Whenever we think of training, we sometimes tend to focus on teaching our dogs the commands and using them only when necessary. By introducing games into your training regiment, you can reinforce some of the commands your dog has already learned and use them in a somewhat practical situation.
Below are some ideas of how to make training a little more fun. Keep in mind, however, that the games are only fun and work if you and/or the dog maintain interest and don’t get overly frustrated. Always go at your dog’s pace and do not ask your dog to perform a command that he does not know well.
Hide and Seek
This is exactly like the game you played when you were a kid. While your dog is in one room, go hide in another room. This can either be done randomly when the dog isn’t paying attention (preferred) or you can have the dog sit and wait (stay) in an area where he can’t see you if you go around the corner. Once you are hidden, call your dog to you. The hardest part of this game is trying not to give away your location by breathing loud or giggling while your dog searches for you! When your dog finds you, be sure to praise him.
Command(s) reinforced: Recall. Sit and wait (stay) commands if given.
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight, smell and sound.
Practical use: Encourage your dog to come to you when called when you are not in sight.
Caution: If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or being isolated, it’s best to not hide and have the dog find you as this can reinforce his anxiety. Instead, you can have the dog sit and stay while you leave the room and then reward the dog when you go back to him if he remains calm.
Hunt for Treats
Have your dog wait (stay) in one room and hide a treat in another location – either another room or outside. Once hidden, go back to your dog, release him and have him find the treat. You can also use a toy for this exercise. (For more fun, set up a hunt and hide several treats, just like an Easter egg hunt.)
Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight and smell.
Practical use: Enhances your dog’s impulse control by waiting and being released.
Recall Relay
This exercise involves two people. Standing on opposite ends of the room, one person should call the dog to them. Once the dog gets to the person who called him, he should be rewarded with praise or a treat. Once rewarded, the other person should call the dog towards them. When the dog reaches the other person, that person should reward the dog. This process can be repeated several times, however the dog must respond appropriately to the person calling them before someone else can call the dog. If the dog accepts a treat from a handler and then immediately turns and proceeds to the other handler before being called, the handler that the dog is not paying attention to should call the dog. Once the dog is proficient at the current distance, you can increase the distance between the two people or add an additional person into the mix.
Command reinforced: Recalls
Practical use: Enhances the dog’s compliance with recall when there is another person serving as a distraction.
Go Wild and Freeze
Get your dog really excited by running around, jumping up and down, using a high pitched voice, etc. Once your dog is pretty riled up, ask him to sit or lie down. Once he complies, reward him.
Command(s) reinforced: Sit, down (if given).
Additional benefit: Bring the dog’s mind from an excited to a calm state.
Practical use: Gain dog’s focus when he is distracted or overly excited.
Puppy Push-Ups
Begin by putting your dog in a sit position. Then give your dog the command to lie down. Once he lies down, give him to command to sit again. This will complete one “push-up”. Keep doing this in repetition and see how many can be done in one minute.
Command(s) reinforced: Sit and down.
Practical use: Helps the dog learn that sit and down are two separate commands.
The Waiting Game
Ask your dog to wait (stay) in either the sit or down position. Put a treat or a toy down on the ground and continue to have the dog wait (stay). When you are ready for your dog to get the toy or treat, give him a command such as “get it!” Instead of releasing the dog, another option is for you can pick up the object and reward the dog with something else the dog likes. Both of these options can be used during a single session as long as the dog is somehow rewarded for compliance. Keep in mind, however, that if your dog gets the item before you’ve given the release command, you have lost the game!
Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefit: Teaches the dog impulse control
Practical use: Helps to prevent a dog from immediately grabbing an item falling on the floor without permission.
Obedience Course
Pick two or three areas for your dog to perform different commands. At first, you can reward your dog at each station, but eventually you can reward your dog at the end of the obedience course. If your dog is good at commands such as “over”, “under” or “through”, you can add the appropriate obstacles.
Command(s) reinforced: Any commands you give.
Practical use: Allows you to change up requests as needed, keeping your dog focused on the command itself and not a pattern. Also, this helps if you are looking into getting your dog involved in Rally events.
The more fun you can make training, the stronger the bond you can build between yourself and your dog. Feel free to share if you have any games that you like to play with your pup.
