Playing puppy training games can be a great way to teach your new pooch to act the way that you want them to. They’re also incredibly beneficial in other ways! This type of regular activity is important for puppies because they have excess energy to expend. Puppy training games can help to get rid of that energy and provide you with additional training and teaching time that you’ll both enjoy.
Puppy Training Games
Hide and seek. This is great fun for you and your pet! Have a friend hold your pet while you hide. Then say his name every few seconds until he finds you. Instead of saying his name, you can also use the “come” command from training to encourage them to seek out your location. Rest assured, your pet will be happy when he finds and “rescues” you. Another variation of this game uses a treat as the object to be found – just make sure that you make the game winnable sometimes!
Fetch. Another active game that encourages focus and allows you to work with training commands. Make sure to use a soft ball or toy that won’t injure your pet – sticks should be avoided. Your pet will enjoy this game so much that you will probably have to enforce a rest period after about 10 minutes.
Obstacle course. It would be wonderful if everyone had the space and a place to create an obstacle course outside, but a simple one can be created in your home as well. Using blankets or rolled-up towels to create hurdle and using boxes or chairs as obstacles, set up a course for training your dog. Walk the dog through the course, including showing them to hop over the “hurdles”. Once you have walked them through a couple of times, encourage them to complete the course from across the room. Soon your puppy will be a master like this brave soldier dog!
Tug of War. This game allows your puppy to get out aggression in a safe way. Teach your dog to not latch on to the toy until you tell them to. Set the puppy toy on the ground and reward your pet for not taking the toy. Once he has that down, then move on to teaching your pet to “get it” to show them they are then allowed to get the toy. Of course, then you have to teach them to “let go”. When they release the toy, reward them. Soon, they will know when they can get the toy and then when you want them to release it. And naturally, part of the play is that tugging on the toy between you and them.
Puppy Basketball. Place a trash can or laundry basket in the room and grab your pet’s favorite toy. Demonstrate what you would like the dog to do by dropping the toy into the basket. Drop the toy into the basket while giving the dog the “drop” command. Make sure that they are watching you and hearing the command. Repeat it until you think that he has it, then it’s his turn. Reward all successes with great enthusiasm. Dog Treats will always work as reinforcement for success!
These puppy training games will all help you to reinforce commands between you and your puppy. They will help to make the lessons that are learned in training classes into fun! In addition, they will help to get out more of that “puppy energy” and help both of you rest more easily.
Do you have any puppy training games that you love to play with your pooch? Share them in the comments!
