RAINY DAY DOG GAMES
Bad weather is no fun for you or your dog. You take your dog out to do his business then go right back inside. No long walks or trips to the dog park. Your dog is starting to get bored and a little mischievous. The stuffing is out of the pillows and there are chew marks on the chair legs. Your dog needs entertainment NOW! Here are some games you can use to beat bad weather boredom.
Use this game to burn off some of that excess energy. This is a fun version of agility training that you can use indoors to exercise you and your dog. Build a tunnel by draping a blanket over a table or two chairs. You will want the blanket to touch the floor on both sides and be open on each end. Teach your dog to go through the “tunnel.” Once he is bored with the tunnel, move on to the next exercise. Place a board between two chairs or benches and teach him to jump over it. Remember to keep the jump at a low level so your dog won’t hurt himself. Next you can set up a course with bottles or any other items you might have that your dog could run between. Set them up like an agility course and teach your dog to run a zigzag pattern between them. Remember to reward your dog with small treats as you play.
Challenge your dog’s senses. Hold a treat in your hand and show your dog the treat. Make a fist with both hands. Hold your fists out and ask your dog where the treat is. When he nudges the correct hand give him the treat. You can also shuffle the treat from hand to hand before presenting them to your dog. Another version of this is to use two or three small bowls and hide the treat under the bowls. Shuffle the bowls around and then let your dog try to pick the bowl with the treat. When he picks the right one, reward him with the treat. You can also hide small treats around the room and have your dog find them.
Teach your dogs some new tricks. Learning tricks will exercise your dog’s body and mind. The first trick you might want to teach your dog is to shake hands. Have your dog sit. Once he is sitting say “shake” and pick up his paw with your hand. Shake your dogs paw while repeating the word “shake.” Release his paw and praise your dog. You can also teach your dog to wave. Waving is very similar to shaking hands. Hold out your hand as if you are going to shake hands. When your dog lifts his paw pull your hand back and say “wave.” Be sure your dog fully understands shaking hands before moving on to this trick, and always give a treat as a reward for learning a trick. Play dead is a fun trick for you to teach your dog. Have you dog lie down. Once he is lying down gently push him on to his side giving the command “play dead.” Once he is on his side praise and pet your dog. Give treats to reward your dog. Your dog will soon learn this new trick.
The Reward Challenge. Use toys that dispense treats to entertain your dog. One such toy is a ball that has holes in it. The ball is filled with small treats and as your dog pushes the ball around, the treats fall out. There are other toys you can fill with small treats or peanut butter and your dog will have to work to get the treats out. Dogs love these toys and they will occupy him for quite a while.
Make the most of inside time with your dog. Use these ideas to have some fun and burn off excess energy. Your dog will love you for it!
