I love the Fall, leaves change, air cools down and fall obedience training games for dogs outside seems more fun when you aren’t dripping in sweat from just standing there. Getting outside for fall is your last chance before the snow falls and then you need more gear to enjoy the outdoors. Unless of course you live in a warmer climate where it doesn’t snow, here are some fun Fall obedience training games to play with your dog.
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Fall Obedience Training Games for Dogs
Dangle the carrot: Well not literally, but the idea is the same. Using the stick from a broom or rake (or plunger, but I would rather not) fasten a rope (not a bungee cord) to the stick and a ball at the end of the rope. Your dog will love chasing the ball, but use this time to work on commands. Teach him not to jump at the ball, and to not grab at the ball unless he is told. He is only allowed to play once you give him the command. He also needs to stop playing upon command. I am not saying this will be easy, but it will be fun! Make sure you have plenty of small treats in your pocket to rewards his good behavior!
Fetch: My dog Lola doesn’t care much for fetch. You can throw a ball, and she just stands there. So I don’t play with her. My mother’s dog could play all day long. Don’t chase him if he doesn’t bring it back though, that is a completely different game, one most of us don’t play. Use command words to get him to bring it back and to ‘drop it’ or ‘leave it’ or whatever words you use.
Hide and Seek: You can use yourself, but try this with a toy. Let him watch you hide it. He is not allowed to move until you give the command that allows him to go find it. He can stare off in that direction as long as he wants, but he can’t move until you say so!
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The Recall Game: This is one of our favorite fall obedience training games for dogs! It will teach him to come when called. He isn’t born knowing this, you have to teach him. Sit with a friend, your dog, a leash and some treats. Holding your dog, pass the leash to your friend. She says “Come Spike!” (well, use your dog’s name, if you call him Spike and that is not his name, you’re just going to confuse him). She guides him with the leash, giving him a treat when he goes to her, while she is holding on to his collar. Now she passes the leash to you, and you do the same thing. Praise, praise, praise! This one is important! My dogs have gotten loose more times than I care to think about, yet they come back.
The key to fall obedience training games for dogs is to not always be scolding your dog. Think of them like little kids. You need to be rewarding good behavior and while you are reprimanding bad behavior, you need to quickly distract. Training games should be fun, then the not so fun things won’t be so hard to deal with, and in the end you have a well behaved dog that you will be proud to have around others!
