Puppy School Games

When a puppy is born, its brain is significantly underdeveloped. With every new experience, its cognitive system becomes more complex. By utilizing a puppy's high energy level, along with its intense curiosity, you can ensure that your new friend will grow into a healthy, happy, well-rounded animal.

  1. Exchange Games

    • Before you can teach your puppy any commands, the dog must learn its own name. Call your puppy by name until it responds by walking over to you. Reward it at this point by petting it or giving it a small treat. A treat can be anything that the puppy finds positive; store bought dog treats, beef jerky, or string cheese are all good options. One exception is a chewy bone. You want the treat to be something that the dog eats right away; if it takes longer than ten seconds to eat, it is not an appropriate reward. It is best to repeat this exercise several times a day until the puppy responds to your verbal cues without the need of positive reinforcement. This basic skill gives you the groundwork needed to expand on your puppy's obedience skills.

    Fetch

    • Begin teaching your puppy to fetch by placing a favorite toy several feet away from it. Ask it "where's your toy?" When it responds by retrieving the toy and bringing it back to you, reward it with a treat. Once this game is mastered, you can train your puppy by throwing a toy across the room for it to retrieve. This allows the dog to get exercise, improve agility, and usually results in another training game: tug of war. When this happens, let your puppy win most of the time. The victory will instill confidence and strength.

    Where's your Treat?

    • This game will help your puppy learn to trust its sense of smell. Place a treat somewhere in the room, and then encourage your puppy to find it. When it discovers the hiding place, let it eat the treat. This game can be expanded upon by placing a treat under a plastic cup, then placing several empty decoy cups around it. Your puppy will have a blast knocking down the cups until the treat is revealed.

    Socialization Games

    • Exposing your puppy to new places and people is an integral part of its cognitive growth. When a dog is introduced to many new people, it becomes much more friendly and easygoing. New environments stimulate every one of its senses; the smell of a maple tree, the feel of the breeze on its fur, and the call of a robin could offer a completely novel approach to the puppy's outlook. Take your puppy on a walk to a local park and let it investigate. If you encounter fellow dog lovers on your way, allow your puppy to interact with them. Even though this doesn't seem like a traditional game, this exercise is essential because it exposes your puppy to new stimuli and teaches it to not fear the world around it.