Doggone Etiquette —

Games People Play

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

People are strange about their games. They often get annoyed with you dogs when all you want to do is to join in the fun they’re having. Like when they’re practicing golf in the yard and you catch the ball just before it disappears into the earth. Your Lord ’n Master gets mad at you, but you can’t figure out why. After all, you know perfectly well that holes in the ground are where chipmunks live, not where golf balls should hide. Lots of ball games that people play – sadly – do not include dogs. Games like lacrosse, baseball, or basketball are on that list along with golf, but then there are people games like tennis and soccer that you might be able to persuade your VIPeople to figure ways to include you, so listen carefully when they explain your share of the rules.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:                         

We are a reasonably sports-minded people these days. During the season, for example, there may be 30 different basketball or football games on television over every weekend. Even if we don’t actively participate in the sports, they do catch our interest. Our dogs go us one better. They only want to take part in the game, any game. Just teach them the rules and provide lots of cheering when they get it right.          

In the golf example mentioned above, you might be able to teach a dog to retrieve a ball miss-hit and lost in the bushes, but because of your delighted reaction when the ball goes into the cup, Rufus may decide to bury every golf ball he finds in order to please you! Sometimes we see things only from our own point of view, but when you’re working with a dog it’s better to at least try to figure out how the dog sees it.

Differentiate between the games you and Rufus will play together by giving the toy for each game a one-word name. That’s one of those “two-way-street” deals, because once he has learned the name of the specific item and it goes out of sight, you can send him to “Find it!” and save yourself the effort. The speed with which Rufus goes off to get it will also let you know which ones are his favorites. If he’s a tug-o-war kind of guy, remember that it must never extend to growling, and must always end with the dog’s surrender and your acknowledgement – “Drop it! – good dog.” How the dog can be included in games with people is up to your imagination.

Tennis balls are great for all but the tiniest of dogs. The ball is lightweight and easy for the dog to see as it bounces, rolls or comes down from the sky. Any of these can be your practice hits with a racquet or thrown by hand, with or without a net. Dogs love to grab onto the fuzzy covering.                             

If you have a pool, you might devise a game of Fido Water Polo for dogs and kids (and adults, of course). Be absolutely positive the dog knows how and where to get out of a regular swimming pool. And if a tennis ball in the water isn’t right for your dog, a beach ball of any size might work better. Once they catch onto hitting the ball with their paws and/or nose, and you tap it back to them, dogs really enjoy this sport.

How about a game of beach ball that would include Rufus? It could be played on the lawn, driveway – or beach, if you happen to have one. One person could hit the ball over the net as usual, and let it hit the ground often enough to let the person on that side teach the dog to retrieve it or roll it back under the net. Beach ball soccer anyone?

Whatever outdoor games you play with your dogs during the summer, remember that they succumb easily to heat exhaustion. Have plenty of cool fresh water available for them in a shady spot.

Until next time – HAVE FUN!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.