Fun activities to do with my dog?

[Choose]

Hey guys,

I have an approximately 1 1/2 year old Border Terrier mix (not 100% sure of his age or what he's mixed with because we got him from a shelter), and I am just looking for something new and exciting to do with him. I have trained him to fetch a ball out in the (fenced) backyard, and I take him for regular walks but I am looking for something different to do.

I am just getting tired of plain old throw, fetch, throw, fetch and am looking for something more fun (although he never gets tired of it lol). I have started to train him to play off leash so I can throw farther, but I am a little uneasy because I fear her will get distracted easily. I thought an obedience class would be fun, but it costs money and my work schedule changes a lot week by week. Right now he can sit, stay, rollover, halt, and heel.

I also feel hesitant to play tug-of-war or tag or anything like that because we just overcame the food aggression he had when we got him (back in June), and I am now top dog in the house (this was a problem at first because he's my first dog, and I was less wise than I am now).

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading anyways lol.

Here's a pic for your trouble:

[SimplyComplex]

Hey there,

I just want to say your dog is adorable . I think he is so cute in the picture you posted. I used to have a dog about the size of yours or a little bigger. I found she really liked to go for runs or bike rides. If you have trained your dog to walk properly on a leash and he won't randomly jerk off and chase anything that moves, you might want to take him on a bike ride or a roller blade ride? You certainly don't need to make him pull you or anything like that, but it might be fun for him to get some more extreme exercise. My uncle also takes his dogs, maybe about once a month or twice a month to an extreme dog training course. It isn't too expensive, though you should look into it in case. Basically, they would teach these dogs to search and find certain smells, climb a latter etc. I know it sounds kind of extreme, but my uncle really found this to be a good bonding exercise for him and his dogs. It's just something to think about. And since these things only happen on weekends maybe once a month, it might be easier to plan for. You might be interested in something like that? I hope you find something Take care.

[Choose]

Originally Posted by Essence

Hey there,

I just want to say your dog is adorable . I think he is so cute in the picture you posted. I used to have a dog about the size of yours or a little bigger. I found she really liked to go for runs or bike rides. If you have trained your dog to walk properly on a leash and he won't randomly jerk off and chase anything that moves, you might want to take him on a bike ride or a roller blade ride? You certainly don't need to make him pull you or anything like that, but it might be fun for him to get some more extreme exercise. My uncle also takes his dogs, maybe about once a month or twice a month to an extreme dog training course. It isn't too expensive, though you should look into it in case. Basically, they would teach these dogs to search and find certain smells, climb a latter etc. I know it sounds kind of extreme, but my uncle really found this to be a good bonding exercise for him and his dogs. It's just something to think about. And since these things only happen on weekends maybe once a month, it might be easier to plan for. You might be interested in something like that? I hope you find something Take care.

He is MUCH better than when we first got him, but he still has his moments. Another factor is that it is winter here, so squirrels and the like are not out to distract him. It's definitely a possibility.

That extreme course sounds hilarious (I am picturing my little guy climbin up ladders. ). I like the idea of obedience training in general because it would allow for lots of socialization.

[MadPoet]

Walking is the best way to get your dog exercise, and have fun! My dog always bolts off after squirrels and bunnies in the summer, but it actually makes the walks more fun somehow.

Also, can your dog swim? You obviously couldn't do this in the winter, but in the summer you could get a little baby pool (or a medium sized one!) for your dog to swim around in. I've seen that on a lot of doggy TV shows, like Dog Whisperer. It's supposed to relax your dog too, so that's a plus!

If there's any lakes or dog parks near you, take him to those! Dogs also love open fields where they can run around and just play. xD Dogs are easier to entertain than us humans are, so don't over think it too much. Chances are, whatever you do with your dog, he's going to be thankful.

[Choose]

Originally Posted by NightOfNyx

Walking is the best way to get your dog exercise, and have fun! My dog always bolts off after squirrels and bunnies in the summer, but it actually makes the walks more fun somehow.

Also, can your dog swim? You obviously couldn't do this in the winter, but in the summer you could get a little baby pool (or a medium sized one!) for your dog to swim around in. I've seen that on a lot of doggy TV shows, like Dog Whisperer. It's supposed to relax your dog too, so that's a plus!

If there's any lakes or dog parks near you, take him to those! Dogs also love open fields where they can run around and just play. xD Dogs are easier to entertain than us humans are, so don't over think it too much. Chances are, whatever you do with your dog, he's going to be thankful.

I got him a baby pool last year and he apparently went in for a little bit (my mom was watching him not me), but he mostly just drank the water LMAO.

[TheLittleNinja]

Hey There - I love finding new things to do with my dog =]

Have you thought about agility?? It's a bit like what Melissa said with the ladders and stuff - except you train your dog to do jumps, tunnels, long jumps, tyre jumps, see-saws etc...

I tain agility with my spaniel - it so much fun both you and the dog =]

Also, with your dog being extremely 'ball' and 'play' motivated - this sort of activity could be trained easily - use a throw of the ball as a reward...

