One of the best aspects of dog ownership is having fun together. Trainer and behaviourist Jackie Drakeford shares some ideas that can help make both of you feel good.
It’s important that what you think of as fun is also what your dog finds fun. Similarly, there are things that dogs enjoy that aren’t so great for us (rolling in fox poo, for example!) and part of your relationship relies on keeping those moments to a minimum. You should also remember that dogs are not identical in mind any more than they are physically, and what one thinks is the greatest fun is not the same for all.
There is breed bias in this: for instance, sight hounds love tearing about and often run for several hundred yards for the pure pleasure of running back again, while collies like to stay really close to their owners so they don’t miss anything they might be about to do. Some dogs are social butterflies, while others prefer just to be with you. Let’s have a look at some fun things that you can do together.
1. Agility
Dogs are tremendous athletes, even the cute small ones with short legs, and most will enjoy negotiating obstacles if introduced to them appropriately. Agility clubs can provide a safe outlet for their energy and a social event for their handlers, but not all dogs or people thrive in the excitement and competitiveness of organised agility, and high noise levels from both people and dogs can be upsetting for some. In these cases, agility at home will fulfil the sense of achievement gained by climbing, jumping, going through a tunnel, and negotiating weave poles, with no pressure or over-stimulus. You and your dog can miss out any obstacles he dislikes, start and stop when he feels ready, and — so important — always leave him wanting more.
2. Hoopers
This is the low-impact version of agility, and can suit dogs better if they are older, smaller, or lack confidence about the greater challenges posed by certain obstacles. For the more competitive, competition is included, with chances to progress to champion status. And, of course, you can take away the ideas for exercises and use them at home if you prefer.
3. Scentsational
Dogs just love to follow scent, and you can have a lot of fun by laying trails for them to follow in the garden. Fill up a spray bottle with water and add something smelly that dogs find enticing, such as a piece of pate, liver (raw or cooked), or Bovril. Shake well, and leave a squirt every few feet at dog level.
A tasty treat to discover every now and then, with a ‘jackpot’ of treats to mark the end of the trail, will give your dog a sense of achievement. Start with your dog on a long line and walk round with him, giving him plenty of time to work out what this exercise is all about. It’s his job to follow the trail, but you can share his delight as he looks at you to tell you that this is such fun. Start with short, easy trails and frequent treats, or some of his daily food if you are watching his weight, and you can progress to longer trails that criss-cross each other and are at varying heights as he becomes more competent. You can dispense with the lead and leave fewer treats after the first few times, but continue to walk round with him as this gives him extra pleasure from your teamwork.
There are formal groups where your dog can do scent work to competitive level, or even progress to Search and Rescue, which requires a lot of commitment and a certain size of dog, as the work can be strenuous. Alternatively, you can carry on with scent work a home together, which is something that can be done with any dog and most owners at any stage of life.
4. Gundog training
This is something I recommend for any dog/owner combination who would like to learn something fun in a group environment. Some trainers only work with pedigree gundogs, but others are happy to take cross-breeds — did you know that Poodles are gundogs too, so all the fashionable Poodle-crosses will enjoy learning these skills? Take time to find the right trainer, and if possible, attend a session or two without your dog so that you can see if he will be a good fit. Even if your dog doesn’t have a smidgen of gundog in his ancestry, it’s worth trying. I know a lot of terriers who really blossom by learning the skills gundogs need.
It may be that your dog doesn’t like loud bangs, and in that case many trainers will obligingly offer
one-to-one sessions that don’t include them but still offer other exercises. Gundog training is big on teaching dogs steadiness and self-control, with the reward of searching out and retrieving dummies. If your dog doesn’t like retrieving, and many don’t, you can still delight him by hiding suitable items in the garden and around the home for him to sniff out. Canvas dummies are pleasant for dogs to carry, and you can add a tiny smear of something smelly such as cheese or meat paste to encourage the ‘find’. Some of the more modern training dummies mimic the look of game birds, and most dogs find them very appealing.
Top tip: If you have several dogs, one-to-one time is precious to them. Even though you lead a busy life, you will give much joy by fitting in an activity that is just for each individual.
5. Fun at home
When the weather is challenging, you can make puzzle toys at home, such as filling a cardboard box with crumpled newspaper and hiding a few tasty treats for your dog to find. Cardboard tubes from loo rolls and kitchen paper can also be stuffed with scrunched-up newspaper, a few pieces of which hold a treat hidden inside. Keep the treats very small, and vary them to increase the incentive.
6. Easy yet rewarding
The three-cup game is another indoor exercise that is cheap, easy, and rewarding. With your dog in another room, place a tiny treat under a paper cup or a small plastic flowerpot, then call him in and encourage him to knock over the cup and enjoy the treat. Progress to several cups, but with the treat under only one of them. This is easy to set up and clear away, with the bonus of reinforcing the ‘stay’ and ‘come’ commands as well.
7. Strenuous exercise
Many dogs love swimming, but you need to be careful to keep your pet safe. Beware of water containing harmful algae, dumped rubbish, or other contaminants, and don’t let your dog chase the ducks! If you walk on the beach, make sure he doesn’t set off for France, and remember that even if his recall is great, he may not be able to hear you over the sound of the tide. Ice is dangerous, so never let your dog go anywhere near it. Hydrotherapy pools offer an alternative if you are unsure of your local area, and remember that a few minutes of swimming provides more strenuous exercise than a same-length walk.
8. Stepping up the pace
Dogs really enjoy running with their handlers, so if this is an activity you enjoy as well, going for a proper run across country can leave you both happy and well exercised. Some serious runners like to have their dogs attached to their waistbands, and can go that bit faster with the dogs helping, while others prefer their dogs to be off-lead but close.
You need to train some basics before you go out for a proper run, so you avoid getting tripped up by an enthusiastic canine companion, and also be considerate of other path users who might find the prospect of a fast-running dog and human coming towards them rather daunting.
9. Walkies
Go walking somewhere new! A change of scene is stimulating for dog and owner, so even though your usual walks are happy and fulfilling, your dog will love all the new scents and scenes that unfold as you explore.
10. Perfect for bonding
Fun doesn’t have to be energetic. If you learn how to massage, you can create a really bonding experience with your dog. Your hands can detect any change in his bodily condition at an early stage, and he will benefit from the closeness between you. Some dogs will initiate massage once they get the idea, and many will croon their pleasure as your hands ease any aches or pains.
Top tip: When giving treats as rewards, keep them very small. It isn’t the size of the treat that counts, but the fact that it is being given at all. This way you can reward all you want without ending up with a fat dog!