The Games Puppies Play

Puppy Proofing Your Home
If "Puppy" can swallow it, it isn't safe. Many dogs require stomach surgery on several occasions to retrieve such things as jewelry and twist ties.

• Don't let "Puppy" get into the habit of picking up all sorts of things. Teach him “give.” The pup that picks everything up is more likely to swallow rocks, eat bad things, rip apart twigs, etc.
• Keep "Puppy" crated when you can't supervise him so that he can't get into serious trouble. For instance, if your pup chews on baseboards, it can be very serious.
• Electrical cords can be deadly. They should be unplugged during chewing periods and only plugged in when necessary.
• Put food and garbage where "Puppy" can't get into it. It is unrealistic to expect your pup to leave these tasty and aromatic goodies alone.
• Table cloths can be dangerous when you have a puppy. He can, for instance, pull the cloth when there is a hot beverage on the table.
• If you leave “Puppy” outside for long periods of time, confine him to a dog with appropriate shelter, where he is safer.
• Remember: Antifreeze is deadly to dogs and cats but they think it smells and tastes great. Keep your puppy away from this and any other chemicals.

Chewing
Puppies are great chewers and it's unrealistic to expect them to chew only what you consider to be appropriate. It's a good idea to teach them what is theirs and what is not, but you can't get angry at your pup if he forgets. He's likely to forget if he has too many toys, so limit his stash to five. Puppies should only be allowed to chew on substances that are safe. They also need to be taught what feel, smell, taste, etc. constitutes a toy. So, if you don't want "Puppy" to chew the couch don't give him a stuffed toy because to his senses, the two are the same. Similarly, if you give him an old shoe he is more likely to get into a new shoe.

Rough Games – Tug-Of-War, Wrestling, Agitating Puppy’s Mouth
NO, NO, NO! Puppies love this, but when you play these games, "Puppy" learns that aggression is acceptable in this pack, that it is appropriate to challenge Alpha and that Alpha will submit to "Puppy."

Great Games for Puppy to Play

Find It
This is a wonderful game because your dog will learn to think for himself, he'll be rewarded for a job well done and you will be impressed with “Puppy's” skills. From a sit/stay, show your pup a piece of food. Walk 10 feet away, put the food down and retrace your steps to “puppy.” Tell him to “find the cookie.” He will. As he learns the game, gradually put the cookie in places where he has to use his nose to find it. (That's the reason why you must retrace your steps.) When "Puppy" has mastered the game, teach with other objects such as ball, toys, etc.

Jumping
With "Puppy" on-lead, jump over a small object together. As he gets comfortable jumping over things, stay back slightly so that "Puppy" jumps before you. Then, gradually stay back so that he is jumping and you aren't. The last step would be to increase the size of the things that "Puppy" jumps.

Tricks
Dog tricks are lots of fun for both you and your puppy. Rather than giving you direction, I suggest you read "Dog Tricks" by Captain Arthur Haggarty and Carol Lea Benjamin. It is chock full of great tricks and ideas.

Obedience Trials & Rally Obedience
There are several benefits to competing with your dog in obedience trials and Rally O’. For one thing, this is a fun hobby because you share it with your pet. Then there's the payoff of having a well-trained, secure, happy dog. Most dogs love the work and the time spent with their owner. The Canadian Kennel Club and United Kennel Club hold obedience trails within Canada. The Canadian Association of Rally Obedience hold different events. Visit their websites for more information regarding registration.

Agility Training, Flyball, Scent Hurdling
These activities are great fun for dog and handler. They are team sports rather than being something you can do solo with your dog. Agility involves jumping over things, running through tunnels, up and down planks, crawling under objects, etc. Flyball is a relay race that is lots of fun for dogs who crave to catch balls or frisbees in the air. After jumping four hurdles, the dog presses a pedal and out flies a ball. The dog must catch it and, keeping it in his mouth, re-jump the hurdles and return to his owner. Then it's the next dog's turn, Scent hurdling is similar to flyball in that it's a relay race where the dog has to jump over hurdles. But, it involves the dog finding a dumbbell that his owner has touched and then returning it to the owner.

All these relay sports take great skill and the dogs love them because they're working, using their brains and their natural skills, and because they're spending time with their owners.