13 Dog Training Games and Exercises to Make Dog Training Fun (Part 1)

Playing dog training games is one of the best ways to teach your dog useful skills (like impulse control) and bond with your dog. You might remember our popular post on impulse control games, but it’s time for a bit of an update. We’ll include some of the old favorites in this post on dog training games, but we’re not limiting this post to just impulse control.

1.Best for Ignoring Stuff on Walks: Walking Leave It

Pioneered by the great Sophia Yin, this game teaches your dog to ignore distractions while on walks.

1. Have your dog on leash. Toss a treat out of his reach.
2. Wait for your dog to stop pulling and straining towards the treat.
3. When he does, give him a treat for looking at you.
4. Only then can you walk towards the treat. Be sure to keep a loose leash while you do so.
5. Repeat.

As you go, you’ll start noticing that your dog automatically will not pull you towards tempting items on walks. Practice in a variety of locations with a variety of temptations to solidify the skill.

2. Best for Stopping Food Theft: It’s Your Choice

A favorite of Susan Garrett, this game teaches dogs to ignore dropped food in the home. If you do it enough, your dog will learn to automatically wait for permission to take food.

1. Put some tasty treats in your hand and place your hand near your dog.
2. Keep your hand closed as your dog sniffs, nibbles, or paws at your hand.
3. Open your hand when your dog sits back to wait.
4. Close your hand if your dog immediately dives back in for the goodies.
5. When she stays away for a second or two, place 1 treat on the ground.
6. Gradually build up time between opening your hand and delivering the treat so that your dog has to watch the open hand for longer.

“Level up” this game by putting the food on the floor and covering it with your hand, then by covering it with your foot. You can add the cue “leave it” right before you open your hand if you want.

3. Best for Calm Out-and-About Behavior: Relax on Your Mat

Relaxation training is Dr. Karen Overall’s masterpiece. I wrote a whole blog about mat training, but here’s a quick overview:

1. Pick out a blanket, towel, or mat. This should not be a dog bed.
2. Place the mat on the ground in front of your dog.
3. Reward your dog for any interest in the mat – looking at it, moving towards it, sniffing, paws on it. Keep treating your dog if she stays on the mat.
4. Gradually narrow your criteria. Work towards only rewarding your dog for lying down. It’s ok to just cut to the chase and cue your dog to lie down, if you’d like.
5. Use Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol as a way to solidify mat training.
6. Once you’re doing well, try new places and distractions!

I absolutely swear by this training method. Thanks to Karen Overall’s relaxation protocol, I’ve taught my high-energy border collie to lie at my feet for up to 8 hours a day while at a busy coworking space. Don’t worry, we get up for plenty of walks and potty breaks!

4. Best for Good House Manners: SMART x 50

This is a new one for me. SMART x 50 was invented by Kathy Sdao and was brought to my attention by Sarah Stremming’s podcast. This dog training game focuses on teaching your dog basic life skills and manners around the house.

SMART stands for See, Mark, and Reward Training.

1. Put 50 treats (or pieces of your dog’s dinner kibble) in a jar or treat pouch.
2. Pay attention to your dog while you’re getting ready for the day, prepping dinner, or relaxing in the evening. Don’t prompt or cue him to do anything specific.
3. When your dog does something you like (sitting, lying down, looking up at you before going through a door, choosing to ignore the cat), say “good boy” and toss him a treat.
4. Repeat until all of the treats are gone.

I love this dog training game for a few reasons. First, it helps you capitalize on the good behaviors your dog already offers. Second, it helps you recognize your dog’s good behavior. Third, it’s manageable even in a busy household. I wrote a whole blog about SMART x 50 if you’re interested in learning more!

5. Best for Leash Skills: Red Light-Green Light

Teach your dog polite leash walking skills without treats (though treats certainly make things go faster). Pair this with U-Turns (number 13) for best results.

1. Have your dog on leash. I like to use a dog’s flat buckle collar for this exercise. Do your normal walks on a harness in the meantime (I use Ruffwear’s Front Range Harness).
2. Start walking forward. When your dog his the end of his leash and pulls, stop and wait. Don’t tug on the leash.
3. Wait for a “J” to appear in your leash. Mark with a word (“good” or “yes” often works).
4. Start walking again.
5. Repeat.

This can take a long time and can be frustrating – but it works! Changing directions and implementing U-turns can speed the process. I recommend using a flat collar when playing this game and a harness during “normal walks.”

6. Best for Teaching Drop It: Exchange Games

Head off resource guarding and teach your dog to “drop it” with this handy dog training game! Don’t play this game without help from a trainer if your dog already has issues with sharing (or resource guarding).

1. Give your dog something he likes. Try a stuffed Kong, chew toy, tug toy, pig’s ear, or ball.
2. Approach your dog and click when he looks at you. Toss some awesome treats near him. He should drop it now! (If he doesn’t, you need better treats and a less exciting toy).
3. Pick up the object he had as he eats the new goodies.
4. Give him the object back.
5. Repeat. The goal is that he gets excited for new goodies when you approach him.
6. Repeat until your dog drops his toy when you come near. Now start offering your hand and saying “drop it.” You just added in a cue!

If your dog is already showing some issues with sharing (commonly called resource guarding), set up a quick appointment with me before trying this game. There are some better ways to teach your dog to share if your dog already has issues.

7. Best for Nervous or Reactive Dogs: Look at That!

Teach your dog to calmly notice exciting, scary, or distracting things. This game is great for leash reactive and aggressive dogs when done right. If your dog struggles with any of these behaviors, give me a call. I can help you set up a full-fledged training plan to achieve your goals.

1. Take treats on a walk with you.
2. When you see the object of focus (a person, dog car, or squirrel), click or say “yes!” and feed your dog a treat when he looks back at you.
3. If your dog doesn’t turn towards you because he’s too fixated on the object of focus, you’re too close or your treats aren’t good enough. Try again next time.
4. Move away from the object of focus.

Keep playing the game on walks and you’ll quickly see that your dog is automatically looking from you to the object and back again, looking for a treat. This “autowatch” behavior is the end goal!

See more: 13 Dog Training Games and Exercises to Make Dog Training Fun (Part 2)

Source: journeydogtraining.com, zooplus.co.uk

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