There’s nothing better than watching kids and dogs play happily together. Happily–that’s the key word. Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar share some of their favorite games that kids can play with dogs under the supervision of an adult who knows how to set everyone up for success.
Three rules for games with kids and dogs:
- Be calm. Watch out for overarousal. That’s when games fall apart.
- Be gentle. Roughhousing is not allowed.
- Be fair. A game is only fun when everyone wants to play. Either the child or the dog can end the play at any time.
Some of the games we discuss include
- Hansel & Gretel trails
- Hiding a toy
- Hide and seek
- Which hand
- Fun with household objects (chairs, soda bottles, hula hoops)
- Beat the clock
- Spin
- Crawl
- Roll over
- Take a bow
Resources
- Puppy Training for Kids
- Fun & Games for a Smarter Dog, 50 Great Brain Games to Engage your Dog
- This week’s cartoon image of the dog with basket of balls is available on cards and mugs at AnimalCentric Designs.
- Julie’s blogs on play: https://apositiveconnection.com/?s=Play
