How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over and Play Dead

Who doesn’t want to teach their furry companions cool tricks? Read the post and find out how to teach your dog to roll over and play “dead.”

Some words before we get going

“Playing dead” is not an essential command that all dogs should learn like “sit” and “stay.” It’s more like a fun game, which is excellent for a relaxing time and helps enhance you and your dog’s precious bond. Also, teaching the trick is not challenging at all. With some patience and lots of love, you can train your furry friend to roll over and play dead effortlessly.

Things you need to teach your dog the trick

  • A handful of your dog’s favorite treats
  • A clicker (optional)
  • Patience and Passion (obligatory).

How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over and Play Dead – Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Get started with the ‘Down’ Position

To teach your dog to play ‘dead,’ you must train him to lie down first. If your dog cannot respond to your’ lie down’ command appropriately, it cannot do more complicated tricks.

Step 2: Use a treat to promote the new behavior

When your dog has lied down, hold a treat close to his nose. You should lean down as low as possible so that he won’t stand up for the present. Slowly pull the piece of treat over to his side. Your doggo will have to roll over on the side. By doing that, you can help your dog get familiar to rolling over.

If your dog’s successful in rolling to the side you want, say “good boy” or “good girl” to encourage our cute friend. In case you use a clicker to train your dog, click it. Then, give him the treat. Repeat the actions several times. It will stretch a new concept inside his mind.

Step 3: Choose a signal to begin the trick

After a few times letting your dog get acquainted with the new action, add a hand signal or a verbal cue to complete the trick. Then, as long as the doggo hears the cue word, he will roll over and play ‘dead’ dramatically. Most people choose “bang” along with a handgun signal pointing at the hound. Other use “dead” as an alternative.

If you happen to own a super smart dog, you could upgrade the game for both the dog and its audience. Use a long phrase instead of a word, like “Be a cat or be dead.” Your guests will indeed burst into laughter at the sight of the dog rolling ‘dead’ to avoid the fate of becoming the meowing creatures. Of course, you have to spend more time and effort on the trick. Too long phrases may confuse dummy puppies, making them defiant.

With the decided verbal cue and signal, make your dog perform the trick over and over or a few minutes. You should also make him practice the newly learned game several times per day. After a short time, you will find your doggo rapidly respond to the command.

Could there be any other problems?

For a specific dog, different behavior could appear. However, “playing dead” is a simple trick, mostly fool-proof, so your dog will eventually learn it. Nevertheless, it’s your job to acknowledge and help your furry companion over the difficulty.

If you use a clicker to train your dog, when it rolls to the side to follow the treat, click the toll right away. Then, give the dog the treat. Some dogs will keep rolling after that. In this case, you have to stay firm and step away. He will realize that there is no treat if he spins 360 degrees and stops doing that. Remember to give treats only when your hound performs the right move.

When you notice your dog makes mistakes twice, or three times in a row, perhaps your lesson’s pace is too fast. You have to slow down, go back to the previous step to practice. When your dog has completely mastered the stage, you can move on to another. Don’t rush your dog. Pressure will make them stress and forget what they have learned.

Several dummies could even stop following the treat when you pull it to the side. At that time, you have to show him what you expect him to do. And no, we don’t say you have to lie down a roll as an example. All you have to do us gently push the dog to the side, along with moving the treat. As soon as he performs correctly, click your clicker or say “good boy,” “good girl.” Give your hound the treat as a gift for the new advancement.

Moreover, especially in the cases of hyperactive dogs, they can jump up right after rolling over. It, of course, ruins the target of ‘playing dead. To make your dog lie there longer, you should postpone giving the treat. After making the puppy roll to the side, don’t give him the present. Let him lie there and wait for some seconds, then treat him. Repeat the action several times.

To further lengthen the ‘dead’ period, you have to spend more time. After stretching the “lying,” let the dog the familiar enough before adding several more seconds. Then, repeat the training to increase the time gradually. If you make him wait for so long at the first change, he could stand up, and you have to start the training from scratch again.

The Last Thought

That’s all about how to teach your dog to roll over and play dead. Remember that you have to treat your furry friend with patience, consistency, and of course, love. Trying to pressure your pet will lead to nothing but failure. If it’s not a basic command like “sit down” and “stay still,” you should take it easy on them. To make sure you get improvement after every training session, end it with laughter and encouragement. After all, we can never give our loyal, precious friends enough pampering.

