Chapter 8
Appropriate Games to Play

Romping around with your dog is not only a fun part of dog ownership, but it’s also a bonding experience and an opportunity to practice rules and boundaries within a defined structure.

Games are only fun if the game is challenging, the players are well-matched, and neither player is fearful or intimidated. Follow the tips in this chapter to give a pleasant gaming experience to both yourself and your dog.

You’ll find that the benefits of playing appropriate games with your dog extend beyond the game session. It will increase your value in your dog’s eyes, as you become a fun and exciting person that your dog instinctively gravitates to. When you call your dog, watch her come running!

Tug

TEACH IT:

Many (but not all) dogs enjoy a game of tug as it indulges their instinctive drive. Introduce this game to your dog gently so as not to scare her off of it.

 1  Engage your dog with the toy. Show it to her and hide it behind your back. Make it skittle away like a real, live prey animal.

2 Have it peek out from behind you, and when your dog goes for it have it run away. The toy should move AWAY from your dog, not toward her.

3 When she catches the toy, wiggle and tug it gently in a side to side (not front to back) motion.

4 After a few seconds let your dog pull it from your hands. This is her reward; the satisfaction of winning her prize. Praise her as she prances around with it.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Some breeds (such as terriers and herding breeds) have a much higher tug drive, but all dogs enjoy tugging to some extent. The more you play this game with your dog, the more her drive will develop.

BEFORE YOU START

Choose a good tug toy: fluffy with fringes or hanging bits. A squeaker or squishy body helps.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY DOG HAS NO INTEREST IN TUGGING.

Make your own tug toy with a mesh cloth and food (cheese, hot dogs) stuffed inside. Your dog will initially lick the toy and then bite down on it. With every bite or tug, a little food will squirt through the mesh.

TIP! Always let your dog win.

STEPS:

 1  Make the toy skittle away like a real prey animal.

2 The toy always runs AWAY from your dog.

3 When she catches it, wiggle it side to side.

4 Let her pull it from your hands as her reward.

Fetch

TEACH IT:

Is your dog uninterested in retrieving a ball? Or does he get the ball and then run off with it? We can fix that!

 1  Use a box cutter to make a slit in a tennis ball.

2 Show your dog as you drop some treats inside.

3 Toss the ball and excitedly encourage your dog to get it. Your dog just saw the treats dropped inside and so will be interested in getting that ball.

4 Encourage your dog back to you by crouching and patting your legs. Your dog may want to keep this valuable food-ball for herself, so the first time may take a little effort to get her back, but keep at it.

5 When you get the ball back, squeeze it to make the treat drop out.

6 Let your dog eat the treats.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The first time getting the ball back will be the hardest, but very soon your dog will figure out that she can’t get the treat out on her own and needs to bring it back to you to release the treat.

BEFORE YOU START

It’s easiest to teach fetch outside, as your dog’s chase drive will be higher.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY DOG WON’T CHASE THE BALL.

Run after the ball yourself—this will activate your dog’s competitive drive. Snatch it up if you get there first.

TIP! Put a long line on your dog if you suspect she will try to run off with the ball.

STEPS:

 1  Make a slit in a tennis ball.

2 Drop some treats inside.

3 Toss the ball.

4 Encourage your dog back.

5 Squeeze the ball to release the treats.

6 Let her eat the treats.

Wrestling

TEACH IT:

Dogs can really enjoy wrestling, so long as it is gentle.

 1  Cover and uncover your dog with a blanket. Or cover yourself with the blanket and call to your dog.

2 Goose her rear or nip playfully at her tail with your fingers.

3 Showing her belly can be a submissive gesture or an invitation to play. Stay to the side of your dog and avoid hovering over her.

4 Lift up her ears; pull them forward to cover her eyes.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Dogs wrestle in different ways, so it will be up to you to be observant and notice which games your dog likes and which she finds irritating or intimidating. As a rule of thumb, start small and gentle; ideally with just one finger.

BEFORE YOU START

Get on your dog’s level; either low on the floor or on the bed with her.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY DOG GROWLS AT ME.

