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Brain Games for Dogs
Dogs need mental activity as well as physical activity. Providing your dog with activities that are mentally challenging can help to keep your dog happy, as well as preventing boredom and associated destruction.
Here are a few ideas:
Hide and seek: Ask your dog to 'stay' and hide in another room of the house, then call him and let him find you. Start hiding in easy places such as behind a door or under a table, and give your dog a treat when he finds you. You can make it harder to find you as your dog gets better at this game.
Barrier game: Roll a ball through the gap under a wide board or stretched-out blanket, so your dog has to go around the obstacle to retrieve the ball.
Jumping games: Cut a circular hole in a sheet and fasten it to a doorframe. From the opposite side, hold out a treat to coax your dog to jump through the hole. Start a few inches high and raise the jump as the dog gets more practised.
Box game: Let your dog watch you place a treat or toy in one of two boxes that differ in size, shape or colour, then move the boxes around and encourage him to search for the object. Leave the boxes open or loosely covered at first; later, use boxes your dog has to open to help develop his dexterity.
Sniffing out the goods: Hide food treats around the house, then ask your dog to 'find it!'. This games works best if you hide treats in front of your dog first of all, so he learns what 'find it' means. Then hide treats out of sight of your dog and let him 'find it' by sniffing them out with his nose.
Keeping occupied while alone: Provide your dog with chew toys, rawhide chews or a kong stuffed with food to keep him occupied when alone.
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Make your own Canine Agility Course
Set up a canine obstacle course in the garden, which will allow you and your dog to experience the fun of agility without the expense! The sport of agility involves jumping, weaving, running, tunnelling and balancing.
A makeshift agility course can be made from:
Jumps: Turn a picnic table on its side, or place a broom handle on two overturned buckets or bricks.
Tyre Jump: Hold or hang a hula-hoop or an old car/tractor tyre for your dog to jump through.
Tunnels: Make tunnels from arches of chicken-wire covered in old sheets, or use children‘s play tunnels.
Balance Beam: Place a 12 inch wide board on bricks with two more boards as ramps at either end.
Weave Poles: Set up a row of plungers, or fix a row of old electric fence posts or tent poles in the ground, for the dog to weave in and out of.
Broad Jumps: Place a big, broad piece of plywood or cardboard on some bricks for the dog to 'long jump' over.
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Fun and games with your dog
Give your dog a variety of toys and rotate them every week. Include toys to chase, manipulate, chew and cuddle.
Pass the parcel: wrap a box of dog bones or treats in newspaper and give it to your dog to rip open.
Canine sandbox: Does your dog like to dig? Then give him his very own digging pit by putting a sandbox in the garden, so he can engage in his beloved pastime without ruining your flowers!
Soap bubbles: non-toxic bubbles made for kids and dogs are safe and won‘t create a mess, even indoors. Many dogs love to chase and attack them!
Relax! Don‘t forget to add in a few more sedate activities. Just like people, dogs don‘t want to be on the go all the time! Try giving your dog a massage, brushing his coat, or snuggling up together to watch a film or listen to some relaxing music.
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Older Dogs
Older dogs may not need so much energetic exercise, but they still have active minds and love to learn new things (despite the untrue saying that you can‘t teach an old dog new tricks).
Suggested tricks:
high five (give paw)
roll over and play shot
catching treats in the air
All these tricks are fun and help keep your dog‘s brain active. They also have a practical application for getting your dog used to handling and grooming as well.
Other ideas:
fetch named articles
balance treat on nose
tidy toys away
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Swimming for Dogs
Many dogs love to swim although some dogs may be nervous of water at first. You can introduce your dog to water in a shallow wading pool in your yard, or by throwing a familiar toy into shallow water and encouraging your dog to fetch it.
Throw floating objects into water for your dog to retrieve, such as a plastic dumbbell or tennis ball.
Throw some toys into water, some of which float and some of which sink, for added fun.
Kiddie pools also provide a great place for dogs to cool off in the summer.
Swimming is a good form of exercise which places little stress on joints, making it ideal for all dogs even those with bone problems and for young dogs whose bones are not yet fully developed.
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Outside activities for dogs
Fetching and running: ball games, Frisbee throwing.
Games of agility: jumping over and balancing on fallen logs.
Seek games: hiding toys and treats in layers of loose soil or leaves.
Gentle cycling: with your dog on a loose lead.
Search and rescue: hiding behind trees, barns, sheds or banks of earth and shouting to your dog to find you.
The great outdoors offers many opportunities for activities with your dog. Outdoor pursuits such as hiking, rambling and orienteering are great fun for both dogs and owners alike, as are camping trips.
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Dog toys for time alone
If your dog likes to chew it is worth considering his chewing style and getting him/her appropriate toys that will last. If your dog is a heavy duty chewer (such as some of the bull breeds and guarding breeds) tough latex or rubber toys are best:
kongs
latex toys
rubber rings
tuggers
hard vinyl toys
If your dog likes to 'mouth' but not chew toys (such as labradors) consider the following, remembering these are not as tough:
fleece bone
dental kong
vinyl toys
If your dog needs encouragement to play with toys or is adjusting to spending time alone, treat toys are a good choice:
dog treat ball
activity ball
kongs
Also remember to change your dog‘s toys every couple of days to maintain his/her interest and enthusiasm in them.
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Jog a Dog
Jogging is an activity both you and your dog can enjoy together, and which will keep you both fit and strengthen the bond between you.
Many dogs make great running partners, but not all dogs are marathon material. Tiny or stocky dogs may not be made for distance running. Also take care with dogs that are old or ill, or with puppies.
Keep your dog on a lead which is slightly slack, as he runs beside you.
Start with relatively short distances and increase the distance slowly.
Don‘t jog in hot weather or in snow or ice.
Pay attention to your dog‘s pads, especially when running on pavement.
Consider forming a neighbourhood 'jog-a-dog' running group of people and dogs!
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