Fun Games for Dogs to Play
Do you know many fun games to play with your dog? Every dog has a favorite games but why not try new ones?
Dog games are paramount to your dog’s physical and mental health, crucial to relieve dog boredom and vital in establishing that oh-so-special dog/human bond.
Here are some fun dog game suggestions:
Fetch
This is a classic game to play with your dog. You throw something as far as you can and your dog runs after it, catches it and brings it back.
You can use pretty much any dog toy to play fetch, though it’s easier to teach your dog how to do it if it’s a toy he loves.
It will require some patience on your part as far as the teaching goes, he will probably chase after it but not return it at first, so a little reward when he gives it back is a good way to show him how to do it.
It’s mostly an outdoors dog game, though you can play it inside too, if you don’t have much love for your furniture (or not that much furniture, for that matter).
There are a lot of dog toys made particularly with fetching in mind. You have the orange ones, the ones that whistle, the ones that glow in the dark, the ones that float, you name it! For us the best dog ball is the Chuckit Ultra Ball.
Name the Toys Game
Now, here’s a real challenge for you! This game requires you to teach your dog how to recognize toys by name, so that he’ll get the right toy when you ask for it. Pretty cool, right?
As far as teaching goes, it means a lot of repetition and encouragement, but trust us, it is so worth it! Positive training is a wonderful way to create a special bond between you and your dog.
Also, the mental exercise it provides him is very important for his health. So we say yes, go for it!
Start with a small group of toys, different shapes and colors to make sure he doesn’t get confused and try it!
Related article: best toys for puppies
Play Chase
Simple but very efficient, this fun dog game is one of our dog’s favorites. It’s a great workout for both you and the dog, though we did end up way more tired that the dogs…
The premise is very simple. Either you get down on your foursin front of your dog or just lean towards him before you take off running. He will, of course, chase you. Reward him with a big celebration once he catches you and just do it all over again.
There isn’t much teaching involved, the only thing you might need to watch out is the catching part which, for a more energetic or strong dog, can result in a painful moment for you so, for bigger, more excited dogs, you might need to teach him what you want him to do once he gets to you.
Either than that it is free, prop-free fun dog game, guaranteed to entertain your dog for as long as you’ll endure doing it.
Bubbles
Have you ever tried making soap bubbles in front of your dog? He will go berserk! It’s fun, costs next to nothing, you can do it for a long time without getting tired and there is no training required so, needless to say, we do it a lot around here!
Some dogs will jump after them to pop the bubbles, others watch it fall on them, some will want to eat them, either way, they just keep on coming back for more!
Tug of War
This is a basic game for dogs to play. For us, the best toy to use is a good, sturdy but comfortable rope dog toy, it usually comes at a great price and is very durable.
Your dog bites into one side, you grab the other and tug of war ensues.
Best yet, if you have two dogs, each catches one end and growl and pull away until one of them gets tired or loses, which usually doesn’t happen very quickly.
It is a great indoor game, because it doesn’t require much room or movement. It helps keep them active and entertained, no boredom in sight.
If you are on the other end of the rope, we suggest you let your dog win sometimes, because if he keeps pulling and nothing happen, he’ll end up more frustrated than happy and nobody wants a bored, frustrated dog!
Laser Pointer
Usually associated with cats, laser pointers can be loads of fun for dogs, if used correctly.
Our dogs love it! It is pretty self explanatory, you point the laser and the dog follows it around, trying to catch the elusive light.
The two important things to have under consideration, never point the light in the direction of the dog’s head (particularly the eyes) and keep this game short.
It is said this isn’t a good game for dogs because they will obsess over it, since they never do get to catch the red dot.
Ours never shown any issues with this, but I will say that hiding a treat or a toy somewhere and when you’re about to finish playing, leading the dog to that reward is a great idea, because it gives them closure and that probably means they will want to play it again next time, which is a plus (unlike cats who’ll just figure out where the light comes from and attack your hands from then on).
Obedience Training
This is a great game for dogs. It is also one of the easiest ways to get closer to your dog.
Teaching dogs to do certain tasks or tricks has multiple degrees of difficulty or challenge. You can teach your dog to sit or give you his paw, walk by your side without a leash, stand between your legs, roll over, play dead, you name it!
All you need it patience, a dog eager to please and maybe a training book or even a YouTube video showing you how it’s done.
The benefits of this dog game are many. It is great for their mental and physical health, and a great way to bond.
Just know that some dogs will learn quicker than others and some tricks will be easier for your dog than others. And that’s okay! Each dog is different and the only thing they have in common is how much they love us and how perfect they are with all of their little imperfections.
All pet wants to play with a different type of toys. So, I have collected my dog toys from Nandog Pet Gear. Here I got a good collection of pet products.
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