3-Minute Dog Training Games to Boost Obedience

Dogs thrive on structure and clear communication, and with these 3-minute dog training games, you can boost their obedience and strengthen your bond with them.

By dedicating just a few minutes each day to these exercises, you can see significant improvements in your dog's behavior and responsiveness.

The "Look" game, for example, can be played in just 3 minutes and is a great way to improve your dog's focus and attention.

In this game, you hold a treat in front of your dog's nose and slowly move it up to your face, rewarding them with the treat when they follow the treat with their eyes.

For your interest: 3 D's of Dog Training

Teaching Recall Through Hide-and-Seek is a fun and effective way to build your dog's love of "come when called." By hiding in plain sight and calling your dog's name, you can help them learn to locate you and come to you.

One way to start is to simply hide behind a door or in another room, then call your dog. When they eventually find you, give them a huge reward with treats or toys. This game, as described in the article, is a great way to build up your dog's recall skills and exercise their nose.

Here's an interesting read: When to Start Training Puppies

As you play this game, you can gradually build up the difficulty of where you hide around the house. You can even play this game outdoors as a fun way to build up speed and joy when you call your dog to you.

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you play Hide-and-Seek with your dog:

By following these tips and playing Hide-and-Seek regularly, you can help your dog learn to come to you quickly and reliably.

Playing games with your dog is an excellent way to train them, and the best part is that it's fun for both you and your furry friend. You can start with simple games like Hide and Seek, where you hide and your dog uses their incredible sense of smell to find you.

For more challenging games, try the Tennis with Your Puppy game, where you and a friend or family member spread out in a triangle or square and call your dog to come to you. This game helps strengthen their recall and teaches them to respond to everyone.

Check this out: Dog Training Games for Group Classes

To make games more engaging, you can try different variations like the Muffin Tin Game, where you place treats under tennis balls in a muffin tin, or the Cups Game, where you hide treats under different cups and encourage your dog to find them.

Here are some games that are perfect for training your dog:

These games are not only fun but also help build your dog's confidence and self-assurance. So, grab some treats and get playing!

Home Agility Jumps are a fantastic way to get your dog moving and exercising at home. You can set up your own obstacle course using items you have lying around the house.

Puppies should jump at low levels as they're still growing and don't want to mess up their joints. Make sure everything is safe and that nothing falls on your dog.

You can start by setting up a couple of books into two piles and popping broom handles between them to make a jump. Throw a toy or a treat over the jump and see if your puppy will go over. If they do, it's definitely worth a good reward.

Take a look at this: Dog Training in Home

To make the game even more fun, you can do a few jumps in a row. Squeeze some training in there and teach your dog to wait until you call them at the other side of the jump.

Here are some tips to get you started:

The Spin and Twist dog training game is a great trick that's not only fun for your dog, but also a great exercise for their mobility. It keeps them agile and nimble, and they'll love being a winner every time.

To start, load up your treat pouch with soft yummy treats. This will be the key to getting your dog to follow your hand. Have your dog in a standing position, on all fours, not standing like a human.

Pop a treat on their nose and lure their nose round towards their tail. They should follow the treat and spin around. When they do, say 'good' and give them the treat.

On a similar theme: Great Dane Dog Training

You'll need to keep drawing your dog around with food until they are confidently following your hand. This might take a few tries, but be patient and consistent. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

After you've repeated this several times, make the hand gesture a bit smaller and more of a hand signal. Like you're waving a magician's wand. This will help your dog learn to spin on command without relying on the treats.

A unique perspective: Printable Dog Training Hand Signals Chart Pdf

The Box is a versatile training game that's perfect for puppies. It encourages them to explore and interact with a box, which helps build confidence and self-assurance.

To play, you'll need a low-sided box and a treat pouch loaded up with rewards. Use a clicker or a word marker like 'good' to mark the exact moment your puppy does what you want them to.