Happy training!
Trainer Grace
Below are some ideas of how to make training a little more fun. Keep in mind, however, that the games are only fun and work if you and/or the dog maintain interest and don’t get overly frustrated. Always go at your dog’s pace and do not ask your dog to perform a command that he does not know well.
Hide and Seek
This is exactly like the game you played when you were a kid. While your dog is in one room, go hide in another room. This can either be done randomly when the dog isn’t paying attention (preferred) or you can have the dog sit and wait (stay) in an area where he can’t see you if you go around the corner. Once you are hidden, call your dog to you. The hardest part of this game is trying not to give away your location by breathing loud or giggling while your dog searches for you! When your dog finds you, be sure to praise him.
Command(s) reinforced: Recall. Sit and wait (stay) commands if given.
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight, smell and sound.
Practical use: Encourage your dog to come to you when called when you are not in sight.
Caution: If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or being isolated, it’s best to not hide and have the dog find you as this can reinforce his anxiety. Instead, you can have the dog sit and stay while you leave the room and then reward the dog when you go back to him if he remains calm.
Hunt for Treats
Have your dog wait (stay) in one room and hide a treat in another location – either another room or outside. Once hidden, go back to your dog, release him and have him find the treat. You can also use a toy for this exercise. (For more fun, set up a hunt and hide several treats, just like an Easter egg hunt.)
Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefits: Allows the dog to use his sense of sight and smell.
Practical use: Enhances your dog’s impulse control by waiting and being released.
Recall Relay
This exercise involves two people. Standing on opposite ends of the room, one person should call the dog to them. Once the dog gets to the person who called him, he should be rewarded with praise or a treat. Once rewarded, the other person should call the dog towards them. When the dog reaches the other person, that person should reward the dog. This process can be repeated several times, however the dog must respond appropriately to the person calling them before someone else can call the dog. If the dog accepts a treat from a handler and then immediately turns and proceeds to the other handler before being called, the handler that the dog is not paying attention to should call the dog. Once the dog is proficient at the current distance, you can increase the distance between the two people or add an additional person into the mix.
Command reinforced: Recalls
Practical use: Enhances the dog’s compliance with recall when there is another person serving as a distraction.
Go Wild and Freeze
Get your dog really excited by running around, jumping up and down, using a high pitched voice, etc. Once your dog is pretty riled up, ask him to sit or lie down. Once he complies, reward him.
Command(s) reinforced: Sit, down (if given).
Additional benefit: Bring the dog’s mind from an excited to a calm state.
Practical use: Gain dog’s focus when he is distracted or overly excited.
Puppy Push-Ups
Begin by putting your dog in a sit position. Then give your dog the command to lie down. Once he lies down, give him to command to sit again. This will complete one “push-up”. Keep doing this in repetition and see how many can be done in one minute.
Command(s) reinforced: Sit and down.
Practical use: Helps the dog learn that sit and down are two separate commands.
The Waiting Game
Ask your dog to wait (stay) in either the sit or down position. Put a treat or a toy down on the ground and continue to have the dog wait (stay). When you are ready for your dog to get the toy or treat, give him a command such as “get it!” Instead of releasing the dog, another option is for you can pick up the object and reward the dog with something else the dog likes. Both of these options can be used during a single session as long as the dog is somehow rewarded for compliance. Keep in mind, however, that if your dog gets the item before you’ve given the release command, you have lost the game!
Command(s) reinforced: Wait (Stay).
Additional benefit: Teaches the dog impulse control
Practical use: Helps to prevent a dog from immediately grabbing an item falling on the floor without permission.
Obedience Course
Pick two or three areas for your dog to perform different commands. At first, you can reward your dog at each station, but eventually you can reward your dog at the end of the obedience course. If your dog is good at commands such as “over”, “under” or “through”, you can add the appropriate obstacles.
Command(s) reinforced: Any commands you give.
Practical use: Allows you to change up requests as needed, keeping your dog focused on the command itself and not a pattern. Also, this helps if you are looking into getting your dog involved in Rally events.
The more fun you can make training, the stronger the bond you can build between yourself and your dog. Feel free to share if you have any games that you like to play with your pup.
Happy training!
Trainer Grace
