Fun and Games for a Smarter Dog: 50 Great Brain Games to Engage Your Dog

297 Pages·2016·33.75 MB·English

by  Sophie Collins

FUN & GAMES
FOR A
SMARTER DOG
Sophie Collins
CONTENTS
Introduction
Playing Safe
1. Play and Training
Understanding How Dogs Think about Play
2. Basic Games
Using Play to Teach
3. Bonding Games
Building Your Relationship with Play
4. Brain Games
Boosting Your Pet’s Thinking Skills with Play
5. Fitness Games
Games to Build Your Dog’s Fitness and Agility
6. Figuring It Out
Games to Stretch Your Dog
7. Getting Along
Dog-to-Dog Play
Epilogue
Playing for Life
Gallery
Further Reading
Index
INTRODUCTION
When it comes to teaching your
dog, one thing is certain: you won’t
be short of advice. Whether you
have a new puppy, have just
adopted a rescue dog, or have
decided that the affable but not-
so-obedient family pet that you’ve
had for some years needs a
behavioral tune-up, there are a lot
of dog-training experts around.
Many will simply tell you, unasked,
on the street or at the park, that
you’re doing something wrong,
while others will offer alternatives;
some will insist that your dog won’t
respect you unless you dominate
him (in particular, ignore these
ones), others will tell you about the
perfect pet professional who turned their problem pet around. And, of
course, this book, too, is one of many, plenty of which offer conflicting
advice. All this can create a lot of confusion. So how can you teach your
dog in a way that will build your relationship, make sure you have fun
together, and incorporate lessons that will help him to get along in our
human-managed society? And can it be done in a way that will keep—or
get—you both fit, too, and generally make you both happy?
It’s a lot to ask, but you do have one true expert on hand, and that’s your dog
himself. Among all the information people will offer you, something is often
overlooked—that we can learn as much, or more, from dogs as they can learn
from us. After all, they live in a world that is made for people, following
people’s rules. Generally, they manage this successfully; far more so than most
people would if the situation were reversed and they were transplanted into a
world of dogs.
Domestic dogs are, as a species, extraordinary adaptable and tolerant. They
are highly social animals that collect huge amounts of information from us, often
learning more from our body language than from what we tell them verbally
(more on that later). Their senses are more developed than ours. With noses
around a thousand times more sensitive, they naturally rely on smell for a lot of
their daily news and make up the balance largely with minute observation of
what’s going on around them. True, they can’t talk, but they both watch and
listen intently. They’re also remarkably forgiving. Even after you’ve messed up
the job of teaching them something simple, confusing your signals, sending
conflicting body language, and raising your voice instead of concentrating on
what you’re saying, your dog will usually still be hanging in there, looking to
you for amended instructions and remaining willing to try to understand,
however confusing you’re being.
These are all good reasons for you to take the trouble to learn to teach your
dog properly and patiently, with a consciousness of what usually works and what
may not, and with an awareness that your dog is a dog, not a small and
sympathetic person in a furry coat. The chapters that follow take account of all
these factors.
Working with your dog should continue throughout his life as part of your
owner/pet relationship. At some point, you will probably feel that he is trained—
when he knows what’s considered acceptable, both at home and out and about,
and sticks to the rules most of the time. But if you stop there, as many people do,
you’ll be missing a trick (sometimes literally). Because a mix of training and
playing is fun, and a short session—ten minutes is enough—over and above the
walking and playtime that dog owners build into every day will bring rewards
out of proportion to how long it takes. Mix things you want him to know with
things he loves doing, keep it fresh by interweaving elements of routine with
challenges and surprises, and you’ll have a pet who stays young for his years and
who’ll always welcome the chance to spend more time with you.
And what about the “smarter” part of the equation? Can you really train your
dog to be smarter? It may not be the case that you can actually raise his canine
IQ, but with short, regular, consistent playing-and-training sessions, you can
build on his strengths, get rid of most day-to-day difficulties, broaden his
horizons, and be sure he’s an all-around good canine citizen with plenty of
personality and a healthy respect for the rules. All of which adds up to a smart
dog.

