Hey!
I am looking for some inspiration for new games to play with my dog Rocket. Our trainer recommended avoiding 'fetch' as Rocket is an anxious, reactive dog. He mentioned that fetch could create 'hyper arousal'.
Here are some games that we currently play:
- Tug of war: Using the rope
- Hide and seek: We hide his ball or treats and ask him to find the object
- Puzzle toys: We hide treats and Rocket has to move sliders/lift levers to reveal treats
- Trick training: Rocket enjoys learning new tricks
Thanks!
Hannah
Hey Hannah!
Have you tried "find it" games? You could scatter treats around the yard or house and ask him to find them. Another game that worked for Cooper is "sit and stay" with a treat placed in front of him, then slowly increasing the distance between you and the treat. It helps with impulse control and can be a fun challenge for him.
I’ve learned that the calmer games seem to work better for my dog as well. Linda
Hey Hannah! Diesel loves tug of war, but I also noticed that he really enjoys games that engage his natural drive, like the flirt pole, it exhausts him!