Teaching Games to the Dogs and Staff (Part 2)

This is part 2 of our series on how to teach the dogs and staff to provide good quality environmental enrichment to the dogs.  Check out part 1 where we provide the ground rules for the activities.

Here are a few new ways to enjoy these activities.

Freestyle – got folks who love to dance and dogs that know a few fun tricks?  Then freestyle is a blast.  This requires a bit more time, but it can be fun and rewarding. Nothing makes me smile more than watching a dog/human duo having fun.  You don’t have to be fancy…just put on some music and move around.  For inspiration, check out one of my favorite youtube vidoes of a freestyle performance.

Ball Fun – Everyone knows about fetch…but what else can you do with balls? The Tuggo Toy and Jolly Ball are some of our favorite toys. But we also love seeing dogs play with the giant balls (usually made for horses).  Lots of fun with balls.

Puzzle Games – Mental stimulation is often overlooked when we consider activities for the dogs in our care.  However, mentally challenging a dog can be just as tiring as physical exercise.  Puzzle games are great ways to get a dog to think!  You can try a few homemade do-it-yourself games or purchase one of the many puzzle games available these days.

FitPaws – Core work is just as important for dogs as it is for humans.  Using the balance equipment from FitPaws is great for dogs of all ages. Since safety is important, you’ll want to proceed slowly and teach the dogs how to use the equipment.  This activity requires a bit more knowledge and skill from your staff to help the dogs learn.