Australian Shepherds are infamous for their energy. One way to make sure this doesn’t get diverted into incessant chewing or rowdy activity is to engage your dog in games.
Here are some games Australian Shepherds would surely enjoy:
- Frisbee
While this is best played outdoors, you can also play Frisbee inside your home. Suggest investing in a 7” or a 10” soft nylon disc that you can throw around and practice with your dog. Sure, they may be pricey, but if you use it often for playtime, it should make for a good investment.
- Hide and Seek
This game is a hit among Australian Shepherds, as they generally known for being clever. It doesn’t vary much to the version you know very well since you were kids. The only difference is that you are always the one hiding and your dog is always “it.” If you don’t feel like hiding this time around, you can also play the game using a plastic container filled with treats. Just make sure to punch holes on the top so your dog can smell the treats. Start by hiding it somewhere “easy” and then increase the difficulty along the way to make the game more exciting.
- Obstacle Courses
An easy yet exciting way to play with your dog is to set up an obstacle course inside or outside your home. Start with items you already own – be it a chair or a box. You can get ingenious with your set up. Suggestions include getting your dog to crawl inside a box that is designed to be a makeshift tunnel and having your dog jump over a chair. Make sure to reward your dog with treats if he gets to do a task perfectly.
- Treat Dispensing Toys
If you don’t have the time to spare to play with your dog, get him a treat dispensing toy that he can play with himself. Just make sure to fill this constantly with treats your dog will love such as peanut butter, cheese or frozen canned dog food.
By: Kevin Wood