Activities For Dogs Who Love Toys

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Activities For Dogs Who Love Toys

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Introduction

Most dogs really like to play with toys, but there is usually a dog that is head over heels in love with their toys. These are the dogs that sleep surrounded by their favorite toys or hide them away so nobody else can play with them. When you have a dog that loves toys this much you should look for activities you can do together that use that love of toys. The main thing to remember when you have a dog that is crazy about their toys is to not allow them to become overly possessive over those toys. Dogs that become possessive of their toys can become snappy or aggressive when someone tries to take the toy. Proper training and fostering healthy toy behavior will ensure your dog does not become too possessive.

Dock Diving

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Moderate

Normal

45 min

Items needed

Canine Life Vest (Optional)

Dock & Pool

Toy

Treats

Collar & Leash

Activity description

What dog would not love racing down a long dock and then launching themselves through the air after a toy and landing in a pool of water? Well, maybe dock diving is not for every dog. But for dogs that are toy crazy, this is the perfect activity that allows them to chase after their toy and then they have the gratification of coming out of the water carrying their toy. Dock diving keeps your dog in physical shape and helps you to create a strong bond. There are several dock diving challenges in the warm weather months, although some dog clubs can also host indoor dock diving all year. The only main cost that you will have when starting dock diving is the cost of the canine life vest, the toys you will use and any membership fees for a dog club or class.

Step

Teach to swim

Not every dog knows how to swim. When you are considering participating in dock diving, start by making sure your dog can swim. If they cannot, you can teach them how to swim. Introduce them slowly to the water and use a life vest on your dog. Do not just toss them into the water in the hopes that they will figure it out. This practice can traumatize your dog and make them fearful of the water! Start in the shallow end and be patient with them.

Step

Teach to dive

It sounds simple enough, but teaching a dog to dive can take a lot of patience and understanding. When you are beginning to teach them to dive, introduce them to a new toy that they are sure to love. Start with lower and shorter jumps and then begin tossing the toy farther and farther out into the pool. Keep training upbeat and use lots of praise! Keep the toys you are going to use for dock diving separate from their regular toys so they are excited to see these toys when it is time to dive.

Step

Practice

Practice makes perfect, or at least that is what they say. When it comes to dock diving, practice makes for longer jumps. The goal of a dock diving challenge is to see which dog can jump the farthest. Therefore you want to hype your dog up before they begin their run down the dock so they are super excited to go after their toy. At actual dock diving challenges, you may introduce a new toy to your dog just before their jump to create an excitement that propels them down the dock and through the air.

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Hide and Seek

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

30 min

Items needed

Hiding Places

Treats

Toys

Activity description

A simple child’s game can turn into hours of fun for your toy loving dog. Hide and seek is wonderful for dogs that love their toys and have a great sense of smell. This game can be done either indoors or out and is super fun for both you and your dog. The price is right, too. All it will cost is the cost of toys and treats for your dog. Most dog owners have these things at their home anyway so the cost should be free. Be sure to hide the toys with your dog’s abilities in mind. In other words, do not hide a squeak toy in the tree.

Step

Introduce new toys

Hide and seek with your dog is best done when you are able to hide new toys. Many dog owners have a bag of special toys that they use only for this game, and do not let their dog play with them except when playing hide and seek. Dogs will be more willing to search for new, interesting toys rather than the ones they play with every day. Be sure to let them play with these special toys for a few minutes before hiding them so their scent is on them.

Step

Hide the toys

As mentioned before, keep your dog’s abilities in mind when hiding the toys. Start by hiding them in easy spots, under a pillow or table, in the toy box or on a chair. Never hide toys in areas where your dog is not allowed and do not make it too difficult for them to find their toys. Dogs want instant gratification and if it takes too long to find their toys they will give up and find something else to do.

Step

Praise and reward

The actual reward is finding their toys and getting to play with them. But your dog may need a little extra encouragement. If this is the case, have small treats ready and give them a treat when they find their first toy. Dogs also thrive on praise so keep things happy and fun with lots of praise while playing hide and seek.

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Disc Dog

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Cheap

Normal

45 min

Items needed

Treats

Disc or Frisbee

Collar & Leash

Water & Water Bowl

Activity description

Disc dog challenges are a great way to showcase your dog’s love of toys and their athletic prowess. You may not be into these challenges but simply want to play Frisbee with your dog on the beach or in your backyard. That is great and is excellent exercise for both of you. Some dogs have a natural ability to chase after and catch a Frisbee in mid-air but then there are others that are not so athletic and are unable to naturally succeed at this activity. Do not despair; your dog can learn how to catch a Frisbee, especially if they love toys!

Step

Introduce the disc

This step is pretty straightforward. Let them sniff the disc and watch it in action. Gently toss the disc and watch your dog’s reaction. If they show an interest, they should do great learning how to catch a disc. If they are unsure of it or move away from the floating disc, disc dog challenges are probably not in their future.

Step

Teach catch and release

Your dog may catch the disc but not necessarily be willing to give it back. Teach your dog the command of fetch so they know they are expected to catch the flying disc. Then teach them the command to leave it. It may take some time and a lot of patience for your dog to learn how to catch a disc in mid-air, but keep giving a lot of praise and treats when they do something right.

Step

Challenge your dog

Training for a disc dog challenge takes a lot of work and a willingness to keep challenging your dog to run faster and leap higher. Since your dog loves toys, have a special toy ready for them when they bring back the disc and give them a lot of praise. There are some dog clubs that host disc dog classes and this could be a great way to stretch your dog’s abilities.

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More Fun Ideas...

Tetherball

There are many different variations to this classic children’s game. Tetherball is a great way to keep your dog active and have a ball while doing so. You can put a tetherball pole up in your backyard or you can use a pole similar to a flirt pole and play the game with your pooch. Tetherball is a pretty cheap activity and can keep your dog busy for quite a while.

Basketball

While it may not be the traditional basketball game, your dog can enjoy a game of hoops with you by learning a new trick. You can teach your dog how to shoot the ball with their nose toward the hoop. You may want to use a smaller, shorter hoop and a softer ball for this game! It can be played indoors or outside and it is a cheap activity to do with your dog that is entertaining and great exercise.

Conclusion

Dogs that love toys have the ability to participate in so many different fun activities. When doing activities that put a strong focus on toys, be sure to train your dog to not be possessive towards their toys. These activities are supposed to be fun but having a dog that becomes aggressive over their toys can ruin the fun. Train them to leave their toys and provide plenty of positive reinforcement for them.