10 Fun Games to Play with Your Dog to Prevent Boredom

Playing catch for some dogs is the be-all-end-all in their world. But for other dogs (and humans as well), throwing a ball and having them retrieve it can get tremendously boring. Some dogs have the attention span of a 2-year old at the zoo during naptime when it comes to playing fetch. Even for dogs that love fetch, basic games of throw and fetch can be improved upon to increase the challenge level and increase mental stimulation.

Dogs are intelligent animals. As many of you may have learned the hard way, a bored dog is a destructive dog. Luckily, there are countless games you can play with your pooch to keep him or her engaged and stimulated.

Here are 10 games you can teach your dog to play with you. I hope you relish these amusing person-dog games and want to play them time and again. Have fun and enjoy your time together!

1. Flirt Pole (or Flirt Stick)

A flirt pole is a long pole with a rope attached to the end. On the end of the rope place something that will lure your dog like a toy. Flirt poles are great for exercise and mental stimulation. They’re a great way to let your dog use their natural prey instinct in a non-destructive way. And you can use them to practice basic impulse control with your dog such as letting go on command. Be sure to let your dog catch the lure on occasion as a reward and to encourage them to keep playing.

Want to make your own flirt pole? Use some pvc pipe, a bungee cord and a dog toy. Rather buy one? There are plenty available online including Amazon.com.

2. Tug-of-War

Tug-of-war is a tried-and-true dog game. It’s fun, it’s engaging and it’s a good way for dogs to learn good manners. In my experience, tug-of-war is one of the most motivating rewards for a dog.

The basic rule when playing tug-of-war with your dog is that, if your dog’s teeth touch your skin, the game is over. It won’t take many times for your dog to understand that “the fun stops when I mouth my person.”

Contrary to popular belief, playing tug-of-war with your dog will not make them aggressive or dominant. Let your dog win to encourage him to keep trying, making the game more fun, but always be sure that YOU end the game, which will reinforce your leadership in the relationship.

3. Frisbee

Frisbee is different from fetch because the frisbee will hover in the air, giving your dog a better chance of catching it mid-air. And, if you’re any good at it, the frisbee will fly further than a ball, encouraging your dog to chase it over a longer distance. Frisbee is great exercise and fun for dogs that have a natural drive to chase.

Start by using a soft disk so you don’t hit your dog in the face with a hard object, which can discourage them from trying to catch it. Practice with shorter distances and get your dog excited about the game. Once your dog gets the hang of it you can increase the distance.

4. DIY Agility Course

Agility courses for dogs is a fun way to give them some physical and mental stimulation. While you can go out and buy obstacle course items at the pet store or online, you can also make your own.

Here are some ideas for obstacle items you can use for a homemade agility course.

• Hula hoop
• Blankets to jump over
• Mini cones to weave through
• Flex drain pipe to be shaped into a circle (to replace the tire jump)
• Weave poles made from pvc pipe
• 6-foot collapsible tunnel for under $25 at Toys R Us
• Pause table made out of a cable spool, particle board, AstroTurf and carpet glue

5. Food Dispensing Project Toys

A stuffed food dispensing toy can give your dog hours of fun trying to get the food that’s stuffed into the toy out. There are lots of varieties of food dispensing project toys (click here to see some of our picks), but Kong is a perennial favorite. I also like the West Paw Tux Toy as an alternative to Kong.

One way you can use a food dispensing toy is to stuff it with healthy treats, pour in some broth and freeze it overnight. Watch your dog have fun licking and trying to get the food out of the frozen broth.

6. Bubbles

One of the easiest games to play with your dog is to teach them to chase bubbles. Here’s how to teach them.

• Start blowing bubbles a couple at a time.
• Point them out and encourage your dog to chase a bubble.
• Catch some yourself to show your dog that there’s nothing to worry about (it won’t hurt his ears when it pops)
• Show your dog that you’re trying to catch the bubble before it touches the ground

I use bubbles made for kids, but they also make bubbles for dogs. Check out this Bubbletastic Bacon Bubble Machine for Dogs – With 8 oz Bacon Bubbles!

7. Water Games

Most dogs love water so games involving water is a no-brainer. Here in Colorado beaches and rivers are in short supply (although there’s a great creek dogs can splash in at Bear Creek Dog Park in Colorado Springs). If you want to play with water with your dog at home, try these games:

• Fill a kiddie pool up with water and toss in some toys that float. You can turn it into a “bobbing for apples” type of game.
• Some dogs love to play in the water from a hose, but it can be intimidating for some dogs. Try using a sprinkler that puts out a stream of water that is less strong than the hose.

8. Find-the-Treats

My dog never gets tired of this game. It doesn’t matter that I pick the same 20 hiding spots every time. My lack of creativity doesn’t bother her at all. Find-the-Treats allows your dog to use his natural sniffing abilities. Here’s how to teach your dog to play Find-the-Treats.

• Start by giving your dog the stay command. When my dog was a puppy, I would place her in her crate while I hid the treats.
• Try hiding a couple of treats at first in some pretty easy places.
• Once you’ve hidden the treats, give your dog the release command (or let him out of his crate.)
• Give your dog a consistent command like “Find the treats”.
• Encourage your dog along the way. You might have to help your dog at first by pointing out where the treat is hidden.
• Once your dog understands the “Find the treats” command, you can start increasing the difficulty of where you are hiding them. Once you’ve practiced in one room you can expand to other rooms and even outside.

9. DIY Digging Pit

Most dogs love to dig so a digging pit is a way for you to encourage your dog to dig in an approved area. You can build your own digging pit or buy a kiddie sand box with a lid. Once you have a place for her to dig, you can encourage her by burying some toys, chewie or a large treat that sand won’t stick to (just don’t give your dog meat bones). You can redirect her to her digging pit when she starts digging in places you don’t want her and praise her when she is in her pit.

10. Hide and Seek

You can teach your dog to play hide and seek by having him stay while you hide. Bring a toy or treat with you as a reward for your dog finding you. I like to play this by hiding under an old blanket, making it a little more challenging for my dog to get to me. Hide and seek is a great game because it lets dogs use their natural scent tracking abilities in a fun way.

What are some of you and your dogs’ favorite games? Please share with me and other Canine Campus readers in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Canine Campus is a great place to leave your dog during the day or overnight. We offer premier dog daycare, kenneling and grooming services. Feel free to contact us here or call us at 719-448-9600 to learn more about what we have to offer or to set up an initial appointment.