Top Activities For Bowlers With Dogs

Introduction

Your dog probably can't fetch a bowling ball and you definitely don't want to use your pup as a bowling pin so how could you possibly combine your love of bowling with your love for your pup? There are plenty of ways! There is no need to ditch your dog or skip bowling because you want to stay home with your furry friend, you can have it all. Get ready to learn all the fun bowling related activities you can do with your dog by your side.

Rolling Fetch

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Easy

20 min

Items needed

Tennis Ball

Activity description

As you probably know pretty well, your deliver matters a lot when you bowl. Delivery is the way you approach rolling the ball and how you push it down the aisle. Proper delivery of the ball is extremely important and it essentially determines your entire game. Deliver is actually something that you can practice at home and with your dog as well. You don't need a bowling ball or real pins to practice delivery, in fact, you can just use a tennis ball and your pup! Practice your delivery with a game of roll fetch anytime, anywhere for very little cost - just the price of the tennis ball!

Step

1

Posture practice

Proper posture for bowling requires you to move your head very little, keep your eyes straight on your target and hold your upper body as still as possible. All of this can be practiced at home. Grab your dog's tennis ball and practice your posture, focusing on not moving your head primarily. Take a few steps then roll your dog's tennis ball on the floor. Have your pup chase the ball, return it to you and then practice again!

Step

2

Steps

For the next delivery practice, focus on the pace of your steps. You want your steps to be the same each time you bowl and evenly paced with the swing of your bowling arm. Walk forward to a marked line on the floor with a steady pace then deliver that tennis ball to your dog. Let your pup chase the ball and give it back to you again! Keep practicing until your steps feel steady and rhythmical.

Step

3

Hold your form

The split seconds before the bowling ball leaves your fingertips are imperative. The slightest movement and you can change the course of the ball. Roll your dog's tennis ball forward, letting your pup chase it down but after your roll, do not move. Hold your form for at least three seconds after the ball is released - you should look like a statue! Once your dog has returned the ball, you can be free to move again! Practice your form hold until you just can't 'freeze' any longer!

Dog Bowling

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

Bowling Ball

Treats

Bowling Pins

Activity description

If you ever thought that maybe your dog would like to bowl, then you are on to something. Your dog may really love to bowl! Teaching your dog how to bowl is actually quite simple. In fact, with a few simple lessons, your dog may become a better bowler than you! Of course, a dog can't pick up a heavy bowling ball but they can certainly roll it forward. Thanks to the easy indoor nature of the game, you can teach your dog to bowl in any weather, any time of the day. You likely already have a ball so this game is also very cheap for you and your pup to play.

Step

1

Set up

Begin by setting up a small bowling alley for your pup. Place the pins at one end and clear a runway for your dog to roll the ball on. Then, call your pup over and have then sit near the starting line. It is time to learn how to bowl! Toss your dog a treat so they learn that you mean business!

Step

2

Push

Show your dog how to use their nose to push the bowling ball forward. Begin by showing them how the ball rolls back and forth. Place a treat on the ball and have your dog nudge it with their nose while you also say "roll". When your dog goes to get the treat, they will naturally hit the ball with their nose as well and roll it forward. Keep practicing roll until your dog needs no treat but will just naturally push the ball forward on command.

Step

3

Strike

Coax your dog forward as they roll the ball upon your command of "roll". Guide your pup toward the pins, helping them along the way if needed. Once the ball rolls toward the pins and a few fall down, cheer for your pup and give them extra attention and treats. Practice again, letting your dog roll on their own with less assistance from you each time. Soon your dog will be rolling strikes left and right!

Arm Workouts

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

Treats

Activity description

While you do not need to work out too much in order to become a great bowler, it does help to gain some strength. To be more specific, it helps to gain some upper body arm strength. The force at which you are able to throw the ball down the aisle will definitely help you with your overall game. But can your dog help you with your arm workouts? Absolutely! Your pup can "assist" or at least participate in all of your arm exercises and they all can also be done for free - no extra expenses here! Time to build some muscles with your pup by your side!

Step

1

Push up hold

A basic push up hold is actually harder than you think. Don't worry, your dog can help you! Get yourself into the push up position and then call your pup over and have them lie down under you. Hold the push up position for one minute while your dog stays, lying down, under your stomach. If your stomach touches your dog, game over! If you can keep a tight body for one full minute, you win! And your arms will definitely feel the burn!

Step

2

Weighted hold

Grab two five pound dumbbells and also call your dog over. Have your pup sit and stay and then place one treat on top of each dumbbell. Balance the dog treat as you slowly lift the dumbbell up until your arms are straight and extended outward- you should look like a treat holding zombie! Count to thirty (while your dog stays in place!) and then tip on dumbbell to the left and let the treat slide off. Count to thirty again and let the other treat slice off for your pup to retrieve. One minute dumbbell holds will definitely make your arms tired!

Step

3

Ball lift

Grab two bowling balls of the same weight and place them on the ground, one on each side of you. Have your pup sit in front of you. Squat down slowly, back straight, eyes facing your pup, and pick up one dumbbell in each hand. As you bend down, tell your dog to lie down. Pick up the dumbbells, one in each hand, then as you stand up, tell your dog to stand as well. Hold the bowling ball for ten seconds and then squat again and put them down as your dog simultaneously lies down. Repeat until you or your pup get tired!

More Fun Ideas...

Night Out

If you have a big game coming up or an event at the alley that you really want your dog to join you at, just bring your pup along! Many bowling alleys will let dogs sit on the sidelines as their owners bowl.

Pin Catch

Know what makes for the perfect thing to fetch? An old bowling pin. Easy to grip and therefore easy to throw, a bowling pin will be something your dog doesn't mind chasing after.

Conclusion

Now you can see all of the ways that bowling and dogs can become one united activity. Dogs can bowl, dogs can help you practice your bowling form and dogs can even join you at the alley. Never again will you have to choose between bowling and your dog - you can have everything! And the best part is that your dog will love these activities as well. Anytime your dog can spend with you (and a bowling ball!) is sure to make them happy.