As your puppy walks towards the box, click (or use the marker word) and reward with a treat. If they touch the box with their nose or paw, it's worthy of a click and treat. If they stand in the box, that's fantastic – another click and treat is in order.

Suggestion: Dog Marker Training

You can make the game even more fun by turning the box on its side the next time to give them variety. Don't try to train anything just yet, as that will come later. Just remember to reward your puppy for interacting with the unfamiliar box.

Here are some key tips to keep in mind:

By playing The Box game, you'll be helping your puppy build confidence and self-assurance, while also having fun together.

The Cups game is a fun and engaging way to challenge your dog's problem-solving skills and teach them to focus on a specific task. Grab three cups that look different from each other, such as empty yogurt pots, and line them up in a row.

To play, let your dog see you pop a treat under one of the cups, and then give them a release cue to choose a cup. If they pick the correct one, praise them and let them enjoy the treat. If they get it wrong, show them the empty cup and then the cup with the treat underneath, and ask them to try again.

A fresh viewpoint: Training Dog to Pee in One Spot

The Cups game can be made even more challenging by moving the cups around so that your dog has to follow them to find the treat. You can also use three cups that look the same to really test their problem-solving skills.

Here's a step-by-step guide to playing the Cups game:

1. Start with three cups that look different from each other.

2. Line the cups up in a row.

3. Let your dog see you pop a treat under one of the cups.

4. Give your dog a release cue to choose a cup.

5. If they pick the correct cup, praise them and let them enjoy the treat.

6. If they get it wrong, show them the empty cup and then the cup with the treat underneath, and ask them to try again.

Remember to reward your dog with treats and praise when they get it right, and to make the game more challenging as they become more confident.

You might like: Look at That Dog Training

The Name is a crucial part of any dog's training, and it's essential to make it fun for both you and your furry friend. The most important thing is to get a quick head turn from your dog when you call their name.

To achieve this, load up your treat pouch with yummy treats. This will make the game more engaging and rewarding for your dog. You can then throw a treat on the floor to take your dog away from you, and just as they've finished their treat, say their name in a clear happy voice.

When your dog turns to look at you, say 'good' and then throw a treat the opposite way. This will help them associate their name with the action of turning towards you. Keep repeating this by throwing the treat across your body the opposite way, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your dog learns their name.

To make the game even more fun, start throwing the treat in unpredictable ways. You can toss it over your shoulder, bowl it down the hallway, or chuck it between your legs. This will keep your dog on their toes and make the game more challenging and engaging.

Check this out: Dog Treat Training

Hand Target is a great game for building a visual recall in your dog. It's also useful for teaching tricks. This game is enjoyable for dogs because it doesn't have to mean they need to recall and put on a lead, it can simply mean coming to touch your hand for a treat.

To play, you'll need a treat pouch loaded up with yummy treats. Hold your hand out to the side of your dog's muzzle. They'll likely go to sniff your hand, which is exactly what you want.

Say your marker word 'good' and give them a treat. Hold your hand out again, as the first time can be a fluke, so be patient and try to hold it there. When they touch your hand, mark it 'good' and give them a treat.

Gradually take your hand a little further away on each repetition. Your puppy should start really shoving that hand once they understand the game. Excellent.

A different take: Dog Training Hand Signals

Puppy Zen is a fun game that helps your puppy develop self-control and focus on you.

To play, you'll need some soft yummy treats and a clicker or a word marker like "good".

Hold the treats in your hand at eye level and to the side of your face, so your puppy can see them but not grab them.

As soon as your puppy looks at you or turns their head towards your face, click or say "good" and hand them a treat.

This game can be tricky for some dogs, especially those obsessed with food like Labradors.

You might need to use low-value food like kibble to make it more manageable for them.

If your puppy enjoys this game, you can try playing it with a tug toy or a tennis ball instead of treats.

The idea is to reward your puppy with the toy after they maintain eye contact for a little while.

Recommended read: Dog Training Food