It might surprise you to learn that your new puppy is ready to start learning life lessons the moment she walks in the door. Even if you plan to take your pup to formal puppy classes, you can get a jump-start on her education by playing creative games that merge having fun with learning new behaviors.
The following games will enable you and your puppy to grow your bond while building a training foundation that can last a lifetime.
Touch for a Treat
This simple exercise helps pups learn to tolerate (and even enjoy!) the type of handling that’s a necessary part of grooming, such as nail trims, tooth brushing and ear cleaning. Puppies are generally more accepting of handling and don’t have baggage about being touched, which means this can be a very relaxing experience. Try to work on “Touch for a Treat” when your pup is relaxed and not mouthy or overstimulated.
The process is simple. Briefly touch a part of your pup’s body, like her paw, then hand over a treat. Repeat the gentle touch with all four paws, briefly handling them and following up with a goody. (Keep in mind that the back paws might be more sensitive.) Try to vary the way you handle the paw, like isolating a nail, as well as how long you hold it. Keep the exercise short and positive as you work your way around your pup’s body from tip to tail in many short sessions. If your puppy gets nippy or overly excited, wrap it up and try again another day.
Find Me
Coming when called is one of the most important behaviors for dogs to know, and you can get a jump on teaching it with a fun game of hide-and-seek. Ask a friend or family member to gently hold your puppy while you dash off to hide in an obvious spot, like just around the corner. Tell your puppy “find me!” in an excited voice, and make kissy noises or whistle until your puppy gets to you. Once she reaches you, give her tons of praise and a small treat. (If your dog is play-driven, you can also use a toy as a reward.)
Continue the game by hiding in new spots around the house; once your pup is an indoor “find me” pro, move the game to your yard. This simple exercise teaches your dog that coming to you is fun and exciting and always results in goodies. Once you start working on formal recalls in dog training class, you can transition to using your recall word for some repetitions of the “find me” game.
Tug & Drop
Once considered a forbidden game because of concerns that it could cause aggression, tug is actually a fantastic play-training game to enjoy with your pup. Teaching your puppy how to play tug with a few rules results in a fun go-to game that can also be an eventual training reward. Always use a real tug toy and not a sock or shoe when playing tug, and help your pup understand the beginner rules:
Teeth on skin results in a time out. If your pup accidentally puts her mouth on you during the game say “ouch!” to mark the infraction and drop the toy. Take a 10 second break, then resume playing.
Your puppy must drop the toy when asked. Place a treat near your pup’s nose while she has the toy in her mouth. As she opens her mouth to grab the treat, say “drop” to connect the word with the behavior, then hand over the treat. With enough repetitions you should be able to ask for a “drop” without needing to place the treat in front of your pup’s nose.
Take frequent breaks as you play tug with your puppy. When you’re finished, put the toy away to keep it special.
Even though these games help build early foundation skills, you can continue to play them throughout your dog’s life. Most adult dogs enjoy a rousing game of tug or “find me” (which actually becomes a scenting game as a dog matures), and it’s always a good idea to keep your dog comfortable with different types of handling.