Is A Game Just A Game?

 Dogs like to play and run.  They like to be engaged with other dogs or people.  But what happens when they don't have humans around to engage them, play with them, teach them things?  They create their own "games" and find things to occupy themselves, which creates many a difference of opinion about what is a game and what is the definition of a toy.

Did your Good Buddy end up in the shelter because he thought Aunt Margaret's wig was a fuzzy toy?  Did he think that shag carpet was remarkably similar to the freshly-mowed lawn in the backyard?  Is he still really puzzled why he got in so much trouble for chasing the family kitty?  And why, a dog wonders, is drinking out of the toilet such a bad idea?  After all, it is a bowl and it contains water. 

Are these "bad" dog behaviors?  No.  They are dog behaviors.  And for the short time we have these dogs in our program, we can teach them things.  We can teach them to play with things that really are doggie toys.  We can teach them games that tease their brains and make them feel useful and challenged.  We can teach them that they get ignored when the jump up on us, but they get rewarded when they keep their feet on the floor.  We can teach them that one emergency recall word that will stop them in their tracks and prevent them from chasing or running off into a dangerous situation, whatever it may be.  We can teach them to walk with a loose leash (this is a biggie).  And above all, they will learn to trust us.

Some dogs are just waiting for the chance to learn things.  They are smart, but have never had anyone who cared about them enough, or never knew that dogs want to learn, they want to be in a relationship with us, their humans.  They have energy but they don't know what to do with it.  They want to play, but need to be taught which things they should choose for their toys.

That is where we can help them shine, and here are a few ideas to help our Good Buddies, compliments of Jolanta Benal, who writes a blog called The Dog Trainer.  

The Find It Game

The easiest doggy game of all may be “Find It” -- you can’t go wrong when sniffing and food are involved. Show your dog a piece of dry food or a tiny treat. Say “Find it!” and toss the food on the ground. If your dog doesn’t quite get the idea of hunting outside the bowl, start her off by dropping the treat right in front of her. Then at each repetition, toss it farther and farther away. You can feed your dog entire meals by playing Find It; for some reason, dogs rarely seem to get bored when looking for food. Make the game more challenging by asking your dog to stay while you hide the treat behind a piece of furniture or in another room. Come back, release your dog from the stay, and wish her happy hunting. I do not suggest using the couch cushions as a hiding place.

 

Hide and Seek

The hidden item in “Find It” can be a person, too, which turns the game into hide-and-seek. This is easiest to teach with two human players -- one to go hide, the other to stay with the dog and encourage him to find the one who’s hiding. The person hiding can make a big fuss over the dog once she’s found and then reward by throwing a treat or toy, or play a quick round of tug.

Go Wild and Freeze

There are many ways to play “Go Wild and Freeze” – here’s one. Start by dancing around and acting excited till your dog gets going, too. After a minute or so, you all of a sudden stop moving. Ask your dog to sit, or down, or do another behavior she knows well. The moment she does it, start dancing around again; when your dog joins in, stop, ask for that sit or down again, and reward her by re-starting the party.
Mix things up by varying what behaviors you ask for and how long you wait before re-starting the game. If your dog is super-excitable and likely to mouth you or ricochet off you, start with a pale-vanilla version of “going wild” -- your dog’s introduction to this game can be “Take a Single Step and Freeze.” You can also retreat behind a baby gate if need be.
“Go Wild and Freeze” is not only fun, it helps teach your dog self-control as she learns to respond to your cues even when excited. End the game clearly, for example by saying “All done!” and sitting down with a book. If you say the same phrase every time, your dog will learn that it signifies the end of play for now. Ignore any attempts to reel you back in -- otherwise, she will learn that pestering works.

These are just a few games that you can use to get started.  Let your imagination run wild and have fun with your Good Buddy.

Another priceless training tool ... pay attention and catch your dog doing something good.  It's not always easy, and it's easy to miss many cues when our dogs are quietly doing what they are supposed to do.  When you pass another dog out on a walk, your dog has the choice of whether to bark and lunge or quietly keep walking and mind her own business.  Catch that moment to praise and reward.  The list goes on but you get the idea.  Dogs LOVE to do a good job and they LOVE to be rewarded.  Rewarded with what you ask?  In the beginning it really doesn't matter.  Find their currency and use it to your advantage. It might be food, it might be praise, or it could be launching into a game of chase.

Have fun with your Good Buddy!