Games to Play With Your Dog (or How to Keep Your Pooch Busy)
Key Takeaways
- Dogs require daily physical and mental stimulation, which can be achieved through daily walks, interaction with people, and engaging games
- You can choose from a variety of different activities to match your dog’s temperament, energy levels, and natural tendencies
- The most popular games to play include tug of war, fetch, hide and seek, and puzzle games
- Training basic obedience and agility can also be a great mental exercise for canines.
Welcoming a new puppy or dog into your home is an exciting and heartwarming experience. Beyond the cuddles, it's essential to engage your new pup in activities that provide sufficient mental and physical stimulation, while also strengthening your bond.
In this article, we’ll explore fun and engaging activities to strengthen the bond with your furry companion and enrich their life.
Signs It’s Time to Play With Your Dog
Dogs often initiate play with their owners by using various body language cues, vocalizations, and specific actions.
Here’s how you can tell your dog wants to play with you. They:
- Lower their chest in a play bow
- Bat at you with their front paw or gently nip you
- Start rolling over
- Produce “happy” high-pitched barks or whines
- Bring you their favorite toy
- Start licking you to draw your attention
- Wiggle or dance around you to express their joy.
Best Games for Dogs
According to a Tug-E-Nuff survey, nine out of ten dog owners spend time playing games with their dogs every day. But how can you pick which activities will suit your and your dog’s personality? The games described below vary in their intensity and can be suitable for dogs of different breeds and energy levels.
Gentle Nature Sniffy Walks
Walking is essential for your canine companion’s mental and physical well-being. Start taking strolls in serene environments to stimulate your pup without overwhelming them.
Allow your dog to explore at their own pace, stopping to sniff and enjoy the surroundings. Using a long line can also give your pup more freedom while ensuring safety, so you don’t have to worry about perfect leash manners right away. You can gradually introduce your furry friend to new places, enriching their experience and making it more enjoyable for them.
Mindful Treasure Hunt
Another low-impact activity for your pet is a simple treasure hunt. Hide their favorite treats (ideally something especially tasty or smelly) in various spots around the house. Next, encourage your dog to find them using their sense of smell. This activity stimulates your dog’s brain through their sense of smell and can also provide a subtle physical challenge.
Fetch
Who doesn’t know how to play fetch? It’s probably one of the most popular activities to engage your canine companion in. However, you can make it more entertaining by incorporating different toys and changing the throwing distance. This fun game provides a good balance of mental and physical exercise.
Energetic Fetch and Retrieval
If you own a high-energy dog, a simple game of fetch may not be enough to meet their physical activity needs. Opt for longer sessions and play fetch in spacious areas instead. You can also make the game more challenging by incorporating sprints or tricky retrieves, such as throwing a ball uphill, to keep active dogs engaged and busy.
Obstacle Course Adventures
Set up a moderate-level obstacle course in your backyard, incorporating tunnels, jumps, and weave poles. You can either purchase agility equipment or create your own DIY versions using household items. Guide your dog through the course to promote agility and provide a stimulating challenge. However, consult with your dog's vet first to make sure your dog doesn’t have any health issues that could put their joints at risk from rigorous jumping.
Hide and Seek
Dogs love this game, as children do! Find a perfect hiding spot, and tell your dog to sit and wait. After, invite them to seek you out. Reward if successful. You can help them find you with your voice and other sounds.
Tug of War
Playing “tug of war” can help satisfy your canine’s natural prey drive instinct while providing both physical exercise and mental stimulation. To keep the game safe and enjoyable, make sureyour dog only takes the toy on cue, releases it when asked, and that play stops immediately if their teeth touch your skin or clothing. Following these rules ensures a fun and controlled game for both you and your dog.
Chase the Prey
This activity is a perfect outlet for dogs with high energy levels and strong hunting instincts, allowing them to chase, stalk, and catch. One great way to play this game is with a flirt pole – a long pole with a rope and a toy attached. Move the toy along the ground or in the air, encouraging your dog to chase and catch it. Reward successful catches with praise or a quick treat to keep them motivated.
Popping Bubbles
Use pet-friendly bubbles to engage your pooch in this simple yet fun activity. Blow the bubbles at your dog’s chest level. They will try to pop them following their prey drive instinct. This game is excellent for physical and mental exercise.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
Another simple DIY trick to keep your pup busy is to take an empty muffin tin and place treats in it. Next, cover the holes with small objects (like tennis balls), so that your dog needs to use their nose or paw to uncover the treats and retrieve them.
Basic Obedience Training
Teaching commands to your pooch is not only a great way to prevent unwanted behavior, but also to stimulate them mentally and foster a genuine connection.
The key is to stay patient and loving, even if your dog doesn’t get everything from the start. Start with the basics: Name recognition, Look, Sit, Down, Come, Leave It, Drop It, Place, Stay (Wait), Place.
Learn more about basic obedience training, as well as instructions for these commands in the “command” tab in the Woofz app.
Canine Sports
Another option to keep your pooch busy is to enroll them in canine sports classes.
Explore activities like flyball, dock diving, or disc dog competitions. These sports cater to high-energy dogs, offering a platform for them to showcase their athleticism.
Dog Games to Keep Them Busy
Having a dog is very much like having a toddler, so it's natural for dog owners to sometimes crave a moment of peace in their daily routine. A great way to do so is to keep your pooch busy with a fun and stimulating activity they can enjoy independently.
Treat-Filled Toys and Puzzle Games
Provide mental stimulation with treat-filled Kong toys and puzzle games that challenge your dog's problem-solving skills and keep them busy.
These games serve multiple purposes, such as improving cognitive abilities, reducing boredom, and providing an outlet for extra energy.
Slow Feeders
These are special bowls (with patterns inside that turn mealtime into a fun puzzle) that make your dog eat more slowly.
Eating slowly is beneficial for your dog's digestive system, as it promotes better digestion and helps prevent various health issues. Additionally, slow feeders require problem-solving skills to extract the food from the bowl.
Chew Toys and Dental Chews
Introduce durable chew toys and dental chews to keep your dog entertained while promoting oral health.
Chewing helps alleviate stress and anxiety, making it a self-soothing activity for your furry companion. However, be careful to use only dog-safe chew toys made of durable materials, so your dog can’t bite off small pieces and choke on them.
Sensory Garden Exploration
Create a sensory garden in your backyard with different textures, plants, and safe elements for your dog to explore. Allowing them to engage their senses through sniffing and interacting with the garden provides both mental and sensory enrichment.
Frozen Treat Dispensers
Freeze a mixture of small treats and water in treat dispensers or ice trays for a convenient and healthy treat. The challenge of licking and chewing the frozen treats not only keeps your dog occupied but also provides a refreshing and rewarding activity, especially during warmer months. It’s a great, mentally stimulating activity to replace other games.
Wrap Up
Incorporating these doggy games into your daily routine not only provides entertainment for your furry friend but also contributes to their overall well-being and development. Remember to be patient, use positive reinforcement, and, most importantly, have great fun bonding with your adorable canine companion.
Passionate team dedicated to help pet owners raise safe and obedient dogs, fostering meaningful connections with their furry companions.