Is it indeed a growl, or is it a play bark or vocalization? If it is a growl, stop the game and leave. That will be your dog’s penalty for growling.

TIP! Remember that you are much bigger than your dog so your dog can easily feel intimidated.

STEPS:

 1  Cover your dog or yourself with a blanket.

2 Nip playfully at her tail.

3 When your dog shows her belly, avoid hovering over her.

4 Lift her ears and cover her eyes.

Chase Me

TEACH IT:

Dogs have an instinctive chase drive and will enjoy a game of running after you.

 1  Crouch lower and lower, and, in a suspenseful voice, start counting down … “Ready, set, go!”

2 Take off running excitedly. Encourage your dog to chase you by calling to her and looking back over your shoulder.

3 Let your dog catch you and play with her when she does.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Some dogs simply adore this game. You may find that they even start picking up “naughty” items (such as your shoe) to goad you into a chase game.

BEFORE YOU START

If your dog has a history of aggression or nipping, do not play this game.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY DOG JUST STANDS THERE AND DOESN’T CHASE ME.

Take one of your dog’s toys and hold it out behind you as you run. Or enlist another dog to chase you, to get your dog started. A treat in your hand can also do the trick.

TIP! The more excited you are, the more excited your dog will be.

STEPS:

 1  Crouch down and say, “Ready, set, go!”

2 Take off running excitedly.

3 When your dog catches you, play with her.

Find Me (Learn My Name)

TEACH IT:

It’s useful to have your dog know your name and the names of family members. You can then have your dog find a certain person.

 1  Ask someone to hold your dog and then leave the room and hide in an obvious place.

2 Your helper should excitedly point to where you left and say, “Find [your name]!”

3 Your dog will search for you by scent. If she is having trouble finding you, help her by making little noises or poking your head a tiny bit into view. If she’s still having trouble, call her name.

4 When your dog finds you, give her praise and petting and a treat. Reinforce the cue by saying, “Good find [your name]!”

WHAT TO EXPECT: This is a fun game for your dog! It engages his scent searching instinct and has a great reward of finding YOU at the end!

BEFORE YOU START

Enlist a family member or other person to help teach this skill.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY DOG DOESN’T GET IT.

Start slower; just hide at the other end of the room behind a chair. Give treats when she finds you.

TIP! Use names in daily conversation with your dog; when your husband comes home from work, say, “Look, it’s Randy!”

STEPS:

 1  Have someone hold your dog while you go hide.

2 Your helper points and says, “Find [your name]!”

3 Your dog will search for you by scent.

4 Give a treat and reinforce the cue with “Good find [your name]!”

Make a Learning Challenge Toy

TEACH IT:

This DIY dog toy builds your dog’s confidence, tenacity, and scenting ability. It will also get your dog out of your hair for five minutes!

 1  Place a treat or kibble in each cup of a muffin tin.

2 Let your dog find all the treats.

3 Set it up again, but this time cover half of the treats with tennis balls.

4 Your dog will have to push, roll, or pick the tennis balls up to get at the treats. If she is having trouble, lift one of the balls to expose the treat and replace it. This should encourage your dog to keep searching!

5 If your dog is overly rambunctious, you may have to hold the tin down with your hand or foot.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Even rambunctious dogs tend to be calm and methodical with this challenge.

BEFORE YOU START

You’ll need a heavy muffin tin and a dozen tennis balls.

TROUBLESHOOTING

MY LITTLE DOG CAN’T GET HER LITTLE MOUTH AROUND THE BALL.

Some little dogs figure out how to roll the ball to cause the treat to flip out. Otherwise you can use a newspaper ball instead of a tennis ball.

TIP! Give your dog this challenge before dinner, to keep her entertained for five minutes while you prepare her food.

STEPS:

 1  Place a treat or kibble in each cup of a muffin tin.

2 Let your dog find all the treats.

3 This time cover half of the treats with tennis balls.

4 If your dog has trouble getting the treats, lift a ball to show her where it is hiding.

5 Secure the muffin tin with your foot.