At some point of every dog’s life, playing fetch just gets old. But that doesn’t mean you should stop playing games with your pup! Playing with your dog is not only an important part of keeping them physically fit and healthy, it also stimulates them mentally, along with helping to form a stronger bond between you and your pup.
There are lots of games you can play with your pup to keep them happy and healthy. Some take a little more time and training, while others are games you can easily enjoy without extra effort. Picking the right games to play with your pup can sometimes be overwhelming, so we’ve put together some of the best games to play with your pet, so you don’t have to worry about what to do the next time your pup starts getting antsy!
Tug of War
Tug of war is a great way to train your pup while having fun together! When playing tug, make sure you stop the game whenever your pup’s teeth touch your skin. That way, they know that any sort of biting or teething is unacceptable behavior. After a while, you’ll wean them from teething altogether!
Frisbee
Frisbee is the perfect activity for pup’s who love fetch but need something a little more advanced. With frisbee, your dog chases further, giving them a great workout. Start off with a soft disc to acclimate them to the shape of the frisbee, then upgrade to a hard frisbee once they’ve learned how to catch!
Play Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek is another good game for teaching your dog. Not only does your dog have to practice staying, your pup also learns some rescue skills in the process! Hide and Seek is a great game for mentally stimulating your pup, and is perfect for rainy days.
Use Treat Dispenser Toys
Treat dispenser toys let your dog exercise their jaw, while allowing them to use their brain to solve the puzzle of the toy. There are lots of different dispenser toys out there. To make the game more advanced, you can freeze healthy broths or bits of meals from places like Ollie in the dispenser toys.
Create Your Own Agility Course
Agility courses are one of the best ways for your pup to get exercise, have fun, and be mentally stimulated all at once. You can set up your agility course in the backyard using props from the dog store, or you can get creative and build your own! If you really get into it, you can even make a course that you and your dog can do together.
Play Find the Treats
Find the Treats is like hide and seek, but instead of hiding yourself, you hide treats around your house and yard for your dog to find. It’s a great activity for training your pup, along with a time you can treat your dog with healthy snacks.
Playing games is a great way to spend quality one-on-one time with your pup. Having a few fun, different games to play with your pup is good for making sure neither of you get bored. It’s a great time to teach your dog, strengthen your bond with one another, and make sure your pet is staying physically and mentally healthy and fit for many years to come!