Activities For Dogs In Ohio On Rainy Days

To get started on playing a game of hide and seek, you will first want to be sure that your pup understands the command "stay". If your pup needs some help with learning how to "stay", then you will want to work on this with your pup. There is plenty of information available online to assist you on how to best help your pup master the concept. Rest assured that if training your pup to "stay" is more challenging than anticipated, you can always have a friend hold onto your pup's collar while you go and hide.

Once your pup understands "stay" or a friend is holding on to their collar, you can find a place to hide. When you are first playing this game with your pup, choose places to hide where it will be easy for your pup to find you. After all, you don't want your pup to become frustrated and lose interest in the game. You can hide in more challenging spots as your pup gets the hang of things.

Once you have hidden, call for your pup; it is their job to track you down. Once your pup finds you, reward them with a treat; then repeat. You can make things more challenging for your pup by finding hiding spots where it will be more difficult for your dog to find you. Also, have someone else hide as well and encourage your pup to find you both. Hide and seek can also be played by hiding one of your dog's favorite toys and encouraging them to track the toy down.

There are many different types of puzzle toys available; you may find that your pup prefers one particular type or enjoys having several options. Take the Kong toy; made of rubber and available in different sizes, you will fill the toy with a sticky substance. You can use plain peanut butter for example, or mix some of your pup's kibble with the peanut butter and place it in the Kong. Your pup will then have to manipulate the toy to access what is inside. Feeding balls are another type of puzzle toy. You can place kibble inside of the ball and your pup will work to move the toy in such a way that the kibble will come out.

Once you have decided on what puzzle toy you would like to introduce to your dog, let the fun begin. Fill the toy as instructed and offer it to your pup. If your pup has not had experience with a puzzle toy, it may take some time for them to grasp the idea of what to do. Once your pup gets the idea, they will be focused on figuring out how to get to the yummy stuff inside the toy.

As your pup gains the understanding that they will have to figure out how to get the treat or kibble out of the toy, you will be treated to a show. It will be fun to watch (and try to understand) your pup's efforts to solve the puzzle and gain their reward. Especially in the beginning, your pup may need a little encouragement and guidance on how to get the treats out and that job falls to you. After which, sit back, relax and enjoy watching your dog's efforts!

To get started, you will want to choose a few agility activities to work on with your pup. You may have some that you have been working on already that you want to continue to focus on, or you may be new to agility activities or want to work on new ones. The internet is a great place to look for ideas for different activities. As you consider options, keep the strengths of your pup in mind so that you are more likely to choose activities that they can be successful at.

Now that you have decided on a few activities, you will want to collect the items that you need to begin working with your pup. For example, if you have decided to work on jumps with your pup, PVC pipe is an easy way to create something for your pup to jump over. A hula hoop can also be used and raised off of the ground as your dog gets better at jumping and is ready for increased height and challenge. A kids' tunnel is also a fun item to have that your pup can run in and out of.

Once your pup has gotten the hang of a few agility activities, you can increase the challenge by connecting some obstacles together, creating a personalized obstacle course for your pup. You can change the order of things around and add additional activities as you like. Do your best to meet your pup where they are; challenge is good, however too much challenge can lead to their being frustrated. Of course, make sure to reward your pup for their efforts with a treat!