August 26, 2019

How To Teach A Dog To Play Fetch (7 Steps)

Playing fetch seems easy on TV or when others do, but you have no hope with your dog? Don’t worry; this post will show you how to.

It’s gonna be a blast, but…

You must have seen people playing fetch before, at least twice or three times. Most of the cases, we see it on TV, when people just casually grab a piece of wood, swing it away, and the loyal hound will run to the direction and come back with it. It intrigues you, but when you try the trick, turn out your dog has no interest in the game. Or it was interested, went after the thrown toy, but didn’t bring it back as you had expected.

Don’t worry; the problem is not you or your dog. It’s how the TV show just omits the training and goes straight to performing. Your dog can do the task too unless it’s handicapped, but you have to take time teaching and showing it patience. Most dogs don’t have the fetching instinct. So, unless you happen to own a Labrador, you have to learn some before starting to train your pup.

The benefits of teaching your dog to fetch

Fetch is a great game to let your dog have fun and exercise at the same time. In turn, it reduces the chance your dog getting obesity or joint issues.

Lacking exercising leads to many harmful outcomes for dogs. Some just have degraded healthy. Other, could form destructive behaviors. We have seen many dogs throwing a tantrum and couldn’t get to sleep even when they need it.

Thus, teaching your dear doggo to play fetch gives it a chance to dump the stress, get its brain and muscles stimulated, and enjoy the outdoor behavior. It’s also an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you. Not to mention, going out often for a small game is significantly beneficial for us owners.

How To Teach A Dog To Play Fetch – The Complete Guide

Step 1: Get started by teaching your dog how to “come.”

If your dog has not experienced any training, you have to start from scratch. Telling the hound to come near you could be challenging for some defiant dog, no matter how simple it seems. To get started, get a handful of treats and a training clicker. When the dog performs correctly like you expect, clicking the tool could “mark” the success, letting it know why exactly it gains the treat.

Hold a piece of treat in one hand. Step a few feet back to create a distance between you and your dog. Bend over, and hold out your empty hand. Wave your hand lightly to encourage the hound to touch your hand with its head. If it does precisely and fast, praise the recent behavior by giving it the treat, you are holding. Some verbal pampering like “good boy,” “good girl” could enhance the effect.

Repeat the steps until your dog gets familiar with the new action. Then, retreat further and further away to lengthen the distance between you two. Once it gets the grip, start using a verbal cue like “over here,” or “come,” so your dog will run to you after hearing the command later.

However, no matter how skillful it looks, your dog could still be distracted by more attractive things. So, when training, put some distractions like people, toys, etc. around to test its focusing ability. After it learns to come when called, you could start with the true fetch.

Step 2: Introduce your dog to the fetch toy.

At first, you should find an exciting toy to catch your dog’s attention right away. Hold the toy in your hand, act as it’s the most intriguing thing you have ever seen. It will drive the dog into excitement and encourage it to play with you.

Use the “come” command to get your pup closer, then introduce the toy to it. When the dog gets close, and ideally, touch the toy with its nose, continue the process of click, praise, and give a treat. Repeat the actions until your dog is genuinely fond of the toy.

Step 3: Pull the dog’s attention to the toy

Continue by holding and start moving the toy around. Don’t move too fast, just slowly to attract the pup the eyes to it. Then, encourage your dog to move and touch the toy. When it succeeds, click, praise, and treat. Talk fondly to your hound, so it knows you are pleased with the advancement.

Step 4: Let your dog grab the toy

It’s when your dog should take the toy using its mouth. This part requires much patience. You have to watch your dog’s behavior closely, and give it treats and praises as there is a new improvement. Showing only disappointment many times will only stress your dog. Sometimes, it makes you come back to the beginning line.

Put the toy down, about an arm away from you if your dog shows no interest and retreat, you the “come” command to make it get closer. Slowly, it will come to touch the toy using its nose. You should click, praise, and treat it immediately to show that it’s what you want it to do. Then, when the hound advance to bite, then pick up the toy using its mouth, you must reward it with tons of excitement and more treats. Over the process, it will watch you seek reassurance. Remember to show love and patience to encourage the loyal friend.

Step 5: Upgrade to an indoor game

Now, your dog has got that holding the toy in its mouth equals your praise. Follow the slow, patient pace and lead it to the trickiest part of the game: fetching and retrieving. You should do it indoor first, with a small distance to be a start.

Don’t throw, toss to toy several feet away. When your dog comes and picks it up, don’t forget to click, praise, and give a treat. Continue the actions several times to let the furry friend understand that it’s what it should do. Then, encourage your dog to bring the toy back.

