Doggone Etiquette —

Summer Games

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

As a puppy, you played games — catch-me-if-you-can, or wrestling — with other puppies in your litter, and no doubt you used those tiny teeth in play. Your Mom may have played with you, when she wasn’t busy teaching you to be good, and to watch it with those teeth. So a year or two later you’re all grown up, and your VIPeople have taken over playtime as well as everything else. Some of the games you dream up all on your own will definitely not be appreciated. If they’re whoppers, especially if you used your teeth, you’ll probably be punished. Forget about them. Instead, concentrate on repeating the ones your people really seem to like. But, it’s no fun just playing by yourself all the time, so your next job is to get those VIPeople to play with you. The trick is to show them which of their games you like best. That way, they’ll think they are very smart. And, of course, it means you are even smarter. 

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

Our dogs are no doubt grateful for the fact that we have gone beyond thinking that the only suitable toys for them are bones! What dogs really want and benefit from are toys and games that stretch both their physical and mental capabilities. A bored dog will get into trouble simply because he’s looking for something to do. An overly-energetic dog will get into even more trouble by actually finding things to do — too many of them destructive!

All dogs, regardless of their age or breed, enjoy interaction with their people beyond just a daily walk. Games that use dog toys, whether it’s a knotted rope, a plush squeaky toy, or a bouncing ball, will get Rufus to play with you. Most are meant for outdoor play, but on our hot summer days, that limits activity to a shady area in the early morning or evening. That’s fine so long as you don’t overdo it. Keep the tempo down, shorten the playtime and — most importantly — have plenty of fresh cool water where the dog has ready access to it.

There’s one summer game that almost every dog really enjoys and that’s chasing the spray from a garden hose.  Whether you soak the dog, or just spray the water back and forth for him to chase, is up to what your dog enjoys most. Just be sure to keep the flow down. A jet stream could hurt any size dog and your “game” would no longer be much fun. (Rufus might be a basket case when confronted with his next shampoo!) Racing around under a rotary sprinkler is another “water sport” both dogs and kids enjoy.  Remember, too, after any garden shower, Rufus has to be towel-dried, not sun-baked.

Indoors, the best games involve hiding something and having the dog use his expertise at scent discrimination. While this can be with any of the toys that allow you to insert treats, it doesn’t produce an interactive game. The major problem with playing inside has to do with size — the size of your dog, and the size (and layout) of your home. A small dog might enjoy racing around a room after a rolling ball or a toy tossed down the hall, whereas a large dog would need an empty basement or garage to play a similar game.

There are lots of ways regular obedience commands can be turned into tricks for the entertainment of friends and family. Rufus will think he’s pretty clever, too. A “Down” (flat on the floor) can be extended to a “Roll-over” or “Creeping,” and a basic “Sit” can become a “Sit Up” and beg, or eventually walk on just his hind legs. Dogs are no dummies; they know it’s all done with treats!

All this interaction between you and your dog boils down to the fact that these games and tricks help cement the bond that dog owners cherish. Your dog is a better pal when he has earned the attention and praise that he needs from you. 

Until next time – Be Good!

- 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.