Having Fun: Dog Games for Your Family and the Dog

Dogs love human contact, and they enjoy interaction. Add to this the fact that they (and
most of the time, us lazy grownups too) need some exercise from time to time, and you can
see why playing fun dog games could be fun for more than just the dog. Take note that since
a dog’s lifespan is one seventh of that of a human, their perception of periods between
times you show them affection, or play with them, is “much longer” than your perception of
the same period, so make sure they get regular attention, even if only for short periods. 

Keep in mind that some games, like tug o’war, and teasing with treats, could end up with
the dog becoming aggressive, and should not be encouraged if you have children in the home.
Children tend to get excited, and do not always notice when the dog’s “play” turns from
“rough” to aggressive. Playing such (otherwise) fun dog games could have disastrous consequences.

Once your dog has learned to play fetch, playing ball games could keep it happily running
around for hours. As long as you throw the ball away from the dog, and avoid small balls
that can be swallowed and cause your dog to choke, you or your kid(s) could end up having
just as much fun as the dog.

The next step would be to play Frisbee. It can be thrown much further than a ball, and more
agile dogs love catching it in the air. It also makes for much more exercise for the dog. Keep in mind that dog species with strong jaws might be a bit rough on the Frisbee, and call for regular replacement.

Hide and seek can be great fun. All it takes is for someone to hide away, and make a sound to attract the dog’s attention. Especially if you have kids in the house, even at very different ages, this could be great fun for everyone.

Playing fun dog games is also a great way of teaching obedience to basic commands. Additionally, it creates a stronger bond between the dog and the family, which will result in strengthening the dog’s natural protective instinct.