Games are a great way to help manage behavior, train your dog, and give them the mental enrichment they so desperately need to be healthy and happy. Here are a few ideas to help get you started. Our Happy Bayou treats are ideal for these games as they shouldn’t fall apart or crumble and are super delicious (and healthy) for your pups.
Feel free to break Happy Bayou treats into smaller pieces for training and games if you wish. They should snap easily with your fingers. If you use a knife, be careful to not hurt yourself. Because that would make us and your dogs sad!
Always supply water for your dogs. Our treats are delicious, but dry, and doing the work in these games and exercises can build up a thirst. Water is as important as to your dog as anything else.
FUN GAMES
These games help stimulate your dog’s brain and body. They can be played easily and can be a lot of fun. Always give lots of excited praise to your dog when they succeed in a game!
• Hide a few treats around the room while your dog waits.
• Don’t let the dog see where you are hiding the treats.
• Bring the dog into the room and release them with the cue “Find it”.
• Start easy with visible treats to the side of the room, or in corners. Then as they learn the game, you can gradually make hiding spots harder.
• Create a trail of small treats. Be sure the treats are far apart enough to be a minor challenge for your dog.
• At the end of the trail place a larger treat, or even their bowl of food (great dinner time game).
• Works well in a backyard or larger indoor area.
• Encourages scent work and exploration.
• Place a treat under one of three cups.
• Shuffle the cups slowly and let your dog choose.
• Great for focus and problem solving.
• Place treats in a large muffin tin. There are dog toys made specifically for this game.
• Cover one or more muffin spaces with a tennis ball.
• Let your dog figure out how to find and uncover the treats.
• Hold our your hands in front of you, fists closed, palms downward.
• In one hand you will hold a treat, the other is just an empty fist.
• Let your dog sniff both hands and see how long it takes for them to pick the right one.
TRAINING GAMES
These exercises can help your dog learn patience and impulse control. They are the ultimate in brain stimulation and your dog may learn to relax more. Always give lots of excited praise to your dog when they succeed in achieving a task!
• Toss a treat away so your dog runs to get it.
• Wait for them to get the treat and then look back at you directly.
• At that moment, call them back excitedly saying “Come”.
• While they are returning to you, encourage them with “good dog” and “yes, yes” and “pretty dog”!
• Reward with another treat when they get back to you.
• Once they’re good at this, make then sit before being rewarded, until the sit becomes automatic.
• Holding your dog on a leash nest to you, toss a treat a distance away from you, remain silent, no commands.
• Do not let them go anywhere, hold the leash tight.
• Only when they relax and stand still, say “Get it” and let them get the treat.
• Once they are good at that, kneel so you’re closer to their eye level. Do not let them go for the treat until they actually turn and look directly into your face. At that moment say “Get it” and let them get the treat.
• Once they are good at that, do it standing up. Do not give them the command to get the treat until they look directly at you. At this point, you have a really good dog!
• You can eventually (optional) work up to them sitting and looking at you before giving permission to get the treat.
• The pro-level of this game (optional) is to work until they can do it really well off-leash.
• Have your dog sit on the floor in front of you.
• Place a treat on the floor and say “Leave It” while making your dog stay seated. You may need a second person holding them on a leash at first.
• Count 5 seconds silently to yourself, then say “Take it!”
• When they can “Leave It” for 4 seconds, increase the time to 7 seconds, then 8 seconds.
• Over time work up to 10-15 seconds of successful sitting still, and not going for the treat until you give the “Take It” command. At 10-15 seconds, you have a really good dog!
• The true pro-level of this game (optional) is for your dog to wait up to 30 seconds before you say “Take it!”
• Walk your dog on a long leash (12-15 feet, depending on the dog’s size).
• Every 40-50 paces, stop and stand still.
• Wait for your dog to turn around and look at you.
• The moment they look at you, toss a treat a short distance behind you and let your dog run to get it.
• Once they’ve devoured the treat, continue walking as if nothing happened.
• Over time they should stop and check in with you on their own while out walking.