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You are here: Home / Dog Articles / 10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog
10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog
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10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog

Last updated on February 15, 2023 By Puppy Leaks 32 Comments

10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog

Looking for some nice and easy way to keep your dog entertained and out of trouble? Try adding a few fun games into to your dog’s routine.

Playing games with your dog is a great way to keep them active, busy, and out of trouble. And best of all it’s a lot of fun for both you and your dog alike.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From using a flirt pole to playing hide & seek, here’s 10 fun games to play with your dog.

1. Use a Flirt Pole

Looking for an easy and fun way to entertain your active dog? Look no further than a flirt pole. Using a flirt pole is fun way to keep your dog mentally and physically active. They’re especially great for high energy dogs because one quick session can really tire out your dog.

A flirt pole (also called a flirt stick) is a long pole with a rope attached to the end. On the end of that rope is a lure that’s used to entice your dog to chase. Flirt poles provide great exercise, and they’re mentally stimulating. They’re a way to let let your dog use their natural prey drive in a non-destructive way. And they’re a great for practicing some basic impulse control such as letting go on command.

When playing remember to let your dog ‘win’ or catch the lure on occasion as a reward. By letting them win you’re making the game more engaging and fun, and that will encourage them to keep playing. If they don’t get that chance to win they can become discouraged and uninterested in the game. You can make your own flirt pole with some pvc pipe, some bungee cord and a dog toy. If you’d rather buy one there’s plenty available on amazon.

Remember to take it slow when starting out. Using a flirt pole with your dog is very high impact, and it can be rough on your dog’s joints. If your dog isn’t very active to begin with start with short sessions and work your way up to longer ones.

Word of caution for puppies and dogs with arthritis or mobility issues: If your dog has any joint or mobility issues I would not recommend using a flirt pole. Because it’s such a high impact exercise it can cause further joint damage, so opt for some of these lower impact exercises instead. The same goes for puppies; young dogs are are more prone to injuries form high impact exercises such as using a flirt pole.

2. Play Tug of War With Your Dog

Tug is by far my favorite dog game. It’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s great physical exercise, and it’s a good way for dogs to practice their manners aka impulse control. And if you spent a lot of time training with your dog I’ve found a tug toy to be one of most motivating rewards around.

When playing tug just remember to follow this basic rule – the game stops if your dog’s teeth touch your skin. Some dogs may struggle with this more than others since tug gets some dogs (puppies) pretty riled up. If you stop when their mouth touches your hand they’ll catch on that ‘the fun game stops when I mouth my person.’

And contrary to popular belief playing tug with your dog will not make him aggressive, nor will letting him win make him dominant. Letting your dog win makes the game more engaging, and it shows your dog that you’re a lot of fun to be around.

10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog

Puppies have a hard time with the ‘no bite’ rule. If your game of tug feels like work on some bite inhibition first. via memecenter

3. Play Frisbee With Your Dog

Another fun game to play with your dog is frisbee. Frisbee is a game I refer to as an advanced game of fetch because it promotes your dog to chase over long distances. A game of frisbee is great exercise, and it’s a lot of fun for dogs that have a natural drive to chase.

If your dog doesn’t know how to catch a frisbee I’d start out by using a soft disc. Traditional plastic frisbees are pretty hard, so if they hit your dog in the face they can discourage them from trying to catch it. Practice by getting your dog excited about the frisbee by tossing it short distances or rolling it on the ground. Encourage them when they start to follow it around and chase. Once your dog is excited to chase it you can increase the distance and start tossing it.

10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog

A game of frisbee can be far more exciting than the average game of fetch.

4. Create Your Own Agility Course

Another fun game for dogs is creating your own agility course. It’s a fun way to teach your dog some new tricks, and it’s a great source of mental stimulation for dogs.

Using an agility course for your dog is a fun way to give them some mental & physical exercise. I’ve found that having Laika run through our own little mini course is more tiring than a 2 mile walk. It’s that added focus of having to perform one thing after the other that’s really exhausting.

