time frame.

For more information: http://flyballdogs.com/

Flyball video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7f5fDrejp0

 Obedience Trials

Much like training your dog to do basic obedience tricks, obedience trials are an official way of testing how well a dog follows directions and cues. The dog and owner are asked to do a number of basic maneuvers (the higher the competition level the more difficult the commands), and the judge takes away points for any wrong movements. Here are some things that one is asked to do in obedience trials:

1. Heel on and off leash

2. Sit and stay

3. Stand for examination by stranger

4. Maneuver with handler while heeling.

5. Come to owner.

Rules:

1. Dog comes into trial with 200 pts and is deducted for wrong movements or no action.

2. Must follow judges’ command.

3. 170+ pts will give the team a ‘leg’, and three legs will give the dog his first title.

Site for more information: http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/

Obedience Trial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VewTiSe0wDk

 Musical Freestyle

This sport takes lots of practice and patience but can be very rewarding. The goal of this sport is to move/dance in sync with the music one is using while also performing in an appealing way with your dog. No food or lures are allowed in competition and much of the dog’s actions are cued by the owner’s own movements. If done correctly this exercise is not only physically stimulating but also gets the dog really thinking. Things one might need to do this at home:

1. Music

2. Creative choreography

3. Cueing the dog to do an action while not making it too obvious

4. Lots of practice and consistency

Site for more information: http://musicaldogsport.org/

Musical Freestyle video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0jNC_w1tSw

-Steven L.

References and Further Reading

AKC. Getting Started in Earthdog Tests.< http://www.akc.org/events/earthdog/getting_started.cfm >

Hutchinson, Mark. What is Musical Freestyle? < http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/musical.html >

Szkukalek, Attila. What is Canine Freestyle? < http://www.dogdance.net/english_version/definition/definition.html >