8 Confidence-Building Games for Dogs: Vet-Approved Activities – Dogster

Top 8 Confidence-Building Games for Dogs

1. Positive-Reinforcement Training Games

Training your dog is one of the best things you can do to help boost their confidence. Playing and learning come naturally to canines, so having lots of positive interactions and playing with your dog can strengthen the bond between you.

This, in turn, will empower your pup to use those skills when interacting with the world around them. Training them with easy-to-learn tricks like a high-five or spin is a great way to boost confidence. Each time they get it right, they’ll feel good, and positive reinforcement from you will further amplify this effect!

2. Fetch

Fetch is a classic game played by dogs everywhere and is something that comes very naturally to most of them. Interactive and rewarding games like fetch will strengthen the bond between you and can be a great confidence booster.

Rewarding your dog and praising them for bringing back their “prey” will boost their mood and help them feel accomplished by catching and retrieving it. Remember that some dogs like to fetch toys more than others, so discovering your pup’s “toy drive” will give them an extra rewarding experience.

3. Nose Work (Find the Treat)

Nose work games like “find the treat” are a great way to get your dog moving and boost their confidence. Not only will they get to flex and hone sniffing skills that come naturally to them, but the mental stimulation and physical exercise they’ll get will also keep them happy and calm. Working together means you’ll build on the bond between you, and you can offer verbal praise (alongside the treats they find) to help them feel great!

A game of hide the treat can be as simple or as complex as you want and involves hiding a treat in a room your dog is not in (such as behind or underneath something) and allowing them to sniff it out. You can start easy by allowing them to see you placing the treats, and you can progress from there at your pup’s pace.

4. Touch-Training Games

Touch-training games teach your dog to follow your command and hit their nose against a target, usually your hand or another object. This game is a great way to boost your dog’s confidence in various situations, as it improves focus and reduces their vigilance toward distractions.

It also helps them feel less nervous about approaching hands, which is invaluable when teaching them to be confident around strangers! Touch training is easy to start: Simply hold a treat in your hand and allow your dog to sniff it. As soon as they touch your hand, give them the treat! Repeat this (with or without a clicker), and you can begin introducing the “touch” command.

5. Free-Shaping Games

Free shaping is a training and confidence-building technique that enables your dog to interact with their environment and learn new skills without worrying about being wrong. Free shaping encourages your dog to be bold and explore, and you can shape their behavior in a series of smaller steps.

This ultimately leads to a rewarding and confidence-boosting experience for your pup and a better-behaved dog for you! An example of this would be training your dog to go underneath an object. You’ll give them a treat when they perform a desired behavior, such as sitting or lying next to the object and ignoring any other behavior.

6. Playing games that boost confidence in your dog is a fantastic way to ensure they feel more secure and assertive. One such game is using a walkie-talkie, which helps keep your dog tuned in to you, especially if they are lacking in confidence. This constant communication also helps build their confidence over time. Training collars with walkie-talkie features allow you to communicate with your dog while they are off-leash, giving them the freedom to explore while staying connected to you.

Another game to help build your dog’s confidence is exploring their environment without fear of reprimand. You can introduce them to new objects like boxes, toys, or paper, encouraging them to investigate and rewarding their curiosity. By being present and supportive during these explorations, you can boost their bravery and sense of security.

The engage/disengage game is another valuable tool for building confidence in dogs. This game teaches dogs to focus on you when faced with triggers, helping reduce stress and reactivity. Similar to mindfulness practice, this game allows dogs to self-interrupt and shift their focus, ultimately giving them the skills to handle different situations with confidence.

Confident dogs exhibit assertive body language, such as holding their tail high, making eye contact, and displaying a happy expression. They may also approach new people or animals without fear, showing their confidence and ease in social situations.

By playing these confidence-building games with your dog, you can help them navigate the world with a more positive outlook and handle challenging situations with calmness. These games also provide excellent bonding opportunities for you and your furry friend, so experiment with different games to find what works best for you both. text in a simpler form:

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