I have a new puppy. What are some fun and educational games I can play with her?

Question

I have a new puppy. What are some fun and educational games I can play with her?

Answer 1

Educational games like what? What do you want her to learn? Just play the fetch games and teach her tricks.

Answer 2

great question! There's a list called Start Puppy Training that you can join that will help you a lot. There are tons of great trainers on that list and they'll answer any question. That group is here:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/spt/



I'd also recommend a few other sites,

http://www.clickertraining.com/

and a blog:

http://www.clickersolutions.com/blog/blog10.htm



I have been playing the 'rule outs' game with my pup a lot. This game is also called "It's your choice" and was named that by the folks up at Say Yes. The basic explanation is that you want your dog to be able to recall to you no matter what the distraction, at first. In agility, we escalate the game to the point that we can scatter liver treats amongst an agility course and have the dog perform the course as well as if the treats were not there. But the point of this is that your dog knows that he is not to take the reinforcer, no matter what it is, until you release him to do so. Ideally you start with your dog in his crate - and the dog is released by you ("OK!" or "Break!" etc; train this separately if your dog doesn't know this game) So, the pup is in his crate. Scatter some low-value treat around (for my dog, this would be carrot slices and broccoli - for yours, it might be something else) and have high value, stinky treats in your hand. Your dog will hopefully smell these, but don't show him these treats or lure him with them. Give your dog his release word, and call him to you. Be ready - he may stop to investigate the treats. If he does, gently nab him and put back in crate. Try again - it may take more than twice for him to get it. Reward heavily and with much excitement when he comes straight to you!

It's pretty easy to increase the difficulty of this game, which you would do by placing higher value treats to tempt him - also, being farther away from your dog (be sure he won't stop to self-reinforce on his way to you!) If your dog is toy-crazy, place a toy down there too. Be sure to be fair to your dog and increase the temptations slowly. If the dog fails 2 or 3x, he is telling you that you're moving too fast - back up to an easier setup.

Answer 3

Hang toys just a tiny bit high for her out on the patio or along the fence. When she tries to get it, it seems to run from her, this is great for her recreation when you aren't home, to keep her from boredom. Be sure to supervise first to see that there isn't any hangup in your design.



I hide treats all around my back yard and my dogs now know the game and run around all excited like Easter. Or if it's dark or cold I do it in the living room.



Then there is just simple fetch, but during fetch hide the ball in a simple place for her to find. Help her find it the first time then once she gets the hang. You'll have to put her in a closed room to hide it so that she doesn't see you.



I love to play hide and seek with my dogs. I put them outside or in a room with the door just almost closed, while they are busy with something else. I hide, when they find me they get a treat. To make sure that she knows to look for you whine a little so that it catches her attention.



All of these are stimulating to the dog and fun for you.

Answer 4

I had a very intelligent peke-a-poo. To keep him mentally challenged as a puppy I encouraged him to engage in problem solving. It was as simple as letting him figure how to get a knotted sock through the spindles on a rocking chair and encouraging his progress.



Always, ALWAYS I talk to my dogs almost constantly! Seriously. Not just "sit" "stay" either. Paragraphs--the same as you would talk to a child. Try it. You'll be amazed what they begin to understand!

Answer 5

Use his natural abilties Espeicaly sent hide treats around your home of yard eventuly his abilites will improve.

Also games that exersze language skills such as sit stay etc make training much easier

you might also want to try agilty training

Answer 6

You can play games like ball and freebie or some people teach their dogs to count. I would work on teaching him commands like come, sit, stay, things like that. I do not recommend playing tug-o- war since she most likely has her baby teeth and you might hurt them in a way where her older teeth will not grow in probably.

Answer 7

The best thing u can do with her is throw a ball and run around in the grass with her. My dogs love to run around, plus you can read them a book, yea it is corny but i read my puppy a book and he lyked it he fell asleep, so you could also play wit sum sorta colors (i.e. throw different color balls and say go get the color) it works and it tires the pup out so she will snuggle in ur lap and sleep. Hope it works out. xoxox wat kinda pup do u have? Oh yea make sure u get her hair cut cuz it will mat and when they got to the Bathroom it will get stuck. not very pleasant.

Answer 8

omg this isnt very educational but my dog loves this it doesnt even cost anyhting! get a couploe of bags and tie them together and then slide them on the carpet my dog goes crazy!

Answer 9

twister