It's true that "fun" might not be the initial thought when considering puppy training, but integrating puppy training games can significantly enhance the enjoyment of the process. The greatest aspect is that all these training games are simple to engage in.
Interactive games are excellent for puppies — they provide mental stimulation, serve as an enjoyable method to strengthen the bond with your new dog, and offer a great way to practice basic training skills like impulse control. From the "come here" game to a game of tug of war, here are 5 simple puppy training games.
Tip: When it comes to puppies, always remember their attention spans are limited. Keep these games brief and enjoyable, and stop before they become bored or frustrated.
The Come Here Game/Pass The Puppy
You might be wondering how teaching your dog to "come here" qualifies as a game. The reality is that training a dog to reliably come when called can be difficult, but transforming it into an enjoyable game helps reinforce the behavior. With the assistance of a few friends, you can even turn the "come here" game into "pass the puppy" to add extra socialization opportunities.
How to Play the Come Here Game: 1. Sit on the ground with a few treats or a toy. 2. Tell your pup to "come here". 3. When they reach you, praise them enthusiastically and give them the treat or toy. 4. Wait for your dog to walk away and repeat steps 1-3 (you can move locations or change rewards to keep it engaging).
The come here game is simple to play, and its best feature is that it teaches your dog that positive things occur when they respond to "come here." Anyone who has dealt with an adolescent dog knows how hard it can be to capture their attention — so instilling in your puppy that "come here" means "fun times" is extremely helpful.
How to Play Pass the Puppy: 1. Have a couple of people sit around the room or yard, each with treats or toys. 2. Have one person at a time call your puppy using the "come here" command. 3. When your pup reaches them, the person should praise the puppy excitedly and give them a treat or toy. 4. Repeat steps 1-3 with different people calling the puppy.
Similar to the come here game, pass the puppy helps strengthen reliable recall. Because it involves multiple people, it also provides extra puppy socialization, as it’s a fun and positive method to introduce your pup to new individuals.
One of my favorite methods for extra puppy socialization is the pass the puppy game, as it’s a positive and enjoyable way to introduce your dog to new people.
The Which Hand Game
Another simple game to play with your puppy is the which hand game. It’s a mentally engaging nose work activity that helps teach your dog basic manners and impulse control when interacting with treats. It also establishes a foundation for your dog to view training and listening to you as enjoyable, increasing the likelihood of capturing their attention for future training.
All you need for the which hand game is some dog treats; if you don’t have any, you can use chopped fruits and veggies that are safe for dogs or prepare homemade dog treats.
How to Play the Which Hand Game: Place a treat in one hand. Close both fists and hold them out in front of your dog. Let the dog choose which hand contains the treat. When your dog sniffs or paws the correct hand, open it and give them the treat.
For the final step, you can decide what signal you want from your dog — either a gentle sniff or a paw. With my dog Laika, I prefer sniffing because her "gentle" pawing is still quite rough, so she only receives the treat when she gently sniffs the correct hand.
If your dog gets overly excited about treats, biting your hands or clawing your arms, it’s advisable to first work on an impulse control game that teaches gentleness around treats.
The “Find The Treats” Game
Nose work games like "find the treats" are excellent for stimulating your dog’s mind and sharpening their natural sniffing abilities. They’re ideal for puppies as they provide both mental and physical stimulation, enhance focus, and boost confidence by teaching a new skill. Additionally, they’re a fun way to bond with your new dog. Since you can teach this game at home, it’s perfect for puppies as the environment is not overly distracting.
The "find the treats" game is straightforward: you teach your dog to sniff out treats you’ve hidden around the house.
When starting out, make it easy for your dog until they understand the game. Have your dog sit and stay while you place a few treats in different spots around the room, letting them watch. After placing the treats, return to your dog and say "find the treats." Keep the game positive by praising them each time they find a treat.
Once your dog grasps the concept of "find the treats," you can hide treats in more challenging locations like under rugs or on furniture. With practice, your dog will rely on their natural sniffing abilities instead of visual cues. Once they’re proficient, you can even play in more challenging, distracting environments like the yard.
How to Play Find the Treats With Your Dog: 1. Grab some treats and have your dog sit in a stay position. 2. While your dog is sitting, place a few treats on the ground around them. 3. Release your dog and tell them to "find the treats." 4. Encourage them as they start finding the treats. 5. Practice a few times until your dog understands what "find the treats" means. 6. Start placing the treats further away and repeat steps 3 & 4. 7. Begin hiding treats in out-of-sight spots like under a rug or on a chair and repeat steps 3 & 4.
Find the treats is a mentally stimulating game that improves your dog’s focus. Since treats are the only requirement, it’s easy to play in various environments.
Hide & Seek
Hide and seek is another favorite puppy training game of mine. It’s enjoyable, mentally stimulating, and an excellent way to practice your dog’s recall. If your puppy hasn’t mastered the stay command yet, work on that first. You can also ask a friend to hold your dog while you hide.
How to Play Hide and Seek With Your Dog: 1. Have your dog sit in a stay position (or ask a friend to hold them). 2. Find a hiding spot. 3. Call your dog. 4. Praise your dog enthusiastically when they find you.
To prevent frustration, start with easy hiding spots. Once your dog gets the hang of it, you can progress to more difficult locations.
My dog enjoys hide and seek, even though I’m not very creative with hiding spots—usually only about three different ones. It’s a fantastic interactive game that allows your dog to use their natural scent tracking abilities in an enjoyable and stimulating manner.
Tug Of War
Tug of war is one of my top puppy training games. It provides excellent physical exercise, mental stimulation, and is great for teaching basic impulse control and manners. Since it doesn’t require much space, it can be played indoors.
Contrary to common belief, tug of war does not make dogs aggressive, and letting them win does not lead to dominance. Allowing your dog to win makes the game more enjoyable for them and encourages continued participation. Studies have shown that dogs who play tug of war with their owners are often more obedient and confident.
When playing tug with your puppy, there’s one basic rule: the game stops if their teeth touch your hand. I typically pause the game for 30 seconds and then resume, giving my dog a few chances before ending the game entirely. It may take a few attempts for your dog to learn that teeth on hands mean the game ends, but this teaches valuable impulse control and manners.
Depending on your puppy, it may take time for them to learn this. Some dogs get very excited during tug, making it hard to follow the "no biting" rule. If this is the case, start slowly. Moving the toy too quickly or making loud noises can overexcite your dog.
What Are Your Favorite Puppy Training Games?
What types of games do you enjoy playing with puppies? Have you tried pass the puppy for extra socialization or hide and seek to practice recall? Did I leave out any of your favorite games? Feel free to share in the comments.
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