[BLOG] Canine Culture: How to Have More Fun With Your Dog

Canine games are an excellent way to provide the mental and physical stimulation all dogs need to lead happy, healthy lives. Some activities require no prior training, while others can actually teach new skills or reinforce good behavior.

FOOD GAMES
Mealtime can be Fido’s funtime when he has to “work” for his dinner.

Scatter Feeding/Hide & Seek
While your dog is crated, held or placed in a “stay” somewhere out of view, scatter his dry kibble throughout the house or outdoors or in a waste-free area of yard. Then release your pup to “hunt” for his dinner. Once he catches on, you can hide food in more challenging places – under a chair, on a coffee table, up the stairs, under a bed, etc. Try chopped frozen veggies and keep mixing it up; watch his eyes light up when he begins to anticipate dinner time!

Rubber Treat Toys
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes to stuff with kibble or treats. The food is dispensed by the dog’s chewing and licking – some also roll, throw, drop and bounce it! Make it easy in the beginning so your dog is successful. Smaller openings are more challenging, but even those with larger openings can be made more difficult by “sealing” with peanut butter or cheese (or mixing in wet food) and freezing. This keeps your dog preoccupied for a longer period of time and can be great for crated dogs during the day.

Treat Balls & Food Puzzles
There are different versions of treat balls with the same concept – the dog must figure out how to roll the ball or other odd-shaped object to release treats. Often the size of the opening is adjustable to make it more challenging once the dog figures it out.

Food puzzles are typically stationary games where food is hidden in compartments or under movable trays. Rotating between an assortment of treat toys and food puzzles keeps things interesting for your dog. They’re not only fun for the dog, they're entertaining to watch as well!

Many treat toys can be found in local pet stores, but here’s a list of quality supplies:

• Busy Buddy Toys – www.busybuddytoys.com
• Buster Cube – www.bustercube.com
• Canine Genius – www.caninegenius.com
• Crazy Ball – www.nylabone.com
• Kong toys – www.kongcompany.com
• Molecuball Treat Ball – www.ourpets.com

JUST PLAIN FUN GAMES
There’s no shortage of fun you can have with your dog, and the 8^th Annual Canine Olympics on Saturday, June 2, celebrates the zaniest! Contest winners earn medals and a chance to compete in the all-round “Iron Dog” title plus a year’s worth of agility classes! Activities are designed for all ages and skill levels. Sign up today and go for the gold!        

Remember: The more actively engaged you are with your dog, the more rewarding your relationship will be. Next week: Interactive games you can play with your dog to help build a better bond.

Meantime, please post any questions below. We’d love to hear from you and help!

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Ask the Trainer:  Renee Jetter, ABCTC, CPCT
Professional dog trainer; co-owner of Canine Craze Performance Center in Urbandale – an 18,000 sq-ft. dog training, daycare, boarding and events facility. Animal Behavior College, 2006 graduate.

Expertise: puppy development; positive reinforcement training; obedience; competition; agility; tricks; freestyle; scent detection;canine good citizen/therapy dog testing; Paws & Effect volunteer service dog trainer.