10 Best Games to Play With Your Dog

We all love playing with our dogs, don’t we? Along with being a joyful experience, it is also a fun way of enriching the dog-parent relationship. In fact, engaging in playful activities can even cheer you and your pooch up. Moreover, games provide mental and physical stimulation necessary for your dog’s overall well-being. So, do not skip on creating delightful moments with your little fur baby – run around on the beach, take goofy videos, or play innocent pranks – after all, there are endless ways for you to have a fun time together.

10 games to play with your dog

When we think of playtime with dogs, the first thing that comes to our mind is the fetch game. However, did you know? You can teach your pooch to play countless games apart from this classic game. Let’s explore some fun as well as enriching games to play with your pooch:

• Soccer: If you are a soccer fan, you are in for a treat. Though most dogs love chasing a ball, some dogs are naturally pros at this sport. So, set up a small soccer field and teach your dog to push a lightweight ball using its paws and nose.
• Hide and seek: This is a popular game amongst dogs and pet parents. All you have to do is hide somewhere in your house or backyard and call out your dog's name. Encourage your pooch to find you, and when it does, do not hold back on being excited and surprised. Moreover, shower it with dog treats for successfully finding you.
• Tug of war: Indulge in a gentle game of tug with a rope toy or a soft tug toy. However, establish some ground rules and train your pooch to release the toy on your command.
• Find the treat: Put your dog’s keen sense of smell to test with this game. Hide its favorite dog treats around the house and encourage your fur baby to find them. To begin with, go for easy hiding spots, so your dog can understand the game. Gradually increase the difficulty level to provide mental stimulation.
• Agility course: You will need an open area for this game. Gather some cones, hula hoops, and tunnels to build a mini agility course for your dog. Train your pooch to navigate through the course by going over, under, and through the hurdles. Use treats and positive reinforcement to encourage it.
• Bubble chase: We have all chased bubbles as kids. So, why not blow some dog-safe bubbles to watch your dog chase and pop them?
• Shell game: When you play with a dog, go for games that will also help your pooch develop new skills. Shell game is one such fun activity that provides mental stimulation and improves focus. So, place three cups upside down with treats hidden under one of them. Shuffle the cups and ask your pooch to find its treat.
• Water fun: Your dog will enjoy this game if it loves water. Set up a kiddie pool or sprinklers in your backyard and let your fur baby splash around.
• Name that toy: With this game, you teach your dog the names of its toys. Once you have taught the name, ask it to bring you a specific toy by name. This game will improve your dog’s memory and help expand its vocabulary.
• Wild sits: This is a great training game to play with your dog. Make sure your furry friend is on leash while playing this game. Now, to kickstart this game, get your dog excited. Start running and jumping around to rile it up. Once your canine companion begins to bark and jump, ask it to sit. This game ensures that your dog goes from a state of excitement to the state of calm on your command.

Note: While it is imperative to indulge in fun games with your dog, do not forget to prioritize your dog's safety and well-being during its playtime.

Benefits of playing with your dog

Playing with dogs can benefit you as well as these four-legged angels in numerous ways. From relieving stress in humans to releasing pent up energy in dogs, playing games with dogs can have countless benefits.

3 Benefits of playing with dogs for humans

• Emotional Support: Since dogs provide unconditional love and companionship, we, as humans, anyway receive a lot of emotional support from them. Moreover, playing with dogs helps reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Their presence can lift spirits effortlessly.
• Improved social life: We all know that dogs are social magnets. They attract attention from all directions. Taking your dog to parks or dog-friendly areas generally lead to interactions with other dog parents and dog lovers, creating opportunities to socialize and make new connections.
• Physical Exercise: Playing with dogs encourages physical activity for humans. Taking your dog out to play or meet its exercise quota regularly compels you to walk, run, or play fetch – providing an enjoyable way to stay fit.

5 Benefits of playing for Dogs:

• Physical exercise: It is no news that dogs need regular exercise to maintain their physical health. And a good playtime with its human encourages it to engage in activities that keep it active and fit.
• Mental stimulation: Dogs are intelligent beings that require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Playing with humans provides mental enrichment, improves focus, challenges their problem-solving skills, and keeps their minds engaged.
• Bonding and socialization: Playing with humans strengthens the bond between dogs and their parents. A fun playtime will help your fur baby develop trust and deepen its emotional connection with you and other people.
• Energy release: Dogs are generally highly energetic. Their energy needs to be released in a positive way. Playing with humans allows them to blow off steam, which thereby helps prevent behavioral issues and promote a calm demeanor.
• Confidence building: Indulging in playtime with humans can boost your dog's confidence. Positive interactions and successful play sessions can also improve their behavior and contribute to their overall self-esteem.

It's important to note that the benefits of playing with dogs often overlap. The shared experience of playtime creates a mutually beneficial relationship, which ensures physical health, emotional well-being, and a stronger bond between humans and their canine companions. So, go on and have a delightful time with your dog.