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You are here: Home / Games / Free Games for Dogs

Free Games for Dogs

October 31, 2014 by Fanna Easter

Free Dog Games

Free Game ideas for Dogs
Make meal times into puzzles!

Is your dog still eating out of a bowl? Try these free games for dogs! Great ideas to extend feeding time, which mentally exhausts your dog–this is a good thing!

Make Feeding Time a Puzzle

  • Sprinkle your dog’s kibble along a shag 3′ X 5′ rug. Now your dog must sniff and search for each individual kibble! Your dog will have tons of fun searching while you’re getting ready for work in the morning and preparing dinner for the family in the evening. What a great way to incorporate mental stimulation into every activity.
  • Hide your dog’s kibble in a large box filled with newspapers or old towels. This works great for terriers, which are natural diggers. Want to make it even harder? Choose a large box and remove the top. At the bottom of the box, cut a hole big enough for your terrier to enter and leave the box. Now fill the box with old newspapers and towels, sprinkle treats and kibble throughout the layers of paper, and watch your dog have a blast!
  • Hide a handful of kibble behind furniture (inside) or logs/outdoor furniture (outdoors). Bring your dog inside, so your dog doesn’t watch you hide his food. When done hiding food, let your dog outdoors to find treats. If your dog does not understand the game, bring him to a few spots where kibble is hidden, so he understands to search. 🙂 Add a cue, such as “Find,” to cue your dog to begin searching.

Find additional puzzle ideas here and here.

VIDEO: Free Games for Dogs

Share your doggie game ideas here. We would love to hear from you!

Filed Under: Games, Resources Tagged With: best dog games, brain games for dogs, challenging games for dogs, dog games, fun dog games, fun games for dogs indoors, games dogs, games for dogs, games for dogs and owners, games for dogs recovering, mental and physical games for dogs, mind stimulating games for dogs puppies, rainy day dog games

Trackbacks

  1. Dog Training NationIndoor Games for Dogs says:
    November 13, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    […] all the interactive food puzzles on the market, we’ve forgotten one of the basic games: a good long-lasting dog chew. […]

  2. Dog Training NationThundershirt for Dogs says:
    November 26, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    […] Thundershirts should not replace daily walks, food puzzles and family interactions. They are a tool that teaches dogs how to calm themselves down. It’s […]

  3. Dog Training NationClicker Training for Dogs says:
    December 3, 2014 at 11:17 am

    […] agility by using clicker training. I have even trained humans to sit in a chair. There are tons of games that can sharpen your clicker training skills and keep your dog mentally stimulated. I enjoy 101 […]

  4. Dog Training NationFood Stuffed Toys says:
    December 22, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] your dog’s regular meal into a puzzle. […]

  5. Train a Puppy to Give Items Back | Dog Training Nation says:
    February 4, 2015 at 12:54 am

    […] You may also like: Free Games for Dogs […]

  6. Indoor Games for Dogs | Dog Training Nation says:
    April 20, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    […] all the interactive food puzzles on the market, we’ve forgotten one of the basic games: a good long-lasting dog chew. […]

  7. Thundershirt for Dogs says:
    April 20, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    […] Thundershirts should not replace daily walks, food puzzles and family interactions. They are a tool that teaches dogs how to calm themselves down. It’s […]

  8. Clicker Training for Dogs | Dog Training Nation says:
    May 1, 2015 at 12:12 am

    […] agility by using clicker training. I have even trained humans to sit in a chair. There are tons of games that can sharpen your clicker training skills and keep your dog mentally stimulated. I enjoy 101 […]

  9. 5 Dog Exercise Ideas Beyond Walking | Dog Training Nation says:
    January 13, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    […] delicious treats inside boxes, behind furniture or across the yard is a really fun game for dogs, but it can be difficult and mentally draining for them […]

  10. Dog Game for the Whole Family | Dog Training Nation says:
    November 29, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    […] You may also like: Free Games for Dogs […]

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Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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