All I hear from my grandkids is, “I’m bored.” We try to entertain them by playing board games, arts and crafts, anything to keep them off the TV, video games, and out of our hair. Here are a couple of suggestions to keep your kids and dog happy and busy during these stressful times.
The Find-It Game- Have the kids create a treasure hunt for your dog. Hold your dog while the kids hide treats or kibble around the house or the back yard. When they’re ready, say to the dog “find it.” At first, make it super easy for the dog to find the treats; then gradually make the treats a little harder to find. The dog can really get good at this.
Indoor dog obstacle course– Use things in your home to make a new and exciting game they both can enjoy. Building an indoor dog obstacle course doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. All it takes is a few dining chairs and a large blanket. Line up two rows of chairs back-to-back to create a tunnel. Leave enough space in the middle of the rows for your dog to safely run in between. With a little coaxing and a tasty reward at the other end your pup will be zooming in and out while the kids giggle.
Grab a pillow or two depending on the size of your dog. This is for your dog to jump over. You can stack the pillows in an entryway. Bigger dogs should be capable of clearing the pillow no problem, but smaller breeds you should be more cautious. Simply have your dog sit in front of the pillow, then throw a treat or kibble over to the other side. You can use a couple of books with a broom stick too. Just be careful for your dog’s safety. You don’t want to cause your dog any injuries by repeatedly jumping too high a hurdle. The height of the jump should be half the height of the dog at his shoulders to be on the safe side.
The Zig-Zag Course– Set up a serpentine of small obstacles on the ground, like boxes or chairs. Get your dog to zig zag around the obstacles using the “follow the leader” with a couple of treats.
Remember to give your dog regular breaks from the kids. Stay healthy everyone.