Playing with your pets at home

All family members are vying with each other to take a walk with the dog, and at home there is no end to those who want to pet the dog or play with him? Yes, dogs are the main beneficiaries of these difficult times. We offer several options for spending time with your pet, since you still spend a lot of time at home.

When it comes to play and communication, dogs should definitely be grateful for self-isolation. Although pets living in families with children can argue with this thesis. One way or another, the dog spends more time with the owners and is worth having fun. How can you entertain your pet?

Which hand?

Ask your dog to guess which fist is holding his favorite treat. Obviously, it will not be difficult for the animal to guess this by the smell, but only for the first times. Then from both hands will smell the same food. If the dog guessed correctly, give him a treat and praise. Most importantly, do not overdo it with treats: treats are usually very high in calories.

Active games

If you are a caring “dog lover”, then in your arsenal you probably have items for retrieving and tug games. And if you need to work from home and need your dog to leave you alone for a bit, look for hybrid feeding toys. They can be filled with food, and you will not be able to pull it out and eat it right away. The dog will have fun by chasing a delicious ball around the apartment, and you can take part in a video conference.

And the same tug will help to warm up after work. Here are some tips for this game:

  • Train your dog to pick up and return the toy only on command;
  • any bite or injury automatically leads to the end of the game;
  • choose a sturdy and not too small toy so that both the owner and the dog can grab onto it;
  • sometimes let the dog take the toy away from you and win (then the “hostage” can be exchanged for a treat).

“Search!” and its varieties

Training your dog’s flair is never superfluous. Even in an apartment, you can come up with several options for “search” games. However, if you try to play them, for example, with a professionally trained retriever who regularly travels “in the field”, then the exercises below are likely to be too easy for such a pet. Fortunately, dogs are very polite animals and will never laugh at their owners.

So, in the absence of the dog, we hide something that arouses its interest. It can be a treat or a host. In the case of treats, start with strong-smelling treats. Before hiding, carry the treat around the apartment at a height of half a meter from the floor, without pinching it in your fist.

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