Step 6: Lengthen the distance

At the level, your dog has got the process of “fetch-retrieve-treat.” Now, it’s time to upgrade the game by throwing the fetch toy farther. It’s still an indoor game, but you can increase the distance by twofold. Doing it in a hallway is a brilliant idea since the straightway will make it easier for the dog to detect the toy.

Every time your pup’s successful, gives it warm praise and treat. Then, toss the toy just a little farther. After a few more time, the dog will understand and fall in love with the fetch game. It’s not obligatory, but at the stage, you could add and verbal cue like “fetch” before throwing the toy. It will create a reflection in the dog’s mind. The word means going after whatever the owner has thrown and bringing it back.

When it comes back to you with confidence in the eyes and the toy in the mouth, shower it with passion, and add a phrase like “good fetch.” It will make later attempts more spectacular.

Step 7: Turn it into an outdoor game – our target

So far, your dog has got excellent with fetching inside. Now, it’s high time to bring the game into a new level: fetching outside. You are about to do the trick as skillful and effortlessly like people in TV shows.

When the game is limited indoor, everything is nice and quiet. There is almost no distraction. But now, when you two are outside, your dog could lose its attention.

Then, try fetching in a fenced place first, such as a quiet backyard. You could try it in a park or other public spaces, too. Just make sure the surrounding is not so noisy or has other dogs lingering. Don’t forget to bring your dog’s favorite treat and praise it generously when it succeeds. You are demanding your hound to do something more challenging, so the reward should be deserving.

How to Ensure the Success

The truth is, nothing could ensure your dog master the trick. You will have to be much patience and have faith in your furry companion.

Moreover, you should let the dog know that YOU are the funny part of the game, not the toy. Don’t make it too fond of a toy. Try different toy every time you train it. When it shows no interest in the new toy, you have to make it think that the toy’s intriguing. Act as if it is the most exciting thing in the world, and your dog will get hyped. If you use only one toy in training, doggo will find itself at a loss next time when you decide to throw something else.

It’s time to say bye. Good luck with training your dog. With passion and determination, you and your furry companion will master the trick when you don’t even realize.

August 26, 2019

How to Get Your Dog to Play with Toys

Playing is both fun and mentally beneficial for your dog. However, what to do if it has no interest in toys? This post will tell you how to train to love toys.

We cannot leave them with no playing

Dogs need to play since they are playful creatures from birth. Thus, lacking playing will cause them stress and even physical issues. Most owners, however, cannot manage time every day to play bonding games with them, also if we want to. Leaving dogs with toys seem a good idea. But, what to do if they show no excitement at the toys?

Indeed, we have to train them. Unlike teaching your dogs tricks, tell them to play with toys is rather easy. With some tips, you could do it after a blink. Keep scrolling down to see how to get your dog interested in toys.

How to Get Your Dog to Play with Toys – Tips to Success

Tip 1: Make the toy animated

How we act around the toy has an immense impact on dogs. If doggo sees you are highly fond of the plaything, it will gradually be interested. Hold the piece of toy you have in one hand, and move it around, wriggle near the hound. Act like you find it funny while making pleasant sounds. This way, you will catch the dog’s attention.

Once our furry friend stops the hesitation and begins to grab the toy with the paw, give it to him. After some minutes, take the plaything back and play with it yourself. The dog will actively reach out for his turn, and we are successful. The measure not only ensures your dog’s excitement at the toy but also enhance the pet-owner bond between you two.

Tip 2: For stubborn dogs, play with the toy alone.

In some exceptional cases, if you are eager to give the dog the toy, it won’t get excited at the plaything for so long. The hyperactive dogs need more psychological stimulation to get ready to play.

Pick a piece of toy, play with it along in front of your dog, but don’t let him have it. Even when the dog shows interest and tries to reach the toy, put it away. Playing the game for about 3 minutes, then stop. Repeat the steps from 5 to 10 times per day.

The key to success is you have to enjoy playing with the toy “honestly.” Wriggle the toy around, toss it in the air, make happy sounds, laugh out loud, etc. By doing that, you could spark the dog’s curiosity. After you are sure that the furry companion of yours knows the toy means fun time, give him an opportunity to touch the toy. If the dog is engaged in the game, reward him with a delicious treat.

Tip 3: Replace your dog’s usual toys

After a long time playing with some toys, again and again, dogs will lose their interest. We cannot manage to buy a new toy every time the situation takes place. However, we could get rid of the problem before it happens.

