No doubt you want a well-behaved dog. But getting stressed and overly intense about training will only make it a chore for you and an ordeal for your dog. On the other hand, turning dog training into a game keeps the process fun and exciting — a benefit for both of you. Not to mention, games are a great way to proof behaviors, teach your dog to listen despite distractions, and mentally exercise your dog.
The following games can teach your dog new behaviors and polish ones they already understand. Have fun!
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Test how smoothly your dog can walk on a loose leash by holding your dog’s leash in one hand and a full glass of water in the other. To play this game, you will simply need an unbreakable drinking glass and your dog’s leash.
Start by holding the leash in one hand and the glass of water in the other. Next, cue your dog to walk and see how far you can get before you spill any water. Start in the backyard or during a quiet time of day before upping the challenge to a busy street. Use your voice and body to encourage your dog to move beside you and only let your dog walk when the leash is hanging in a “J” shape.
Dog walking games are a great way to learn to control your dog’s movement with your body language and verbal cues rather than the leash. Remember that the leash is for safety, not control. Plus, the risk of getting wet will make you more conscious of your dog’s walking behavior and how much it’s in synch with yours.
After you train your dog to sit on cue, teach them to settle into that position no matter what is going on around them with this game.
With your dog on leash, jump up and down, clap your hands, or run around until your dog is excited. Then ask them to sit. When they do, reward them with a delicious treat then let them play again. Start with low level movement, so your dog isn’t too worked up and is more able to listen. Then slowly build to high level wildness.
This game will teach your dog emotional self-control which is incredibly useful in real-world situations like visitors at the door. It also helps to curb bad dog behavior, particularly in hyper dogs, as your dog learns to make more appropriate choices. You will also help your dog learn to ignore distractions. Finally, it’s great physical exercise for both of you.
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To keep your training routine from feeling stale, assign different behaviors to the numbers one through six (or one through 12 when your dog knows many cues). Then roll a die or two dice and cue your dog to do whichever behavior comes up. When they do the behavior, give a treat or play with a toy. Then roll again and repeat.
Your dog won’t know which behavior you’re going to ask for next, so they can’t anticipate and guess. They have to really focus on the verbal cues and body language signals you use which helps proof the behavior. This is also good for transitioning your dog from one position to another. For example, many dogs struggle to sit from a down position because they originally learned to sit from a stand.
To play this game, you’ll need a low-sided, open cardboard box, a clicker, and your dog’s favorite treats.
Your goal is to get your dog to stand completely in the box. Start by rewarding any interest in the box then work up to your dog stepping inside until finally all four paws are in. Placing the reward inside the box will help encourage your dog, and a clicker can help you communicate exactly what they’re doing right. Once your dog has mastered this size box, try smaller and smaller ones.
This game is a great introduction to shaping, a training technique that builds behavior in small increments. It also gets your dog thinking for themselves as they anticipate what might earn them a reward. Finally, it helps improve body awareness which is valuable for dog sports like agility.
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The goal of this group game is for everybody to hide and your dog to find each person one at a time. However, if your dog doesn’t have a solid stay, somebody will need to hold the dog while everybody else leaves. You can also play this game with your dog and one other person.
First, decide on the order you will call the dog. Then after everybody is hidden, call the dog one at a time in that order, so your dog isn’t overwhelmed. When your dog finds the first person, have that person make a big fuss and reward the dog with a treat or toy before the next person takes their turn. Start with easy hiding places, such as when you’re only partially covered, then build up to more challenging situations.
This teaches your dog that coming when called leads to wonderful things. It’s worth their while to always keep an ear out for their name. It also encourages them to come even when you’re out of their sight, which can be essential in an emergency.
Sergey Lavrentev via Getty Images
Count out 25 pieces of kibble or low-calorie treats at the beginning of the day. Then watch your dog for good behavior to reward. If your dog sits quietly while you clip on their leash, give a treat. If they stay quiet when the mail is delivered, give a treat. And so on. Hopefully you won’t have any kibble left by the end of the day.
This reinforces good behavior, so your dog will eventually exhibit proper manners without having to be told what to do. And just as importantly, it teaches you to always pay attention to your dog and not take good behavior for granted. The behavior you reward will be repeated in the future.
The post Training Games to Play With Your Dog appeared first on American Kennel Club.
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The following games can teach your dog new behaviors and polish ones they already understand. Have fun!
