Are you looking for an idea to play with your dog in the park? If so, then I have some fantastic options for you. They are also perfect when your dog is not a fan of spending time actively outdoors. Perhaps thanks to having fun, he will change his approach to sport and movement.
Going to the park with your dog is an excellent opportunity to spend time actively together with your four-legged friend. The great idea is to play dragging and wrestling with the dog with a jerk or bullet. You can also play hide and seek with your dog, where the dog’s task is to find you or to track down a toy hidden by you.
What will you learn from this article:
• A walk in the park is a great time to spend time actively with your dog
• Dogs are very fond of wrestling and stretching
• You can play hunting with your dog by hiding the toy that he must find
Playing with the dog in the park
Spending time with a dog does not mean just walking along the paths in the park. That is a great time to spend some time with your beloved pet. Therefore, I will present my suggestions for playing with the dogs in the park.
My doggie loves to spend time actively outdoors. Especially in spring, when nature comes to life and the weather outside becomes more and more pleasant. You can find more about the changes of seasons on our dogs in the entry HERE. It is fascinating how the dogs perceive the changes in the weather outside the window.
Playing with a dog in the park does not have to be limited only to retrieving. My dog indeed likes this form of activity very much. Nevertheless, I think the essential issue here is diversity. Otherwise, your dog will quickly get bored of playing and no longer enjoy it.
What are the best dog games in the park?
Not all fun has to work with your dog. Much depends on what kind of activity he enjoys the most. For example, my little dog doesn’t like to play hide and seek.
Perhaps your little dog is also quite sceptical about some games. Then don’t make him do them. Remember that, first, he is to enjoy his outdoor games together.
Throwing and retrieving
That is probably one of the most popular games with a dog outside. It involves throwing a toy to your dog, a ball or Frisbee. Your dog’s job is to grab the toy and bring it back to you.
My dog always aims to catch the ball before it hits the ground. I admit that sometimes it is difficult, so I am very proud of it when he succeeds. It looks imposing.
It is great fun and will work well in almost any free space.
Just check if there is a water reservoir or a busy street within the range of your fun. While playing, the ball may roll to such a place, which can be very dangerous. A dog who wants to catch a toy at all costs may not notice that he will accidentally run into the water or fall into the street.
Wrestling and stretching
Playing with a jerk has recently gained remarkable popularity in the canine world. Dogs love the opportunity to wrestle with their guardian. It is a great way to discharge your dog’s energy.
Choosing a suitable toy for wrestling with your dog is very important. It should be made of good quality, decent material. Otherwise, it may break apart while playing, which can be very uncomfortable for you and your dog.
For my dog, a bullet from Bowl & Bone Republic is perfect for playing with stretching and wrestling. Because the toy is made of a thick, durable rope, I do not have to worry about breaking it while playing.
What’s more, the bullets are available in five different colours, so each dog will indeed find the best option for themselves.
I like wrestling because it is also a form of active leisure. More than once, my pet was able to give me a hard time during this game. Then I have the impression that I have performed a series of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the hands. Sport with a dog in this form suits me best. Check. Maybe it will also work great in your case.
Dog toy |BULLET blue
Tracking
As you surely know, our dogs love to track. That is because they have a hunting instinct that was extremely important in the everyday life of their ancestors. That is why our pets’ sense of smell is very sensible and, therefore, also important in their lives.
If you want to learn more about the dog’s sense of smell and how our pets perceive smells, I refer you to my post, which you can find HERE. I tell you there how the anatomy of dogs’ noses works, what smells are pleasant, and what they feel unpleasant.
Let’s get back to the issue of playing in the park. We can use our dogs’ love of tracking and sniffing as one of the forms of spending time actively outside. Your pet’s task will be to track down his favourite toy.
Why is choosing a well-known and liked doggie toy so important? Because you cannot deny that many new and exciting scents are waiting for your pet in the park. Each is undoubtedly interesting for your pet and may attract too much attention.
So, for your dog to focus on your fun together in the maze of new stimuli, the familiar smell will be beneficial. It will make your pet feel that it is a smell that he knows well, associates with home, a sense of security and, above all, you.
Use snacks to encourage your dog to play
Your task will be to hide the dog’s toy in the surrounding grass or undergrowth so your pet cannot see it. To strengthen your dog’s instinct, you can let him sniff the toy before hiding it from him. This way, the dog will surely be able to track down the toy quickly.
If your pet is initially unable to understand the idea of this game, you can prepare some tips for him. Namely, make a path from his favourite delicacies to his favourite toy that he is supposed to track. After a few successful attempts, you can reduce the number of treats leading him to his goal.
Soon your dog will track the toy on his own without any snacks.
Hide & seek
It will be significant that your dog masters the stay command for this game. Please refer to my post HERE if you want to know how to do it. I have prepared a guide for you, which will help you teach your pet to follow this command in a few simple steps correctly.
So, playing hide and seek with a dog is based on the principles you surely remember very well from childhood. Your task will be to hide from your pet and his or to find your hideout.
Command the dog to stay and then go in a direction not in his sight. You don’t have to go far, and your dog mustn’t know where you’ve hidden.
When you are in your hideout, call the dog by his name. Following the sound of your voice and smell, the pet will try to find you. If you want to encourage your dog to play more, you can reward him with a treat each time he finds your hiding place.
Your favourite dog games in the park
My dog loves spending time with me in the park and having fun. It is one of his favourite forms of spending free time and relaxing. Then we have moments only for ourselves. We strengthen our bond.
What are your and your pet’s favourite games? In a comment, please tell me how you spend active time in the park.
If you have any questions or want me to discuss a topic in the next post, share it in the comments section.
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