Divide your dog’s toy into two boxes. Give him access to one box, and keep the other somewhere he cannot find. After some days, move some toys from one container to another. This way, the games are always fresh for your furry companion. He will never find playing with toys boring, and you can save an amount that’s supposed to be spent on dog play stuff.

Tip 4: Serve your dog treats in hollow toys

Some dogs need another kind of motivation to pick up the toy and enjoy playing. You could smear some peanut butter on the outer side of the toy to make it more luring. The delicious aroma will seduce the dogs into picking toys up. The measure works well for shy dogs. Notably, dogs who are left at shelters for a long time and tend to get nervous around new stuff. Turning playthings into treats can boost their confidence.

Another way to raise the dogs’ interest in toys is to stuff the hollow toys with treats. They will eagerly bite the toy and manage to get the treat out. In the process, dogs learn how to have fun with the plaything.

Things to keep in mind when getting your dogs to play with toys

1. Watch your finger while wriggling toys in front of dogs

If you plan to use tip 1 or 2, you should keep an eye on the dog’s teeth. He could try to jump up and get the plaything with his mouth and nip your hand unintentionally. Don’t yell at him, even when you are hurt. Just leave the toy and walk away. Getting yelled at will make the hound scared. And, in his small mind, he will associate the toy with punishment. You may have to start the training all over again. And this time, it’s much more challenging.

2. Use durable toys only

Before buying any toy for your dog, make sure to read the reviews from other customers. They will tell you if the plaything is durable under the dog’s teeth. Since most of the playing involves dogs’ mouth, they may swallow broken pieces by accident. Or worse, the tiny bits can get into your hound’s bronchial, blocking his breathing and endanger his life. If you find any toys with lost pieces in your dog’s toybox, get rid of it right away.

The Last Verdict

Naturally, dogs are easy to get excited. Thus, you could utilize their instincts and get them to play with toys easily. However, if your dog is particularly difficult to raise interest, you should be more patient. Try all the tips above with passion and love for your furry friend.

Getting dogs to play with toys, just like any other types of training, needs consistency and enthusiasm. To tell your dog to play, you must be as excited to spark his curiosity. Good luck with your training!

August 26, 2019

10 Games to Play with Your Dog at the Park

Looking for a game to entertain your dog at the park? Choose some from the 10 games below to exercise your dog and keep them out of trouble.

We are all aware that there are plenty of games you could play with your dog outside. However, when you need to use one, your brain decides to forget all the ideas and leave you at a loss. Don’t worry; we have your back. Here is the list of 10 exciting games you could use to entertain with your precious furry friend at a park.

10 games to play with your dog at the park

Let dogs play with food dispensing toys

By giving your dog a treat stuffed Kong or any other kind of food dispensing toy, you could enjoy a day out at the park without exerting over physical activities. The playthings not only give him a way to spend time but also hone his scavenging ability.

If you decide to use a Kong but don’t know how, you could try to stuff it with your dog’s favourite treat and broth. Then, freeze the toy with food inside overnight. The 2-in-1 helping hand will keep your dog busy for quite a long time while you sunbathe or read a book.

Tug of War

Tug of war is an engaging game that could work as an excellent physical exercise and a great way to enhance the bond between doggo and the owner. Besides, you could teach your dog manners using a simple game. However, it does require your physical strength since dogs could be relatively strong. That says, don’t try the game with a Great Dane or Scottish Deerhound unless you is a huge bodybuilder.

The game’s principle is quite simple. You are your dog will take part in a physical competition by tugging both ends of a rope at the same time. Don’t forget to wear a durable pair of gloves, or you will receive some blisters on your hands.

The only rule is that your dog cannot touch your skin with his teeth. Whenever he tries to mouth you, by accident or not, release the rope and walk away. This way, he will learn that nipping means no fun. Sometimes, you should let your dog win to raise his interest in the game.

Tossing Frisbee

Frisbee is an advanced version of fetch because your dog will need to run a longer distance. It’s a great exercise which could awake your dog’s hunting instinct. It keeps the furry friend out of stress and physical disorders as well.

Start the game using a soft disc, not the traditional Frisbee discs because they are too hard. If you unintentionally hit his face with the hard plastic thing, your dog will get discouraged, and the game is no longer fun. Let him practice by tossing the soft disc in a short distance. If the hound hesitates, roll the disc on the ground, so it doesn’t look intimidating.

After the dog’s familiar with the concept of tossing and chasing, you should lengthen the distance to upgrade the game.

