Fun Training Activities

An eager learner in the early stages of training.

There’s no law that states you can’t have fun training your dog! In fact, if you just put your mind to it, you and your dog can have some of your best memories together when training.

Here are a few ways to add some pizzazz to your training regime.

Agility training

Agility training is a great way for you and your dog to burn some calories. But to take part in agility training, both of you should be physically fit. Agility can be great fun, and is a mentally and physically rewarding exercise for your dog.

Create an agility course with a number of obstacles you and your dog must complete. Some examples are weaving poles, jumps, making your way though tunnels, jumping over tires, and a brisk walk or two. Remember, older dogs work at a different pace than our younger friends, so when in doubt, contact your vet for proper advice.

Flyball training

Flyball is another strenuous activity for which your dog should be physically fit. Flyball is a team relay race in which four dogs and their owners take part. The objective of the race is for each dog to jump over four low hurdles and then trigger a box that contains a tennis ball, catch the ball, and return over the hurdles to the start/finish line. As soon as the first dog returns, the next is released, and so on. The first team to retrieve all balls wins. It’s a load of fun!

Obedience training

Competitive obedience is like "fine tuning" your basic dog training. You and your dog will have to demonstrate in a ring that all of the basic elements of good dog training can be performed to a high standard. This can be very rewarding for you and your dog, and will enhance the bond between the two of you. Some examples are heel work, retrieval, distance control, recall, scent discrimination, send-away, and stays.

Even if you're not in a competitive frame of mind, you can still brush up on your dog's obedience training just for the fun of it. The more you make a game out of the experience, the more you’ll both look forward to your time together.