Rainy Day Games to Play with Your Dog

Rainy Day Games to Play with' Your Dog Sniff It Out Dogs have an excellent sense of smell. So why not encourage Fido to use it more often? Place 5 overturned boxes next to one another and put a treat under one of them. Obviously don't let your doggy see which one is hiding the treat. When they sniff out the prize praise your dog with great enthusiasm. This will improve your dog's sense of smell. You can even up the ante by gradually adding more and more boxes. Hide and Seek It may take a little while for your pooch to get the hang of this game but when they do it will be tonnes of fun. Start off by showing him or her what it is you'll be hiding. This might be a toy or even a person. Åfter the hiding is done with then tell your dog to 'find it!' Don't forget to give encouraging hints along the way until your pet grasps the whole concept. Stairway Dash This game is only for dogs that are over 1 year old .i.e. their joints are fully developed (to reduce the risk of damage). To begin have your dog sit at the bottom of the stairs and dash retrieve a up ball. This can be made much more fun by building up the tension with each throw. Do let your dog return at his or her own pace to prevent injury. Obstacle Course Just imagine you're at Crufts and set up a DIY obstacle course for your pet. This will probably.be as much fun to set up as it is for your pooch to take part in. Items you might use are a milk crate to balance on, a hula hoop to jump through, a box to crawl through, or whatever you find around the house! Make it as challenging as your dog requires. The Animal Healih Company www.animal-health.co.uk Source: http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/7-rainy-day-games-to-play-with-your-dog