Instructions
Fetch
Purchase a soft rubber ball. A cheaper ball will work best, since puppies tend to lose, forget and bury their toys. A tennis ball is an easy choice, but some dogs don't care for the taste, so trial and error is best when choosing a ball.
Teach the puppy to fetch and drop the ball. An adult should throw the ball for the puppy several times. Every time the dog brings the ball back, wait for him to drop it, then reward him with praise and a treat. This will teach him to drop the ball, and the child won't have to take the ball from the puppy's mouth.This activity is best in a fenced-in area: Other dogs or humans aren't likely to distract the dog from the game.
Allow the child to throw the ball only when the dog has successfully given up the ball several times. Instruct children to throw it appropriate distances. Children tend to want to trick the puppy by feigning the toss. This tends to confuse dogs and makes it harder for them to concentrate on the real toss. If the child does not have a strong "pitching" arm, purchase a device specifically designed to make the ball go farther with little effort.
Agility
An adult should first create the agility obstacle course. Courses can be as complex or as simple as desired. An easy course consists of agility stakes and a ramp. To build agility stakes, use five or so plastic tubes that are much taller than the puppy. (Use plastic, not wood if at possible because wood could splinter, injuring the dog if it runs into a stake.) Pound the stakes in the ground, wide enough to challenge the dog to zigzag through the stakes. To build the ramp, a mound of dirt that rises to a peak in the middle will work.
Lead the puppy through the course first. Put the dog on a leash, and move him through the agility stakes in a zigzag fashion. Then run with the dog up the ramp. After successfully completing the course, reward him with praise and a treat. Complete several more times until the puppy appears comfortable with the course, bearing in mind that younger dogs cannot concentrate as long as older dogs.
Turn handler role over to the child. The child will lead the puppy, weaving through the stakes and up and down the ramp. With constant practice, the dog will do it automatically. You can turn this play into a real hobby for your child and the dog if the child seems interested. Agility clubs, training classes and trials are everywhere and easy to join.
Hide and Seek
Play hide and seek with your dog in the house on a rainy day. Teach your dog the "sit," "stay" and "come" commands. There are a variety of ways to teach these basic training skills using positive reinforcement. These skills are good for your dog to have for a number of reasons, play being one of them. Teach your child how to ask the dog to follow the commands, and be sure your dog will take direction from the child; some dogs won't.
With your dog reliably sitting and staying in one place, tell the child to go hide in a closet, bathtub, shower, under a bed, behind a door or any other place where a child can fit and hide. Until your dog is comfortable taking commands from the child and will stay for at least a minute or so, you should stay with the dog to be sure he doesn't move until told to do so.
Tell the child to call out for the dog to come by saying the dog's name followed by the command "come." Release your dog from the "stay" command and allow him to go find the child. The child should remain very still and silent until the dog finds her, at which time she will praise the dog and give a treat to reinforce the game.
How to Play Puppy Games for Kids
Dogs require attention, stimulation and exercise. So do children. Putting the two together makes good sense. Children can play games with dogs as long as the dog is friendly and well-trained. Parents will need to teach both child and puppy the rules before the game begins, but after that, children and dogs will pick it up quickly. Three basic games are fetch, agility and tug-of-war. Never let your child play with a strange dog, and teach your child to be safe around dogs. Some dogs are exuberant and can hurt a child unintentionally, so be sure the dog you allow your child to play with is gentle and considerate of your child's fragility.