During Mr. N’s therapy work, we play a lot of “games” with the kids at the shelter. A lot of these games utilize the same foundation skills (targeting, fetching, scentwork etc) so once your dog knows the basics, you can use it for many different tricks.
Now that it’s getting colder, indoor games are a good way to expend your dog’s energy. These are the games that I play with Mr. N and the kids (still working on the jump rope). And I’m always looking for new things to teach him. I need to come up with some Christmas-themed activity for December. Find the reindeer maybe?
Box:
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Hide in box
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Walk around box
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Jump on top of box
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Fetch box
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Put back/front paws on box
Retrieving:
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Laundry (putting socks in basket)
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Toy cleanup (putting toys in box)
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Grocery shopping with play food
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Bring newspaper
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Bring tissue when you sneeze
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| Some of the things that Mr. N fetches. |
Tug:
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Door opening/closing (I tie a sash/towel to the knob)
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Pull little wagon
Targeting:
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Dog bowling with cans
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Touching object (wand/stick etc)
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Ringing bells (I have potty bells I put on a door knob)
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Roll out carpet/yoga mat
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Push ball with nose/paw
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Play piano
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Push bell/button
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Push shopping cart while standing on hind legs
- Find your mark (stand on dot, mat)
Scent:
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Which hand has the treat?
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Which flower pot hides the ball?
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Find keys
Jumping:
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Jump over leg/arm
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Jump rope
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Jump through hoop
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“Around” – Extend both arms out straight, dog goes around you in a circle and jumps over each arm in turn
What’s your favorite indoor game(s)?
November 24, 2014 11:19 am
These are great! You've given me some ideas for new games to play. My pack loves "Where's the ___" (fill in the blank with a specific toy)
November 24, 2014 2:17 pm
Those are great games. Torrey loves a good game of tug every evening, or just general play with mom.
November 24, 2014 3:41 pm
Sounds like fun.
November 24, 2014 3:53 pm
Those are awesome games. You could do a post on how you do each one! I love the different types of retrieving.
Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats.
November 24, 2014 10:11 pm
That would be a lot of posts! But if people were interested in a couple specifically, I could probably throw something together.
November 24, 2014 4:45 pm
Sounds like endless fun!
November 24, 2014 5:08 pm
Great suggestions!
I love targeting — we always train it in the group classes I teach. It has SO many applications — both fun tricks and practical behaviors.
November 24, 2014 10:11 pm
Me too. I'm going to a targeting workshop soon which should be fun.
November 24, 2014 8:45 pm
Hi Y'all!
Sounds like you and your peep spend lots of time together inventing fun stuff!
Y'all come on by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
November 24, 2014 11:09 pm
I would love to know how you trained Mr. N to put toys away in the toy box. What a great and extensive list….we have so much we can work on! Last winter we mostly played scent games using boxes. I definitely plan to teach Luke to ring bells as well.
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
November 24, 2014 11:31 pm
I guess I'll have to do a post on it! Bells are definitely easier. I think once your dog understands targeting, they get it pretty quickly.
November 24, 2014 11:26 pm
If you can tell me Mr. N. how to get Harley to put his toys back in his box, I will be your BFF forever!
November 24, 2014 11:32 pm
I'll work on a post! Probably in January after the holiday madness is over.
November 25, 2014 3:16 am
wow, you've really trained your human. LeeAnna at not afraid of color
November 25, 2014 3:32 am
OMD, he's so cute! And so well trained! We need some bad weather here. It's almost always nice enough to go for a walk, so that's pretty much what we do every day! If we got some bad weather, I could stay home and do some training!
November 25, 2014 3:41 pm
We must be the dummies of all time.. We can't do any of that stuff! We are impressed! Lady Caroline et al