Games with your dog...

 

You love playing with your dog and your dog enjoys it too. It's a great way of getting to know each other. However, we must be careful which games we play so that your dog doesn't accidentally hurt you or get hurt.

Good games to play

• Hide and seek: you hide in the garden and your dog is sent to find you. Make a big fuss of your dog when you are found and give your dog a  food treat.

• Hunting skills: hide small food treats in the garden and then let the dog find them. The dog will use its great sense of smell to track down the treats. Don't put them up too high and don't hide them in amongst the plants otherwise the dog may trample them down.

• Fetch: always think carefully about what you are going to throw. Use a ball on a rope or rubber ring.  Make sure they are large enough to prevent your dog swallowing them.  Do not use sticks, stones or small balls as these may harm your pet. Always wait for your dog to drop the toy and sit, before you pick the toy up. Do not try to remove the toy from the dog's mouth. If your dog won't drop the toy just walk away or throw a different toy.

Bad games to play

• Tug of war: do not get into a game of tugging a toy or rope with your dog as your dog may try to readjust the grip on the toy and bite your fingers by accident.

• Wrestling and play fighting: never wrestle with your dog or play fight as even the nicest of dogs may bite or scratch you by mistake.  Wrestling and play fighting may also teach your dog bad manners and encourage him or her to jump up at your friends or visitors.