Tag Archives: fun dog games

Fun options for walking your dog

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We’re all creatures of habit. In our family, we have a saying that habit is the most powerful force in the universe. Chances are, especially if your routine is stable, you’ve fallen into a rut with walking your dog. You do the same thing at the same time every day. And it’s become a chore rather than a fun time with your dog.

Turn it around

Remember when you first got your dog and every walk was an adventure? Your new dog had to check everything out, took joy in every little thing. By extension, you looked at things a little differently, too. And you may even have looked forward to walking your dog. 

You can bring it back. Make it a chance to relax and have fun rather than another item on your “must do” list.

Idea #1: Vary your route

Pictures of a woman walking her dog, a Boston Terrier along a leaf-strewn pack

When you leave the house, turn the other way. Whatever corner you reach, turn the opposite direction from your “normal” choice. Sometimes we don’t even realize that we’re always making the same choices until we pay attention to what those choices are.

If you don’t have a set route, and you’ve memorized every single building/tree/mailbox in the neighborhood, pile into the car and go somewhere else for a walk. Just a little change of scenery can make a difference. 

Idea #2: Make walking your dog playtime

When your dog isn’t paying attention, stuff a favorite dog toy into your pocket. Decide in advance to stop at a specific place on your walk, pull out the toy and play with your dog. Your dog will be surprised and delighted by the “recess.” Playing with your dog emphasizes that you are the source of all good and fun things, and it may even help your dog pay more attention to you on future walks. Playing games with your dog is the most effective method of dog training, too. If he/she never knows when the toy is showing up, your dog will check in with you more often.

Hope even lets her French Bulldog Torque carry the toy on the way back home. It makes him happy and keeps him from sniffing every tree and bush.

Idea #3: Invite a friend

Chances are your friends with dogs are in the same rut. Make a plan to meet someplace to walk your dogs together. If the dogs know each other already, they’ll be delighted to see their “friends.” If they don’t, meet someplace with plenty of space so the dogs aren’t thrown together. This is one of the best ways to introduce dogs to each other – on “neutral” territory with plenty of room to advance and retreat.

If your dog isn’t particularly dog-friendly, invite a friend without a dog to come along. It gives you the chance to catch up and gets everybody out for some fresh air. It’s a perfect opportunity to get together with someone while heeding the “social distancing” guidelines we’re living with.

Just change it up

Habit is comfortable, but it’s not particularly interesting or fun. Just making small changes to everyday routines makes life more interesting, even if you’re just walking your dog.

Do you play with your dog?

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I (Hope) teach the first level of competition obedience for our dog club every Tuesday night. This past Tuesday I realized something that kind of freaked me out and made me sad. Most of my students don’t know how to play with their dogs.

It’s not that they don’t love their dogs. Or that they don’t spend time with their dogs. But some of them have the mindset that every interaction with their dog has to have purpose – and that purpose isn’t just fun.

Pet dogs play!

In this instance I think it’s clear that “pet people” have the advantage. They know how to just “hang out,” and spend time with their dogs. Without any guilt about what they “should” be working on to achieve their training goals.

Their dogs get to play – with toys or without. Tug. Fetch. Chew. Zoomies. All those things are important for dogs – and for us. They remind us of the Henry Ward Beecher quote: “The dog is the god of frolic.”

And play is important – for both of you. Studies have shown that dogs that play with their people are happier, healthier, and better-behaved than those that don’t.

Make them play!

We all need a bread from serious stuff. Including dogs. So after a few minutes of training, I told everyone “Exercise finished! Play with your dog.” And got almost a whole roomful of blank stares. Fran and her puppy Simon are in the class. So Fran served as an example for the class – getting on her knees right away and wrestling with her little Boston boy.

woman plays with dog

One of Simon’s latest favorite games is one we call “Throw the puppy away!” When Simon comes up, Fran gives a little push against his chest, backing him up a step or so. He pounces back, ready to get “thrown away” again.

The others in class just kind of stood around. One said her dog likes a ball. He doesn’t actually fetch it, or chase it. He just carries it around. Another said her dog likes stuffed toys, but wouldn’t carry one. A couple others just looked at us blankly.

Lightening things up

So I made them play with their dogs. You don’t need toys, or balls, or anything but yourself and your dog. I told everyone to give their dogs a little shove in the side. And say something happy and excited – “Wanna play?” “How about it?” “Watcha gonna do?” Questions keep everyone engaged – even the dogs.

Most were reluctant – including the dogs. They looked at their owners like they’d lost their minds. “You want me to what?”

So I went around the room and got everyone play-wrestling with their dogs. Only for a couple of minutes. And nothing over the top. Just a little gentle horsing around.

Back to business

Everybody needs to play – dogs and people. Especially when we’re learning. Remember your favorite teachers? Weren’t they always the ones who made class fun?

And then we began another heeling exercise. And everybody – dogs and people – did better. More animated. Better attention. Faster pace. Much more fun.

Keep it fun! Play with your dog!