So the weather man says there’s going to be rain today and tomorrow in Charleston… which is always sad for the dog who loves to run around outside. If you’re anything like me, you start out saying “what’s a little rain?” and go out for some fun with them. But after 10 minutes of being soggy, I’m ready to look for some alternative entertainment for my dog. Luckily, there are lots of fun things to do inside that will keep your pup happy. Here are a few games you can try, courtesy of The Dog Trainer:
- The Find It Game
- This one is simple and fun – start out by taking a few pieces of your dog’s favorite food or treats and tossing it close to them while saying “Find it”. Do this a few more times, making the distance between the dog and the treat a bit further each time. Once they get the idea, have your dog sit and stay while you go hide the treat. This is a great way to keep your dog happy and help them use their noses!
- Hide and Seek
- A few weeks ago I mentioned how to play this game outside – but of course you can do it indoors, too. Grab a friend and have him stay with your dog while you go hide. Then have your friend encourage your dog to go find you. Once found, make sure to give lots of praise and love to keep the game exciting.
- The Muffin Tin Game
- Grab a 6 muffin tin from your kitchen, 6 small treats and 3 tennis balls. Place the treats in each cup and put the tennis balls over 3 of them. Now let your dog do the work – once he eats the 3 exposed ones, he should sniff around to find that 3 more are hidden under the balls. Train your dog to be an expert by only putting a few treats under some of the balls and see if he can figure it out. Then you can advance to a larger muffin tin with more balls.
- Go Wild and Freeze
- This is a super fun game to try out – and it’s a helpful training game. Find your dog and start dancing around all crazy until she joins in. After a minute of some crazy action, all of a sudden you stop moving. When you do, ask your dog to sit. As soon as she sits, start dancing again. Repeat this until you tire yourself out. It’s a great way to get out their energy and helps teach your dog self-control as she learns to respond to your cues even when excited. Make sure to end the game clearly by saying “All done” or something similar and then sit down or do something else to signify that the game is over.
I hope you all enjoy this lovely April rain and get a chance to try out some of the new fun games above. A tired dog is always a good dog!
