Fun Things To Do With Your Dog

Go for a Run

One of the easiest things you can do with your dog is to take him for a run. Dogs simply love to get outside and run around, and it doesn't take much training to get your dog to run by your side. Not only will you and your pooch have a lot of fun together, but you will get in shape too! Here are a few benefits you can expect from running with your dog:

• Dogs make excellent running partners
• Dogs keep you safe while running
• Running will extend a dog's lifespan

Play Fetch

Fetch is one of the most classic activities you can enjoy with a dog. Retrieving a moving object is at the core of a dog's instinct, so you can start enjoying this activity from day one. As your dog get's more and more experienced with fetching, you can start using a Frisbee to make the game even more fun for both you and your companion.

Do New Tricks

Proud dog owners love to show off all the tricks that their canine can perform on command. While most dogs learn to understand basic commands, like "sit" or "come," it can take quite a bit of work to teach a dog a new trick. Try out some of these popular tricks:

• Shake
• Speak
• Play Dead
• Roll Over

Compete in Agility

Not all sports are made for humans, and that's great news for you and your dog! The sport of agility is quickly gaining popularity among dog owners because it's great exercise and a good challenge for their pets. Agility involves running through an obstacle course made of these parts and more:

• Tubes
• Hoops
• Jumps
• Weaving poles
• See-saw

Visit a Dog Park

If you're in the mood to just relax and enjoy a nice afternoon, then take a trip to your local dog park. Your pup will get to run around freely and play with the other dogs while you can read a book or talk with the other owners. Always try to keep track of what your dog is doing and where it is, especially when there are a lot of other dogs present in the park.

Play Hide and Seek With Your Dog

Hide and seek is an advanced game that you can teach your dog to do on command. Before you start, teach your dog how to "stay" and "come," and once you have those commands mastered you can play. Begin by telling your dog to stay, move to a different room, and then tell your dog to come. Give your obedient pup a treat for doing this correctly. Repeat this process and start hiding in more and more creative places!

Practice Dock Jumping

Like agility, dock jumping is a sport for dogs that's quickly gaining popularity. The goal is to have your dog jump the farthest distance off of a dock into the water. You can also do this activity in most in-ground swimming pools. Take your dog's favorite toy (make sure it floats) and use it as a lure to teach him to jump. Once you have that skill mastered, tell your dog to "stay" at the start of the dock and you go down to the end of the dock. Hold the toy up in the air, call your dog, and throw the toy up over the water. Watch in amazement as your dog leaps through the air!

Go for a Ride

If your pooch just isn't up for much physical activity, you can always take it out for a ride. Dogs love to go on car rides and stick their heads out the window! Make sure to gradually ease your pet into this activity so that they learn to be more calm and won't do something dangerous while you're driving.