Whilst
owning a dog can be a lot of hard work, it is often time well invested to see
the growth of your valued extended furry family member over the years. Much like children, coming up with new ways
to keep your pooch entertained can be a difficult feat but at Home from Home we are here to inspire you, because there are
countless ways that you can entertain your canine without having to resort to a
game of Fetch!
Not
only are these activities fun for your pup but they also allow room for bonding
and confidence boosting between both dog and owner, which in turn can shape
your dog into a model citizen, challenging their energy into constructive
activities.
However,
first and foremost it is vital to ensure that some clear ground rules are established which ensure consistency so that your
pet can retain confidence in you throughout gameplay.
1.
Remember to have regular breaks during playtime with your
dog – this not only allows your pup to regain focus but will prevent them from getting
over excited.
2.
Play sessions should be short, motivating and rewarding – it
is important to stop playing before your dog gets bored so that he/she will
always want more from you.
3.
Keep games varied to ensure maximum excitement for your
pooch.
So
now you’ve got some clear rules in order – it’s time to play. Here are FIVE suggestions
for fun games to play to keep your pup entertained while building bonds.
Simon Says
A
great game for those pooches who already know the basic instructions of ‘sit’
,‘stay’ and ‘roll’ this game incorporates exactly the same rules as the
childhood games but this time with a bag of treats.
Grab
some treats and put your dogs knowledge to the test checking his/her ability to
understand one command after the other.
Make
sure you mix and match your commands for variety and to keep your dog on his
toes.
Note:
Remember
to reward your dog when he gets the command right – there’s nothing more
beautiful than seeing how proud your dog is when getting a command correct.
Tug of war
While
this may seem a fairly basic game it can be an extremely beneficial method by
which your dog can release in built aggression while learning the basic
commands of ‘get it’ and ‘let go.’
Try to teach your pooch to only grab the toy on your say so,
the method of doing this involves rewarding him/her while the toy remains on
the ground. Once they have grasped this command then move on to the order of
‘get it.’
To
initiate the game your dog must learn how to let go, which is possibly one of
the hardest commands your dog can learn to grasp.
Consider
no-mark utterances such as ‘uh-oh’ when your dog makes a mistake.
Note:
It is
vital at the initial stages of the game to initiate control as owner to prevent
biting – consider alternatives for over excitable dogs.
Hide and Seek
Once
again using the rules of the childhood game, this game can use treats, toys or you.
just place your dog in another room and
command him/her to ‘stay’ then hide yourself, the treat or toy in another room.
Once
the item or you are situated in a good hiding place that will challenge your
pup, call your dog.
Reward
him/her enthusiastically with treats and praise, as this game uses both your
dog’s brains and senses so they will need extra encouragement.
Note:
Ensuring
that your dog clearly obeys the ‘stay’ command is key to the success of this
game.
Dog Basketball
Believe
it or not, ball games with dogs don’t just have to involve catch or soccer –
basketball can be incorporated too, whether indoor or outdoor.
All
you need for this one is an empty laundry basket or bucket and your dog’s
favourite ball.
Stimulate
the action that you would like your dog to perform by dropping the ball into
the basket or bucket and saying ‘drop’ – do it enough times for your dog to
understand, but be patient.
Then
pass the ball to your pup and command your pup to ‘drop’ the ball.
Each
time he/she drops the ball successfully into the basket or bucket, reward them
enthusiastically. While it may take them some time to pick up that the ‘’drop’’
command means dropping the ball into the basket or bucket, it can be a really
fulfilling game once your dog picks it up.
Note: Make sure your dog is paying
close attention to your command when you undertake the motion of ‘drop.’
Dog Sports
For
dogs who are more human focused than dog focused, dog sports can be an excellent
method of stimulating your pets, these can include dog agility courses with
obstacles (similar to those seen on Crufts), frisbee dog activities which can
involve more jumping than the usual game of fetch and fly ball which see’s
teams of dogs race against one another to release a box of tennis balls.
These sports provide excellent ways of
focusing joint activity whilst promoting socialising with other dogs and the
environments around them.
Note: Choose the right sport
based on your dogs own temperament and ability.
With
our home dog boarding service at Home to Home, we think of your pet as a member
of your family and as such should be treated that way.
That’s
why with all of our carers, your pooch will receive one on one attention from
our carers and their family just like your dog is their own. This will
incorporate the same routines that you regularly undertake with your pet
including walking, feeding, sleeping and playing.
To
find out more about our dog boarding services from rates through to
availability, please contact us.
