Here are some new games and tips on making backyard playtime more fun. You might even find your dogs special talents!
| Jumping: | Make your own agility or flyball hurdle by placing a broom across two plastic buckets. Hold a treat on one side, and encourage your dog to jump over. |
| Jump, sit, stay: | Create an agility pause table by using a bench, chair or table. Teach your dog to jump onto the table, then sit or lie down for five seconds, then jump off. Ta-da! |
| Backyard tunnelling: | Using a nylon pipe tunnel, coax your dog inside it with food. Run alongside the tunnel or sit at the other end to persuade him through. Reward your dog with toys or food at the end. |
| Enthusiastic fetching: | Flyball dogs are rapid fetchers. To build your dog’s excitement, throw the ball, hold him back for 10 seconds, and then let him sprint after it. |
| Hide & seek: | Teach tracking skills by showing your dog a toy or treat and hiding it in an easy to find location. Start out being really obvious and repeating it a few times. Attach a single word to the action like Search or Find, so he learns what he’s being asked to do. As your dog’s skills improve, have him sit with his back turned, ask friends to hide in different places. Ready or not, here he comes. |
IMPORTANT!!! Always remember to reward your dog every time he does something you asked him to do. When starting out, even reward movements / actions that are heading in the right direction. Be patient.
Source: Cathy M. Rosenthal