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Training Games! Have you used them?
Hi there! I’m new here 🙂 It’s my 1st post so nice to chat with everyone 🙂
I’m trying to come up with a group class that includes training games for basic obedience 6 months and older. I just bought Terry Ryan’s “Gamify Your Dog Training” but I’d like to know what other trainers have used in their classes or private lessons. I will have 6 dogs hopefully in the class. Affordable and creative games are a plus! Thanks for reading!
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22 Replies
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Welcome @jazzy and great question! I’m sure you’ll get some good responses but check out this post for some instant ideas: https://mycatchcampus.com/forums/discussion/awesome-training-books/
Our search feature is awesome for finding nuggets like this! ????????
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Hi David,
I just ordered the book you recommended on training games/ manners. I can’t wait to try the games out on some of the rescue dogs I work with as well as my own dog Archie!
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Fab, @suzie , I’m so glad you are tapping into the resources here.
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Thank you, will do! I’m excited to start this class and to see the responses.
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Hi Jasmine – what a fun first post. I love chatting about games. You’re off to a great start with Terry Ryan’s book – she has tons. Here’s another discussion @K9Ashley started last week on this topic, for a few more ideas.
I love to set pet owners up for success with games so in a 1st time manners class, I like to keep it simple. Usually I make up a game that has to do with what they’ve learned a week or more ago, so they will have had time to practice. It may be as simple as: (Name Game) – Raise your arm when your dog looks at YOU, after you say their name – and then I go into the middle of the room with a bouncing ball or squeaky toy (which I only use once or twice so everyone has a chance to put up their arm.)
If we are working on Go to place – I might challenge them to see how far away they can send their dogs to the mat (providing everyone is a calm class dog and not barking at each other!)
If we are working on recalls, I’ll set up a chute of low-value distractions set 10′ apart (at first) and I’ll hold the dog while they go to the other end and call them through the chute. Everyone in class cheers when they succeed.
I don’t like games where only one person wins, unless it’s in an advanced class where people know each other. For some folks, competition is a punishment.
I hope you have fun and share ideas that work for you!
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Thank you so much. I definitely don’t want the students to feel like it is a competition or punishment for “losing” and that was never the intention for the class. And I agree the first class is mostly an introduction to basic behavior as I have to read the students and their dogs in the beginning. I appreciate all the advice though, this is great feedback!
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@jazzy We’re happy to help. I hope you have a great time with teaching games. Please do come back and let us know what’s working in your class – what they enjoyed, etc. We are here to learn from each other. Keep posting your questions, too! This is what our community is all about. Thanks!
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Hi Jasmine!
These ideas are great!
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Hi!
I love playing games while training. I have one dog who is totally play/toy oriented and couldn’t care less about treats. ???? I also encourage owners in basic manners class to use rewards other than food at least three times a day and share with the class what their dog liked most.
In class I often start with Simon Says, just like the children’s game, but practicing behaviors we’ve worked on. I’ll put out cut-up yoga mats and call them pools of lava, asking owners to weave their dogs through in a heel position and not step in the lava. I use the same mats to play musical chairs. I just try to keep everything light hearted and fun.
And I love your question! I’ve been brainstorming contests to incorporate into a Field Day type of workshop.
Have fun!
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@becky12 – LAVA! sounds really fun. And I’d love to know more about your field day contest… are you planning an event for this, separate from your classes? Is this community-wide or only your clients? What games are you thinking? I have so many questions. ????
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So fun!
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I also encourage owners in basic manners class to use rewards other than food at least three times a day and share with the class what their dog liked most. – Becky W.
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Love this!!
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I just wanted to say I finished my 6-week beginner obedience group class last night and it was wonderful! I received a ton of positive feedback and students wanted to see if I would do another class!
We did foundation behaviors focusing on attention cues (Kissy, touch) and included games like Simon Says, Ring Around the Trainer, I Spy, Red Light, Green Light, Roll the Dice, Find it smell game, and leave it with plates of kibble. I talked about easy to make enrichment and they all received homemade rope/tug toys (I told them how to make their own).
Not bad for my first class! ???? I want to work on a puppy and intermediate obedience class next. It was a fun experience and looking forward to more!
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Jasmine! How awesome is this! Thanks for the update. What a wonderful feeling you must have – HUGE congrats on your great class!
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Congrats @Jazzy ! Thanks for sharing your accomplishment with us, this is so cool, sounds like you ran a very fun class. ????????
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Greetings ,
That is excciting to hear others pursue games with the pack. My group has been inventing our own group games. Here is the name game, where others must stay seated while only the named pup is called. The winners are the pups who hold their place and the pup who responds to her/his name. I will see if I cvan get a copy of your book, We are shaping a new game called “Hoop” where I toss a hula hoop on the ground and the first pup to sit inside it gets the treat.
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@dot – this is PAWSOME! What a lovely group of pups and a very functional discrimination game! We’d love to see video of this in action if you can swing it! ????
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Everybody won this round of the name game, because they all know who the Princess is!
0:09
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That is one super-cute pup, @dot !!
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Love it!
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Princess is PERFECT!! OMD – love this video!
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