3 Dog Games That You Can Do at Home

Do you ever wonder how much fun it would be to make games for your pawsome little friends yourself? You are at the right place. Here, we have 3 very fun games, that you can set up for your dog at home. 

These will help them work on important skills like nose work and problem-solving. Here are some ideas to add to your tournament:

1. Treat retrieval games

Treat retrieval games are an exciting way to engage your dog and get them thinking.

Here are a few treat retrieval games. 

• Snuffle mat game: Sprinkle 25 low calorie treats into your dog’s snuffle mat and place it on the floor. Then time your four-legged friend to see how long it takes them to retrieve all the treats from the mat. 
• Bobbing for biscuits: Fill a bowl with water. Add a handful of larger treats in the water. Set a timer for 30 seconds and see how many they can fetch. You can use tennis balls for this purpose as well because the goal is to have your dog take the treats out of the water and place them onto your hand.  
• Interactive treat games: You can use puzzle toys and household items for this game. For example, you can put treats in a tin and top with tennis balls. Have your dog hunt around and get to the treats. You can put treats between stacks of plastic containers, so your dog will have to dismantle the stack to get to the treat.

You should supervise closely while your dog engages in these games. Make sure they don’t eat anything they aren’t supposed to. 

2. Recall races

These races are a great way to test your dog’s listening skills.

Make your dog stand a distance away, then call them. Time their return to you after you make the call. You can also use a long lead to encourage your dog’s success, and keep them safe, if your dog’s recall isn’t strong enough just yet.

3. Skill-based competitions

These are great if you have more than one dog participating. Even if your dog is competing solo, it is also fun, and also a great tool for you to measure improvement in their skills. 

Below are some ideas for fun skill-based competitions.   

• Push-ups: Have your dog do a sit, and then a down, to make them do doggy push-ups. Observe how many they can do in a set amount of time. This way, you can also work on their focus on a repetitive task.
• Down stays: Use this to test how long your dog can stay in a down position. Try this with distractions around them as well. 
• Hot and cold: Hide a toy or treat and by the tone of your voice, let your dog know if they are getting hotter or colder. This is a relatively tricky game, but can strengthen communication between you and your dog. 

Here’s to some fun games with your furiend! Read more training tips and tricks here.