Playing Addictive Dog Games

Ball Game: The dimension of a football court, a dog enthusiastic about the sport and an owner that can do long shots, is the best conditions to play distance games.

With long shots you exercise the dog's reaction, the ability of leaping forth in a sprint and his resistance, on a condition that the dog will obey your commands of <com!> and <fetch!>. Big balls filled with air are appropriate for some games: passing the ball back and forth between 2 people and see if the dog can take it away, tug a war with it, both of them struggling for the ball.

Frisbee: Its amazing the skill dogs can obtain to catch a flying disk. Only use disks which aren't damaged (no cracks, broken pieces, sharp edges). Light disks with light edges are preferable. First practice the throwing technique with out your dog, to avoid hurting not only him but any other person in your way through defective throwing.

Jumping: The dog will go practicing his ability of jumping little by little with thicker logs each time. Help him in the beginning with the leash and take him to jump thin logs.

Swimming: Never throw your dog in the water or drag him in! Play with him near the shore, go throwing objects around and making him fetch them, and little by little let a couple drop in the water each time deeper in. Get in the water with him if necessary. Watch out for strong currents and whirlpools.

Dogs shake themselves out when they get out of the water. Make sure that your dog doesn't shake off on other people. Races that aren't really made out for swimming (in part cause of respiration problem): bulldog, hounds, teckel. Some dogs get on a boat with their owner and some even will accompany their owner on a surf board. And some just like playing with the Frisbee or ball in the beach. Try not to keep your dog too long in the beach (offer him a place where he can rest in he shade).

Jogging. General Norms: The dog will have his leash on at all times (without being tense, hanging) and will walk in pace with his partner. Start off with small routes (2 km max) at a slow pace and slowly go speeding up. 5 km routes are reserved for the real sport dogs. Always try to choose paths with a soft ground. Don't any long routes if it's too hot or it's snowing and floor is frozen. Greyhounds are pursuit dogs so they have to always be on a leash when out.

Biking: Only for dogs that don't have a hunting instinct, passed the basic training, and will stay running next to the bicycle. Never tie leash to the bicycle handle.

Attention: Branches and twigs are not throwing objects. If a dog bites on a branch the wrong way the consequences could be disastrous: injuries near the head, throat and neck. The training of dogs racing beside a car is completely prohibited for obvious reasons. .