Keeping your poodle’s mind and body active is key to making sure it stays happy and healthy. One of the best ways to engage your dog with mental and physical activity is to incorporate playtime in their regular schedule. Not only is play known to be good for a dog’s well being, it also helps develop a stronger bond between you and your fur baby. On top of that, it also helps divert its energy from destructive behavior such as chewing on your furniture or barking incessantly.
Here are some games you can try playing with your Poodle:
- Follow the Leader
This is an excellent game to establish your leadership as the dog’s parent. It also keeps your dog physically engaged as you both move around your yard, a park or an open space. It’s very simple to play too – all you need to do is say ‘follow’ and watch as your dog moves in the same direction as you do.
- Hide and Seek
Most dog owners play this game with their Poodle puppies, but adult dogs are also known to enjoy this game just as much. All you have to do is hide and ask your dog to find you. Some of the best hiding places include hiding under desks, inside closets or behind the shower curtain. The trick is to frequently change your hiding place, and making sure you give your dog a treat after it successfully hunts you down.
- Play Ball
Poodles love to play with balls, so make sure to keep one handy in your household. It is highly recommended to introduce some variety into the game. You can try throwing the ball against the wall and command your fur baby to catch it on the rebound, or you can bounce it off the floor and command him or her to catch it on the first bounce.
Apart from these physical games, Poodles also love to play mental games. A lot of dog owners swear by investing in a food puzzle. Poodles get tremendous pleasure working hard for their food. You may also want to hide the food puzzle somewhere in your house so your Poodle will need to “find” his food.
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