Games with your rottie

[Rocky's_mom]

I am wanted to play some games with Rocky. Yesterday, he learned about Mr. Panda Bear and we played hid and go seek with it. Good time to work on stay and drop. Which he did very well on. But, that is all I know. What do you play with your rottie and is fun and also works with training? And, how do you do it? I did a search, but I didn't get a lot...maybe I put in the wrong word....

[DNeff]

First let me say:

Games and play is all about your mind set!!!

Some fun training games:

Retrieve game: You need three identical toys ( I use a small homemade rope toy, you can also use three sections of hose) You throw the first toy away and let your dog go after it, as your dog returns with toy one (within a few feet), you toss the second toy between your legs, as the dog grabs the second toy you quickly call them to heel position and lure them in using toy three. Once they are sitting in heel, you release to tug the third toy with you.

Scenting: You need three paper cups or plastic cups. Hide a cookie under one cup, the other two are placed upside down beside the cookie cup, release dog to cup to sniff out cookie. Praise any sniffing and allow dog to knock over the correct cup to get the cookie.

Cookie recalls: Get some awesome treats that are easy to see on the surface you are working on. Toss cookie (needs to be somewhat weighty so it tosses far enough, tortellini works well) as far as you can, recall dog, as dog races in, toss another cookie in the opposite direction of the last one. This tends to get a nice fast recall game going. Builds speed and motivation. Can then be developed in to a recall/drop on recall game as dog progresses.

Go out game: Put a small paper plate about five feet in front of you. Put cookie on plate, show dog cookie. Back up to five feet away and release dog to cookie plate. Gradually back up further and further until dog is rushing to plate. Decide on a command word like "go" or "away". Great for working go outs, distance, etc...

Many times you can make any training exercise in to play by adjusting your mindset and how you approach each exercise. Having the attitude of “let’s try again” when your dog fails to achieve what you had hoped will go a long way in maintaining enthusiasm and a game like atmosphere.

Dawn + Osa
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[Rocky's_mom]

Cool! Thanks! The cookie recall, my hubby was doing that with him and he loved it!!! I guess I didn't think of that as a game....but now, I see the light! Thanks!