And while you can go out and buy plenty of obstacle course items at pet supply stores I prefer making my own. You can use a hula hoop to jump through, some blankets to jump over and some little mini cones to weave through. If you want to step it up a notch you can can make some agility equipment of your own. Check out these awesome DIY obstacle course plans:

  • How to Make Your Own Dog Agility Course
  • How to Build a Pet Agility Course
  • How to Build Your Own 3 Part Agility Course

5. Use Kong Stuffing, Puzzles & Food Dispensing Toys

Using a stuffed Kong, a puzzle, or a food dispensing toy is one of the easiest games to play with your dog. It’s fun, it encourages them to use some of their natural scavenging ability, and it’s mentally stimulating. If you’re not a fan of Kongs check out the West Paw Tux toy — it’s my favorite alternative.

Stuffing a Kong is my personal favorite because it can keep Laika busy for 30+ minutes. I’ll stuff it with some healthy treats and broth and freeze it over night. If your dog gets a little stressed out each morning when you leave for work try giving them a stuffed Kong. It worked well for Laika, after a few days she was more interested in getting than Kong than she was with the fact that I was leaving.

Puzzle toys are another great game for dogs; they give your dog a nice little mental workout, and are a fun way to have your dog work for some treats. Snuffle mats are my personal favorite, and they’re pretty easy to make at home if you’re feeling crafty. You can also use a towel and fold it up to hide some treats inside for a simpler option.

Food dispensing toys such as the Bob-A-Lot are great for giving your dog some more mental stimulation at meal time. You fill it up and they have to knock it around to get the food out. If your dog has never used a food dispensing toy you may have to practice a bit before they get the hang of it. After filling it up encourage them to play with it so they can see that ‘oh look food comes out when I move it around.’

6. Teach Your Dog to Chase Bubbles

One of the funnest games to play with your dog is teaching them to chase bubbles. I had my doubts, but it’s one of Laika’s all time favorite games. As soon as I start walking over to the kitchen sink where those bubbles are she starts to get excited.

If your pup doesn’t know how to chase bubbles start by blowing a couple at a time. Point them out to them and encourage them to chase. Catch some yourself to show you dog that there’s nothing to worry about, and that the whole point of the game is to get them before they touch the ground.

We use bubbles made for kids (they also make flavored bubbles specifically for dogs). They’re non toxic, but can upset their stomach if they ingest too much. And be sure to wipe off your dog’s face afterwards because they can irritate your dog’s eyes.

7. Play Some Water Games With Your Dog

Going to the local beach can be a lot of fun for dogs, especially those that already love swimming (don’t forget a doggie life jacket for safety). You can bring along some dog toys and play a game of fetch in the water. Just remember to check if they float first – we’ve lost a few toys in the water much to Laika’s dismay.

If your dog isn’t a great swimmer, or if you don’t have any beaches nearby you can play some water games in your own backyard. Get a plastic kiddie pool and fill it with water. Many dogs love splashing around and having a nice little pool of their own to keep cool in. Toss in some toys and turn it into a ‘bobbing for apples‘ game.

Some dogs go crazy for the hose. I know all I have to do it get within 10 feet of the hose and Laika’s by my side waiting for that fun stream of water to begin. But the hose is pretty intimidating for some dogs. If your dog isn’t into the hose they might prefer playing in a sprinkler that doesn’t let off such a strong stream of water.

10 Games to Play With Your Dog

A game of fetch in the water is a lot of fun; just remember to check if the toy floats before tossing it in.

8. Play Find the Treats With Your Dog

When it comes to games to play with your dog “find the treats” is my absolute favorite. It’s super easy to play, and the best part is my dog never gets sick of it. It doesn’t matter that I pick the same 20 hiding spots and that we always play with chopped up carrots — she loves it every single time. My lack of creativity doesn’t bother her at all. Find the treats, like all nose work games, are mentally stimulating and a fun way to let our dogs hone in on their natural sniffing abilities.

To play find the treats you’ll want to start by putting some treats on the ground while your dog is in the stay position. Give your dog their release command and encourage them to ‘find the treats.’ Point to them and help them along if they’re struggling. Encourage them along the way by praising them each time they find one.

Once your dog understands what ‘find the treats’ means you can slowly start to increase the difficulty of where you’re hiding them. And once you’ve practiced enough in one room you can move onto hiding treats throughout the house.