Chasing the flirt pole

A flirt pole (or flirt stick), just like its name, is a long pole with a rope attached to one end to play with your dog’s attention. You tie a toy or a treat to the end of the said rope to intrigue your dog to chase. It’s an excellent exercise for your dog while you don’t have to shed even a little sweat. Quickly, your hound will run out of energy to cause troubles and happily lie down to chill with you.

Dogs, before becoming human’s close friends, were predators in the wild. Deep inside them, there’s still hunting instinct. Letting your dog chase the flirt pole is a way to awake his innate drive, stimulate his mind and train his muscles.

When enjoying watching your dog running around, give him chances to ‘win’ the game. Letting him grab the lure on the rope and give him treats as a compliment. If the dog runs for a long time without winning once, he will become discouraged and give up. Get started with a slow pace, and gradually increase the game’s speed for the sake of the furry friend’s joints.

Agility

If you don’t find the games above interesting, you could try creating a unique agility course to train your dogs. It’s a chance to teach your furry friend some new tricks and have fun.

Agility courses can boost your dog’s mental and physical health. To do the tasks, dogs need to focus while utilizing their muscles sharply. Therefore, a simple course could be more tiring than a multiple-mile walk. You could buy the obstacles to build the training from any pet store or Amazon. A proper course, for example, could have a hula hoop, some mini cones, and some blankets.

Water Games

If the park has a shallow pond and your dog’s a great swimmer, you could create some water games with your dogs. Make sure the water is not too deep by asking the park manager. One of the most common water game for dogs is fetching. However, you must choose floating toys if you don’t want to lose them.

If your dog cannot swim, he could still enjoy water activities in a kiddie pool. Just let him splashing around and upgrade the game by tossing in some toys. Especially in summer, long-haired dogs will appreciate the game as they love bathing. You could try “attack” your puppy with a hose. Just remember to keep it gentle first so it won’t intimidate the hound.

Find the Treats

Mark our words, your dog will never get tired of the game. It’s simple, doesn’t require much of your energy. Your hound is willing to run for hours, primarily focus on one goal, and happily, enjoy the rewards.

To set up the game, you need about 20 treats. Command your dog to “stay”, and go hide them around the park. Then, release your puppy and encourage him to find the hidden gifts. Although it’s a nose work game, so could help him sometimes by pointing the directions when he struggles. When the dog finds a treat, reward him with praises.

The game could be played both indoor and outdoor, but we recommend the latter. Dogs are often hyperactive, so it’s not a surprise if they make quite a mess in your clean, tidy rooms.

Digging Box

If your dog’s a big fan of digging, the game is your ideal option. Making a dedicated digging box will encourage him to dig in a specialized area. That way, he won’t ruin your garden. You could create a digging box with wood and sand. Don’t use carton, since it cannot last for a long time.

Some dogs cannot get the concept of the game at first. It’s normal. Just bury some of your dog’s favourite toys into the box. His nose will lead him there, and while looking for the toy, he will know the fun of digging. However, if your neighbourhood has plenty of cats, you could consider making a lid for the box and close it after the dog stops playing. Otherwise, the digging box could turn into a little tray for the meowing creatures.

Hide & Seek

Hide and seek is excellent for stimulating your dog’s scent tracking ability. You could play with the furry friend, or let your kids do the task. Kids and dogs will never get tired of the game. However, before getting started, make sure your dog’s good any following “stay” and “go” commands.

If your dog’s successful at finding you, praise him and give him a treat.

Let your dog chase bubbles

It’s an excellent activity for both your dogs and your kids. Mix a little mild liquid dishwashing soap with water, pour it into a small bottle and take it along in your picnic trip to the park. If your dog has not played with bubbles before, blow several and encourage him to chase. You could raise his excitement by catching the bubbles yourself. The game’s rule is simple: catch the glowing, beautiful things before they touch the ground.

After that, you could give the blowing bubbles task to your kids to let them have some fun. At the same time, your dog’s entertained. Remember to wipe your furry companion’s face after the game to prevent eye irritation.

The Final Thought

Now, with the ten exciting games, you could turn every trip to the park into a memorable occasion for your dogs and kids. Even if you can’t remember all of them, you should keep a couple in mind. Most of the time, dogs are happy just by spending time with you, no matter the games you plan to play. However, the truth is a fun game with a dog could be less appealing to others. You should try some to find out which is the favourite, most suitable for your lovely furry companion.