Loose Leash Water Walking
©Justyna - stock.adobe.com
Test how smoothly your dog can walk on a loose leash by holding your dog’s leash in one hand and a full glass of water in the other. To play this game, you will simply need an unbreakable drinking glass and your dog’s leash.
Instructions
Start by holding the leash in one hand and the glass of water in the other. Next, cue your dog to walk and see how far you can get before you spill any water. Start in the backyard or during a quiet time of day before upping the challenge to a busy street. Use your voice and body to encourage your dog to move beside you and only let your dog walk when the leash is hanging in a “J” shape.
Benefits
Dog walking games are a great way to learn to control your dog’s movement with your body language and verbal cues rather than the leash. Remember that the leash is for safety, not control. Plus, the risk of getting wet will make you more conscious of your dog’s walking behavior and how much it’s in synch with yours.
Wild Sits
After you train your dog to sit on cue, teach them to settle into that position no matter what is going on around them with this game.
Instructions
With your dog on leash, jump up and down, clap your hands, or run around until your dog is excited. Then ask them to sit. When they do, reward them with a delicious treat then let them play again. Start with low level movement, so your dog isn’t too worked up and is more able to listen. Then slowly build to high level wildness.
Benefits
This game will teach your dog emotional self-control which is incredibly useful in real-world situations like visitors at the door. It also helps to curb bad dog behavior, particularly in hyper dogs, as your dog learns to make more appropriate choices. You will also help your dog learn to ignore distractions. Finally, it’s great physical exercise for both of you.
Roll the Dice
©Laura - stock.adobe.com
Instructions
To keep your training routine from feeling stale, assign different behaviors to the numbers one through six (or one through 12 when your dog knows many cues). Then roll a die or two dice and cue your dog to do whichever behavior comes up. When they do the behavior, give a treat or play with a toy. Then roll again and repeat.
Benefits
Your dog won’t know which behavior you’re going to ask for next, so they can’t anticipate and guess. They have to really focus on the verbal cues and body language signals you use which helps proof the behavior. This is also good for transitioning your dog from one position to another. For example, many dogs struggle to sit from a down position because they originally learned to sit from a stand.
Get in the Box
To play this game, you’ll need a low-sided, open cardboard box, a clicker, and your dog’s favorite treats.
Instructions
Your goal is to get your dog to stand completely in the box. Start by rewarding any interest in the box then work up to your dog stepping inside until finally all four paws are in. Placing the reward inside the box will help encourage your dog, and a clicker can help you communicate exactly what they’re doing right. Once your dog has mastered this size box, try smaller and smaller ones.
Benefits
This game is a great introduction to shaping, a training technique that builds behavior in small increments. It also gets your dog thinking for themselves as they anticipate what might earn them a reward. Finally, it helps improve body awareness which is valuable for dog sports like agility.
Group Hide-and-Seek
©LaineNeimane - stock.adobe.com
The goal of this group game is for everybody to hide and your dog to find each person one at a time. However, if your dog doesn’t have a solid stay, somebody will need to hold the dog while everybody else leaves. You can also play this game with your dog and one other person.
Instructions
First, decide on the order you will call the dog. Then after everybody is hidden, call the dog one at a time in that order, so your dog isn’t overwhelmed. When your dog finds the first person, have that person make a big fuss and reward the dog with a treat or toy before the next person takes their turn. Start with easy hiding places, such as when you’re only partially covered, then build up to more challenging situations.
Benefits
This teaches your dog that coming when called leads to wonderful things. It’s worth their while to always keep an ear out for their name. It also encourages them to come even when you’re out of their sight, which can be essential in an emergency.
Treat Countdown
Sergey Lavrentev via Getty Images
Instructions
Count out 25 pieces of kibble or low-calorie treats at the beginning of the day. Then watch your dog for good behavior to reward. If your dog sits quietly while you clip on their leash, give a treat. If they stay quiet when the mail is delivered, give a treat. And so on. Hopefully you won’t have any kibble left by the end of the day.
Benefits
This reinforces good behavior, so your dog will eventually exhibit proper manners without having to be told what to do. And just as importantly, it teaches you to always pay attention to your dog and not take good behavior for granted. The behavior you reward will be repeated in the future.
The post Training Games to Play With Your Dog appeared first on American Kennel Club.
Read more...
