With few places to go, we’re getting creative with new dog games to play inside. Our morning play session with our dogs is one of the highlights of every day. It ensures that every single day starts with something to smile about.
Getting creative
The challenge, for us, is to keep it fresh and fun. Teaching our dogs a new dog game is Hope’s favorite part. Figuring out each “step” in the process, and how to communicate it to the dog. Then, once we try it with the dog, we learn how to change things up, based on that individual dog’s response.
This week Fran was introducing Booker to the bowling game. Torque’s been playing this one for a while. Hope sets up the toy bowling pins and sends her French Bulldog Torque off – “Go Strike!” to knock them down. Torque bashes into each one with his big head and dashes back to Hope for his reward. We think it’s adorable.
Booker is a Boston Terrier. He doesn’t have a “big giant head” and certainly doesn’t use the one he does have to bash into things. Instead, like a Boston, he uses his paws.
We’d never seen that before in the bowling game. Thinking about it, Fran decided that, since Booker was more comfortable using his paw, slapping the pin would be Booker’s version of the game. His rules can be different from Torque’s. The game depends on the dog.
Sniffing for fun
Torque’s newest game is sniffing scents. His love for Hope’s essential oils actually gave her the idea. That, and reading about many friends competing in “Nose Work” dog sports. In Nose Work, dogs are brought into an area where certain scents are hidden, and the dog has to signal where they are.
In our basement game of sniffing, Hope puts a couple drops of essential oil (we’re using clove at the moment) on a cotton pad and Fran hides it while Torque and Hope are turned away. When it’s in place, Hope tells Torque to “find it” and he dashes around, sniffing everywhere. It’s a pretty new game for them, but Torque just loves it and seems to be catching on quickly. Except when he grabs the cotton pad and tries to eat it. Mostly he signals by pawing at it.
But we’re not sure this game would be a good idea for Booker. When Booker is feeling unsure, he “checks out” and goes sniffing. He disengages from Fran and loses focus and fun. For Booker, sniffing is a stress behavior. We’re not sure if making it part of a game would stress him even more, or normalize sniffing.
New dog games adapt
When we’re developing a new game for our dogs, we try the set-up and see what our dogs do with it. All games change based on how that individual dog reacts and “plays” the game. Dogs who are used to learning new things, and know they’re allowed to try stuff, can be very creative in their reactions.
We may have a picture in our minds of how a new dog game will go. It’s a rare occasion when it goes as planned. That’s part of the fun.
New dog games develop over time. And it’s so much fun to have a selection to choose from. Every day we can choose a beloved “oldie” to dust off and play, or a new favorite, or play a “work in progress” game.
Just a few minutes a day can grow your dog’s brain, your bond with your dog, and start the day with a huge smile. It doesn’t take much room, much time, or much effort. What a huge payoff!
What games do you play with your dog?
Rose, a Chinese crested, enjoys pulling out the penguins from the igloo/penguin toy I purchased from you. Once she has one I ether throw it for her to retrieve or I hide it under a fold of a blanket for her to find. Meli, a Labrador retriever loves to play find it. I hide a small treat and she finds it. She is really good at this game. I try to find more difficult locations to hide the treat, but she is quick to find the hiding place. Fiona, a Sheltie, likes to play by running through some agility moves: under a chair, onto a chair, through a “tunnel” of chairs lined up, over a broom handle. Meli usually joins in on this, but she is too big to crawl under a chair or navigate a tunnel. She can commando crawl like achamp though. Emma, a mystery mix of uncertain age, likes to fetch but cannot compete speedwise with the younger dogs. I need to think of games she might enjoy. All are learning to touch appropriate toys when I name them. Rose and Meli are best at this. Meli is learning to pick up her leash and give it to me. I have not been successful at teaching them to put away their toys. I would be glad for training advice re this.
Hi, Karlene! It sounds like you and your dogs are having so much fun! Putting toys away starts as just picking up a single toy. Then carrying it. Then dropping it. Then dropping it in a bin. It sounds like you’ve already got the foundation established – just take it a step at a time and you and the dogs will be doing it in no time. Thanks so much for writing to tell us about your games – you’ve inspired us to set up a household “mini agility” course, too! What a great idea!