9. Use a Digging Box

Some dogs love digging, and having a dedicated digging box for them is a way to encourage them to dig in one approved area — one that doesn’t include your landscaped garden. You can make your own digging box with some wood and sand from your local hardware store. If you have a lot of cats in the neighborhood you might want to build a top to keep it from becoming a litter box.

Some dogs will be thrilled to have a place to dig to their heart’s content. If your dog doesn’t dig right away you can make it game by burying some of your dogs favorite toys in the box to encouraging your dog to dig them out.

10 Games to Play With Your Dog

via dumpaday

10. Play a Game of Hide & Seek

Another fun game to play with your dog is hide and seek. Laika absolutely loves it, and it still surprises me that she’s not sick of it even though I keep picking the same 3 hiding spots over and over. Hide and seek lets your dog use some of their natural scent tracking abilities in a fun and stimulating way.

To play hide and seek have you dog stay while you go find a hiding spot. Once situated call your dog and praise them when they find you. If your dog doesn’t have a good ‘stay’ you can enlist the help of someone else to distract your dog as you hide.

What Are Your Dogs Favorite Games?

What are some of your favorite games to play with your dog? Which games does your dog prefer? Do you think playing games with your dog is an important part of the dog-owner relationship? Let me know in the comments below.

10 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog

Please share with your friends 🙂

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Comments

  1. All Things Collie says

    June 1, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Great suggestions! (Well, except for the water games…collies don’t do water! Lol)

    Reply
    • Jen Gabbard says

      June 1, 2017 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks, you’re right about the water, it’s not for every dog. It took a lot of coaching to get my previous dog Carter (an Aussie mix) used to the water – and even then he wasn’t the biggest fan. He much preferred land activities 🙂

      Reply
    • ❤️amari❤️ Robinson says

      December 22, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Wow that’s So good maybeye me and my cousins dog can try! Also her names Bella she a mix boxer pit bull black her under her neck and her belly is white the tip of her paws are also white

      Reply
  2. Lindsay says

    June 5, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    Haha! The weim picture! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jen Gabbard says

      June 8, 2017 at 8:55 pm

      Remind you of anyone lol 🙂

      Reply
      • Mohamed says

        July 29, 2020 at 8:17 am

        Mit den

        Reply
    • ❤️amari❤️ Robinson says

      December 22, 2021 at 6:00 pm

      Cool

      Reply
  3. Jodi Stone says

    June 6, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    We use the find it game. That is the one we play in the house the most. I’ve also started using it with Delilah in the driveway when we come back from our walk. I will unclip her and throw a treat, telling her to find it. Sometimes she sees it fall, and sometimes she has to sniff it out. The main goal for me is to work with her off-leash. I think she is slowly coming to terms that sticking close with me is what gets her the reward.

    Great tips here!

    Reply
    • Jen Gabbard says

      June 8, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      The whole “you get awesome things when you stick by me” is pretty much the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the past 6 years with Laika. Positive reinforcement at it’s best 🙂

      Reply
    • ❤️amari❤️ Robinson says

      December 22, 2021 at 6:04 pm

      Well there is another tip too! You can also try using Exurising it may work For your dog all you have too do is try to use fetch and pluse be Good! Trying that out!

      Reply
  4. Diane says

    June 7, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Spirit loves to play hide and seek. When he finds me he gets a nice treat. I love watching him look in all the spots I hide in and then he stands and listens for me.

    Reply
    • Dhatri Dongre says

      April 27, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      My dog loves tug of war…but he thinks whatever he grabs and I try to take it..is game of tugging…..

      Reply
      • Idk man says

        December 3, 2020 at 11:23 pm

        Teach him the let go command

        Reply
  5. Scout the Cavapoo says

    July 7, 2018 at 12:00 am

    My cavapoo puppy loves to play Tag and Tug of War 🙂 Her favorite toy is a sock!

    Reply
  6. AussieDogs says

    July 26, 2018 at 8:02 pm

    My puppies love to play tug-of-war and hide and go seek! Its hilarious when they win. They don’t really like our hose, though they love jumping into our little pond.

    Reply
  7. Rm says

    September 26, 2018 at 9:50 am

    Me and luna’s who is a labradoodle mix and a service dog in training our fave game is hide and seek in the dog park

    Reply
  8. Bonnie says

    April 10, 2019 at 5:23 am

    I’ve got a 5 month-old black lurcher. She loves to play tug of war, she’s becoming so good at it and I have so much fun playing with her.

