Games to Play With My Labrador Retriever

Many pet owners are won over by Labrador Retrievers' charm and buoyant personalities. Their adaptability means that Labs, whose origins are in Newfoundland, can participate in myriad games and activities, as long as their owners are involved too. Those who care for Labs can find collaborative, exciting experiences in which the breed excels.

  1. Freestyle Dance

    • You and your Lab can boogie together by participating in canine freestyle programs. Known as the "tail waggin' sport," Labs that have been trained for basic obedience can dance to the music alongside their owner in a choreographed routine. The World Canine Freestyle Organization claims that dog enthusiast Val Culpin started canine freestyle in British Columbia, in the late 1980s. The WCFO encourages the use of costumes, dressage movements and variations on classic obedience steps like "Down" and "Shake hands."

    Canine Good Citizen

    • Also inaugurated in the late 1980s, the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen encourages good behavior in dogs, both at home and in their communities. Though it may seem like canine charm school, CGC is actually an amusing and engaging activity for Labs and their owners. To earn the CGC title, a dog must successfully pass 10 test items, which include coming when called, walking through a crowd and reactions to a distraction.

    Agility

    • Agility is an ideal activity to capitalize on Labs' natural assets, like their affable nature and inherent athleticism. A competitive yet fun sport, canine agility evaluates an owner's ability to train and guide her dog through a timed obstacle course. Hurdles, ramps and seesaws are only a few of the challenges making up such a course. Agility teams are scored in a system that mirrors that of equestrian sport jumping, where points are deducted for faults. Nevertheless, agility remains a community sport that promotes dog-and-owner bonding.

    Field Trials and Hunting Tests

    • They aren't called retrievers for nothing; Labs were bred to fetch game brought down by gunmen. Naturally, events like field trials and hunting tests cater to Labs' skill set. In field trials, hunting dogs compete against one another for the title of top performer, whereas canines are evaluated against a predetermined standard in hunting tests. Certain Labs will take to such retrieving activity better than others. For instance, Labs specifically bred for field trials exhibit much more energy and will than English-type Labs, which are more sedate.