No More Bored Dogs: A Dip Into The Fun World Of Canine Brain Games

Summer is just around the corner - your dogs are ready to play play play after this far too long winter. However, the weather can still be squirrelly this time of year, so here are some suggestions for fun things you and Fido can practice indoors so you don't have to stop just for the weather.

If your family has acquired a new dog, or your current dog is just begging to learn a new hobby, there are some fun newer games to teach your dog that have really developed a following, and some are very easy for older dogs to do also,  so if you are ready, you can teach an old dog new tricks!! These are two suggestions I have tried with my 11-year old Sheltie, who loved having a task to do that did not include jumping, as agility does.

Rally-O obedience is still new enough where many people have not heard of it, and it is fun fun fun! In the Rally ring, you can talk to your dog, coax and beg them, pat your arms or legs, everything except touch the dog during the performance to  persuade them to do what you
are asking.

It makes it a little easier to  work on the various tasks they ask for in the ring, like a sit, recall, down, circle around behind you, make an "S" pattern through a set of orange cones, etc. Rally-O is nice if you or the dog are nervous,  you have the option of working through the natural performance nerves to keep it happy and light.

Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is encouraged, including basically any means such as multiple commands and/or signals with one or both arms and hands.   You can try it just for fun, or there are Rally-O competitions you can enter and title your dog in.

More doggy anytime fun is a newer game called Nosework, where dogs are taught to use their natural ability to pick out certain scents that they are trained to find.

Dogs love this kind of play, and it is cheap, easy and fun to begin experimenting with, and then pursue the game more in depth if your interest grows stronger.

It was truly a toss up for my older Sheltie, which she game she loved more. You can practice both of these dog games in the house or  outdoors, which makes it really nice not to have to stop training or playing because it has started to rain.

Below are some suggestions of local places to train that I have used in the past and some suggestions to give you a taste of the fun you can have with your dog. I do not gain anything in any form from making these suggestions, they are the same ones I pass along when anyone asks.

If you are interested in taking a class, It's a Dog's World in Sumner offers classes in both of these games, as well as many others classes.

 These are some good Nosework books, but take note: the word nosework is also used in tracking, but you are not looking for a tracking book.

You can also find the the Nosework book at Dogwise. I like their search a little better, and they tend to carry the latest dog books so you don't have to wade through too many choices.

Rally-O has several good books, the key is to look for one that is newer. As in any dog sports, as rules do change.

You can also find the Rally-O books on Dogwise.

If you would just like to dip your toe in without waiting for the book to arrive, there many good videos on Youtube for both sports - I have included a couple of my favorite channels below.

Youtube contributor Rallyjudge does a nice job of explaining what they would like to see in Rally-O.

Here are lots of nice nosework videos with people and their dogs having fun.

Be sure to take a little time to explore something new with your dog today!