PLAYING SAFE
There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to games and activities
you can play with your dog. Before you start, however, it is essential that
you make sure you will be playing safe.
AGE AND FITNESS
Almost every dog can play some
games, learn some tricks, and enjoy
doing both. If you’re teaching a
particularly young or old dog,
however, be careful that you don’t
push him too far. Dogs that are still at
the growing and developing stage
(under a year and up to two years in
some breeds) shouldn’t do any
jumping and shouldn’t be allowed to
overtire themselves, so use your
common sense if your dog seems to be
wearing himself out—a young dog
won’t always know when he’s had
enough. At the other end of the age
scale, don’t push an elderly dog
beyond his comfort zone; the stamina
of a ten-year-old probably won’t be as
high as that of a dog in his prime of
fitness, and older or arthritic pets
shouldn’t be overexcited so much that they hurt themselves.
Jumping, standing or “walking” on their back legs, or turning awkwardly can
all cause injuries that may recur or lead to long-term strain or weakness in
young, old, overweight, or unfit dogs, so use your common sense when judging
what’s suitable for your particular pet. Additionally, brachycephalic breeds
(those with flat faces, such as Bulldogs) should not be allowed to overexert
themselves. In the following chapters, we’ve included a note in cases where the
occasional trick or game isn’t the best choice for a puppy, an older dog, or a less
fit dog, plus suggestions on how to modify it, if necessary.
fit dog, plus suggestions on how to modify it, if necessary.
KNOW YOUR DOG
If you’re playing with your own dog, you are probably the person who knows
best what he will enjoy, and you can play to his strengths. If you’re with a dog
that isn’t yours, check his preferences with his owner and be careful and
observant during play. You need to know about a dog’s behavioral tendencies
before you start. For example, if a dog tends to get be guarded about favorite
toys, it’s best to get him familiar with the idea of leaving (see here) or swapping
(see here) before you introduce a toy-based game; dogs who tend to engage in
one-upmanship need to be introduced carefully and in a controlled way to
competitive games, such as tug. If your pet isn’t enthused by a particular
activity, don’t keep pushing it at him—instead, try a different one. There are
plenty of choices, and he’ll learn much more easily if you focus on his strengths,
whether he turns out to be an athlete, a thinker, or even a clown who loves to
play to an audience.
CHILDREN AND DOGS
Children and their pets can have great play relationships, but they should always
be carefully managed. Never leave a young child alone with a dog. If excitement
ramps up too far, the high-pitched shouting of children can agitate dogs, and
play can turn snappy. Younger children need to be taught how to play
appropriately without manhandling or scaring a dog. Prolonged eye contact—in
particular, when it’s at the dog’s own eye level, as a toddler often will be—must
be avoided. Dogs aren’t generally comfortable being stared at, and if a child is at
face level with a dog, he or she is also at jaw level if the dog feels threatened—
this is why children often get bitten. Make sure you supervise play between
children of any age and your dog, don’t allow small children to pull him around,
and either discourage chase games or police them extremely carefully (a dog is
more probable to jump up and nip in excitement when he “catches” the child).
Engage children in teaching exercises from the start. Training your dog through
all the stages of an easy exercise with a child’s help is an excellent way for them
to learn how to get along together in an enjoyable way.
BE OBSERVANT
Problems in dog/person play often arise because one species is misunderstanding
the body language of the other. Learn to watch your dog carefully as you teach.
Getting into the habit of being observant around him will familiarize you with
his norm, and thus make you aware of when a game isn’t as much fun for him as
it is for you, as well as of any dislikes or sensitivities that need to be managed.
Remember, too, that every dog is an individual and will have different
Remember, too, that every dog is an individual and will have different
enthusiasms and limits. An enjoyable game of finding a treat for one dog may
overstimulate another; a natural retriever may love games that teach him to carry
different items, while another dog may not see the point of carrying things at all.
Make informed choices, and your games will be fun for both of you.