Your puppy is a very curious and very energetic little creature that requires plenty of attention and affection throughout the day. One way to help burn off the excess energy and to teach them obedience at the same time is via a structure puppy training game. Training your new puppy should start as soon as possible and a routine should be established from the first day she arrives in your home. Similarly, the games should be structured so that she learns to do what you want.

Game of Fetch

Probably the most popular of all puppy and dog game, quite how a dog knows how to bring back an object to its master and then wag their tail waiting for master to throw the object again so that they can fetch it once more is one of life’s little mysteries. In this game you can teach the dog commands like “Fetch!” to instruct her to run after the object, “Stay!” to prevent her from running off until you give the command and “Give!” to instruct her to give you the object that she has returned to you.

Hide and Seek

Just like with humans you can hide an object and ask the puppy to find it. The object needs to be familiar to the puppy like a toy. To start, show the object to the puppy and get her interested in it, then when she isn’t looking hide it away under a cushion or behind the TV. The first few times you might have to help her find the object or leave it in plain sight but soon she will use her own curiosity and sense of smell to locate the hidden toy. This helps with obedience because you can command your puppy to “Stay!”, “Fetch!” and “Give!”. It also helps her to familiarize herself with the surroundings.

Socialization Game

This involves taking your puppy to a common area like a park, although it’s recommended to find out if there are any puppy kindergarten classes available in your area. This will introduce her to other dogs where she can learn to respect them without starting a fight or barking. Similarly it can help with human interaction if other dog owners pet and play with her.

The Exchange Game

This is an excellent game for teaching various tricks like rolling over (which is an expression of submission in the dog world), giving the paw for a handshake and coming over when called by name. When the puppy does as commanded give a reward like lots of affection and occasionally a treat. Don’t overdo the treats or she may come to expect it all the time and get upset if she isn’t given it.