Going beyond ‘fetch’ – fun games to play with your dog

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.