    Reply
  9. CT says

    June 17, 2019 at 10:54 pm

    Great ideas. We place a piece of beef jerky on a remote controlled car and let our GSD chase it around. He loves this game and we have a good laugh watching him try to get ahold of it.

    Reply
  10. ama says

    October 6, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    I make little crackers and hide them in a large comforter that is bundled up on the floor. It’s funny to see him using his whole little body to lift the comforter and try and find the nooks and crannies where the crackers are hiding, and it keeps him busy and happy for a long while. That and the Kong but am trying to find some new ideas; he seems to need more stimulation these days and he’s not into his toys anymore.

    Reply
  11. Kimberly Rardin says

    October 28, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    We use a bowl on the kitchen floor. I place treats underneath it as he watches, then give him the command to turn the bowl over and get his treat. It’s easy, and keeps him mentally busy.

    Reply
  12. Danyon Fairbrother says

    December 12, 2019 at 3:04 pm

    Danyon Fairbrother

    Reply
  13. Georgia hawkins says

    April 23, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    i would put a blanket over there face for them and after i will come back and they will “find the treat” Anderson got it. it was very fun

    Reply
  14. Info Hondenrassen says

    April 28, 2020 at 3:50 am

    It’s a good idea how to play with our pets. This is a way to maintain and develop their strengths, and improve your relationships with one another.Thank you so much for sharing this blog to us.

    Reply
  15. ApolloTheDog says

    May 5, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    My go to: Puppy Tag. Two people each get a few/handful of treats and either stand far apart in the yard, or as far apart as you can inside. Then you take turns whistling for your dog. The dog gets exercise running back and forth, but also learns to come when you call them, because they get a treat when they do! Great to train young pups, and burn energy for all ages!

    Reply
  16. Eskin's Escapades says

    May 7, 2020 at 11:11 pm

    Great games! My dog goes crazy over games and everything interactive with us. One of his all-time favorites though is running with a ball outside. He goes crazy. He also loves catching bubbles!

    Reply
  17. https://twitter.com/DeeeepMonster says

    May 12, 2020 at 3:40 am

    Excellent post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!

    Extremely useful information particularly the remaining section 🙂
    I maintain such info a lot. I used to be looking for this certain info for a long time.
    Thanks and good luck.

    Reply
  18. Jesse M says

    August 6, 2020 at 12:20 am

    Its funny how much fun you can have with a small bottle of bubbles and your best friend, he just can’t let those bubbles get away!!

    Reply
  19. Chuck says

    October 16, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    My puppy is very young. (only about 2 months old) and can’t do most of these things. Just an FYI. Young puppies are too small to play tug of war or to play in an agility course.

    Reply
  20. Johan says

    September 27, 2021 at 11:47 am

    People sometimes underestimates how important the presence of the owner is when playing with a dog. When we reviewed dogtoys we found it very important that you have toys where the dog can play individually, yet the best toys are those that create a bond between owner and pet.

    Reply
  21. Got Omnia says

    April 13, 2022 at 6:41 am

    This article is so interesting!

    Reply
  22. hermest says

    June 1, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    I LOVE the canine weariness busters! I particularly love the one about giving your canine a task. My canine, Henry loves making a difference. It’s even more quite difficult for me to attempt to track down a way for him to help such that checks out and afterward lift it as he aces the work. I generally have him work for his treats, which he adores. What’s more, he has his daily “digging” meetings. I truly need to video it, since it’s crazy!

    I’m imparting these tips to my canine companions.

    Reply
  23. Janet Evans says

    August 22, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Our little Shi-poo actually hides her squeaky ball for us to find. After she hides it she comes over at a sitting position and stares at you til you figure out it’s time to play! Sometimes she hides it so well it could take quite sometime to find. When we find it, we toss it down the hall, she squeaks it and off she goes looking for another spot. ! That’s every night after dinner!!! When we need to stop we simply don’t “find” it. Then the following day we saw show the ball, or we show her where it Is and off we go hide and go seek the ball! We have to be careful she doesn’t get outside tho!!

    Reply

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