August 26, 2019

Top 08 Fun Games to Play with Your Dog Inside

Some days, when the weather is terrible, it’s great if you could still entertain your dog inside. This post will show you some fun games as recommendations.

What to do if you don’t do outside?

There are days when you cannot take the dog out for a walk. It could be raining cats and dogs, snowing, storming, or you are just not in the mood to blend in nature. Trust us, we feel you. But you cannot leave your dog alone for such a long time. Our furry companion deserves all our attention, and there are plenty of games for you two to play inside.

Most dogs are good boys and girls. So, even if you ignore them, they won’t bother you much. However, they will find their ways to entertain, and most of the time, it ends up being mischievous behavior. Playing with your dogs is a brilliant way to relax yourself, while stimulating the hound both physically and mentally.

Look at the list of games below; perhaps you will find something helpful for a day inside.

08 Funny Games to Play with Your Dogs Indoor

1. Playing Fetch Inside

Fetch is an excellent game outdoor, but you could do it inside if you have a long hallway. Grab your dog’s favorite toy and let him relax his muscles with some running in short distances. Because it’s inside, you should not choose a tennis ball or any bouncing plaything for this game. A failed swing could end up with a broken vase or window.

2. Teach Your Dog Some Basic Commands.

If your dog’s still on the way of learning how to respond to your commands, a rainy day is the chance to teach him. Even when your dog has mastered those, practice never hurts. To train your dog, you have to follow one rule: be patient and praise the puppy when he makes an improvement. Grab some treats to reward your furry friend when he’s successfully followed a command.

Between the training and practicing, you should give him some playtime. It will maintain his high spirit and encourage him to learn more.

3. Find the Hidden Treats

Searching for the treats is an excellent game, both indoor and outdoor. By joining the game willingly, your dog could train his nose and release the built-up stress. He will never get tired of going around the house to win the game and collect the hidden rewards.

To start the game, tell your dog to stay still. Hold out the bunch of treats, so he knows what to expect. Then, hide them in several places before releasing the puppy. If he struggles, you should help him by pointing out the directions.

4. The Cup (or Container) Game

To set up the game, you need about five cups or boxes. Place them upside-down next to each other. Then, when your dog doesn’t see, hide a treat or his favorite toy under one of those. Next, encourage your furry friend to smell the containers and wait for him to (hopefully) stop at one. Now, you need to congratulate him enthusiastically, give him the treat so he could feel the fun of the Cup game.

In the beginning, if the dog cannot figure out what to do, you could make it easier by letting him see you hide the treat. Then, upgrade the difficulty level by doing it behind your back.

5. Tug of War

The tug is an excellent mental and physical training session for your dog. The goal is to have fun, so you should let him sometimes win to raise his interest. Remember that dogs could be quite strong. If you happen to own a Great Dane, it’s not a wise option unless you are huge, too.

6. Hide and Seek

If you have kids, this game could kill two birds with one stone! On rainy days, Hide and Seek could entertain your kids and dog, make the forget the upsetting mood and keep them away from troubles. Tell the children to hide and have the dog find them. If the hound’s good at responding to sit/stay commands, you can let them play without intervention.

7. Run up the stairs

Making your dog running up the stairs is a brilliant idea to help him burn excess energy. Start the bottom of the stairwell, tell him into a stay position, then throw a toy up to the top. Then, let him dash up to retrieve the toy. Make the game more exciting by adding some happy sounds, like “Reeeadyy… Go!”. When he goes back, use soothing words to slow his pace, since running down fast could jeopardize his joint.

The game’s fun for most dogs, but you should only play it with ones in adulthood (about 1-year-old or older). Puppies’ joints are still developing, so exerting them could cause long-term damages.

8. Teach your dog to put toys away

Cleaning up after a fun time is such a nuisance. However, you could deal with it while entertaining the dog by teaching them to put things into the right places. To get started, scatter the toys in front of the hound, then point at one, tell him to pick it up with his mouth. Then, lead him to the basket to drop it. The dog will find it difficult at first, so you should encourage him by praises. Once he’s successful putting away a toy, reward him with a treat.

After some practices, your dog will be willing to do the tasks without treats. He won’t clean things as fast and efficiently as you do, but he could help. It makes cleaning up less trouble and more a game for your two.

The Last Words

If you have time and conditions to let your dog play outside, you should. However, when you cannot, playing inside’s funny, too. For dogs, they are happy whenever you spend time with them, even without games. Still, you should know some to train them mentally and physically during the fun time. Wish you guys best luck!

August 26, 2019