Looking for some new ways to get your dog up and moving? Try some new games with your pup that will be both physically and mentally stimulating!
Do you have a runner in the family? Try these games for dogs that love to chase!
- Try playing a game of tag. When my Moose dog is feeling frisky, he’ll chase me around the yard a little. Just be careful — a dog that gets too excited may bite at your feet or clothes. If your dog does nip at you, yelp like a puppy or give him a firm NO.
- Reverse tag is a great one for dogs who like to be chased. Instead of your pup following you, you try to catch your pup!
- Swap that boring tennis ball for something that bounces eccentrically, like a Kong or even a football. The unpredictable motion of an oblong object may activate your dog’s chase instincts.
Does your dog have a super-sniffer? Try these games for dogs that love to sniff!
- Hide a toy. This is a great game for inside or outside! Just take a strong-smelling toy or a special favorite and hide it. Your dog may need help (like squeaking a squeaker, or a visible piece of the toy) to find it. Lally loves it when I tuck her squeaky ball under the covers on the bed — she’ll dig it out and wait for me to hide it again!
- Hide a person! This game gets your dog thinking about hiding places that are large enough for a person. I like to play this game with my brother’s dog Lily. While she is in another room, I’ll hide somewhere — like behind a half open door, or crouched behind the couch — then call her name. She comes running to find me and cover me with kisses.