Or, have you thought about FlyBall? This is where a dog goes over four jumps, collects a ball that they release from a box, and then come back over the jumps.

Use Google for more info on both agility and flyball.

You could also gundog train your dog, this is where they flush birds out of woods, or pick up shot birds (just the training- not real birds if you don't want to).

OR - Heelwork to music? This is where you combine all your funky tricks to some funk music :]

(Sorry, I'm a bit dog mad, and have lots of things I like to do!!)

Also try Googling things such as 'Disc Dog', 'Earth Dog Trials' (Which are spefically for terriers) and 'Tracking Trials'.

I hope this helps - Have fun with your dog!!!
Also, make sure you have a good recall for all of these sports as the majorty will be done off lead. Agility can initially be trained on the lead though =]

[Nina Twin]

I love to blow bubbles for my dog. He's a toy poodle and he goes crazy catching them and trying to bite them. It's a little variation of a fetching game, I guess, except there are like a million balls to go after. He always has a good time when I blow bubbles for him. Maybe you should try it. (Bubbles are cheap, anyway!)

[TheLittleNinja]

Originally Posted by Nina Twin

I love to blow bubbles for my dog. He's a toy poodle and he goes crazy catching them and trying to bite them. It's a little variation of a fetching game, I guess, except there are like a million balls to go after. He always has a good time when I blow bubbles for him. Maybe you should try it. (Bubbles are cheap, anyway!)

Awwwhh Yea! I know my dog loves it when we get the hose out, and put your thumb over the end and squir shots of water! Or when we used to play with water pistols - they loves catching water droplets in summer!

[Toast]

I was going to suggest agility or flyball, but Claire beat me to it. I do agility with my lab and it's quite fun. You can buy or make your own equipment if you don't want to join a club. Would your dog be well behaved enough to go to an off-leash park? As long as he isn't overly aggressive you can take him to one. You can probably find some in your area online.

I recently tried skijoring with my dog. It's supposed to be where you have a dog(some people do it with horses and snowmobiles) pull you on cross-country skies. It's really fun if you don't mind falling over a lot unless you intend to train your dog very well. The other thing is, even if your dog isn't big enough you can still do this, you just have to help.

I also like biking. If you plan on trying this but your dog isn't trained well enough, you can try a "dog bike leash". http://www.thedogoutdoors.com/ I have the bike leash(not the tow one) and it works really well. My 60lbs. lab cross can't pull me over even with full force. You don't need to buy all that stuff on that site but if you plan to do any biking with your dog you should use a harness.

[rac146]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one here that would suggest agility or flyball - they are great bonding activities for you and your dog and you meet the greatest people too!! Definately look into flyball even if your money is short...my club trained me and my dog for free because he was ball crazy...

Another thing to consider if you have been training him would be to enroll him in AKC's new mixed breed program or the UKC's mixed breed program. You can complete in Obedience, Agility, and Rally Obedience (which is super fun) through both venues.

Rally is like obedience but you follow directions on a sign through a course. its very fun and the first level is on leash. you can google for more info.

Dog events is one of the greatest ways to meet other dog people and have fun with your dog. You can also check out your local dog park if you have one.

Oh, one more thing you mentioned obedience classes...see if you have an actual dog training club in your area. sometimes you can become a member, paying a once a year fee to have discounted classes for the rest of the year....just something to look into lol

[Choose]

Wow, um... was not expecting this many responses! Thank you! I will take a look into all of these suggestions.

I have started playing fetch with my dog off leash more frequently, and he does fine. He is extremely food-motivated, so I always make sure to bring a couple treats. The other day, he and another dog (11 month old female golden) played in a fenced-in area away from home, and they got along pretty well. She was being a little rough with him (and was 2x the size lol), but he stood his ground and they were both happy.

Thank you everyone!

[Stardaze]

Don't have any real advice. Just wanted to say your dog is so cute (:

[Choose]

Originally Posted by Angelina.

Don't have any real advice. Just wanted to say your dog is so cute (:

this is one of my favorite pics:

[Pelios]

Have you tired playing with a laser with him??
My dog goes crazy with the laser he is always trying to catch it and than I point it to the roof and he gets in the sofas and jumps, he is crazy...

[Choose]

Originally Posted by mexico

Have you tired playing with a laser with him??
My dog goes crazy with the laser he is always trying to catch it and than I point it to the roof and he gets in the sofas and jumps, he is crazy...

Yes. The problem is he gets addicted to it lol. If I play with it, for the rest of the day when I reach for something he starts looking around frantically for the little red dot.

When it gets a little warmer out, I'll take him into the yard at night and have him chase it OUTSIDE. That should be good.

[Choose]

I just found out there is a dog park not too far away from my house (15ish miles). It is VERY large, but it is still fenced in. Seems perfect! I gotta get a permit to be in the park though.

[wksbro]

i can tell u. my grand ma had a dog and she played fetch as soon as she got trained halt. as long as it is not at a busy street go for it.

[Horsefeathers.]

Any chance you can take up a sport? Agility, flyball, even Frisbee?

Or, even if you can't, you could just train your dog to do those. Like, teach your dog to jump, or weave, or things like that.