What are good games to play with a puppy?

Educational games and toys for your puppy

 

Educational games and toys for your puppy

Exercise is not limited to daily walks. Discover games for puppies that help him improve his concentration and stimulate him mentally.

We tend to believe that a puppy’s physical activity can be limited to taking him out every day regularly. It is certain that these outings are beneficial for our dogs but only encouraging physical activity is not enough.

Giving yourself opportunities to stimulate your puppy’s brain as well can help him develop well and make it easier for the puppy to learn basic exercises and commands. It’s also a fun way to interact with your pup and improve your relationship. Read on to find out what you could play with your dog!

Educational games and toys for your puppy
Educational games and toys for your puppy

Educational games for your puppy

For your pup to be problem-solving and mentally stimulated, his natural enthusiasm needs to be channeled into specific games. Use his instinctive behaviors and intelligence (which we tend to underestimate) to make him think and learn new skills. Most puppies like to be stimulated in this way, even if it tires them out quickly.

Physical development  of a Puppy

A puppy is full of energy but his physical development is not yet finished; it can therefore be difficult to make him “burn” all their energy by simply relying on physical exercise: his muscles, joints, and skeleton may suffer. Educational games can take over and will also divert him from the urge to nibble on your furniture!

There are different types of games that stimulate dogs’ brains and keep them active. Some individuals are up for anything while others have very clear preferences. It’s up to you to find out what you and your puppy like the most!

The game of hiding and seek

This game can be implemented anywhere in the house or garden, and even during your regular walks. At first, have someone help you hold your puppy. Show him you have treats with you, then walk away and hide somewhere, ideally somewhere that’s fairly easy to find at first.

Your puppy will then be released and will come to find you: the treats and your presence will be his rewards. Start playing hide-and-seek with your pup when he’s young as it makes it easier to learn to recall and improve his responsiveness.

A mistress and her puppy play hide and seek in the living room of an apartment

 The flair exercises

This other educational game is a variation of the game of hiding and seek, where your pup must use his nose to find a treat or a toy. For example, you can place several treats on a path that leads him to his favorite toy or even his meal. As your pup progresses, you can reduce the number of treats on the track.

A puppy loves this type of game and he never gets tired of it! Hide treats (or a ball for toy-obsessed puppies) under a small towel, under pillows, in an old sock, or even under flower pots in the garden to entice your pup to sniff around. Let your creativity run free to invent games that stimulate both your dog’s flair and brain activity.

Interactive toys

Many dog ​​toys aim to encourage them to solve problems so they can get treats. Some roll or bounce, others move unpredictably or have things that need to be moved, but all provide a different challenge for your pup. The simplest are toys with holes in them that you fill with treats and your dog has to wield the skill to get them out. Other toys are more complicated: they require very good neuro-motor coordination on the part of the puppy to achieve their ends.

Do not think that your puppy will understand the principle on his right away. Play with him first, show him what to do, and offer him easy games until he has a good command of how these toys work.

You don’t need to buy expensive toys: you can hide treats very well inside a roll of toilet paper or paper towels, in small boxes, or even in an open plastic bottle. Then encourage your pup to figure out how to get what’s inside. Always supervise your dog and make sure a homemade toy is safe for him. Also, check that your puppy does not start by wanting to tear off pieces or destroy them!

Teach your puppy exercises

Having a dog that can do exercises like waving a paw or closing a door just seems like fun. But in reality, regularly taking the time to teach him games and exercises can stimulate him mentally and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Start with simple things: for example, make him turn in a circle or put his front feet on an upturned bucket while attracting him with a treat. Soon you will be able to ask him more complicated things that will amaze your friends!

When you begin to exercise your puppy both physically and mentally, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to get him to play smart; each daily outing will provide the opportunity to exercise your body and brain. Even better, as your puppy grows and becomes more independent, these playful interactions will help you capture his attention, improve his education and behavior, and allow you to get through your puppy’s adolescence without any particular problems.

What do you think?

Written by Amma

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