How to play noughts and crosses with your dog.
This is a simple game you can play at home using a piece of paper, pen and some kibble. Follow our steps below and watch the video to see our Family Dog Instructor Sarah play it with her dog Willow.
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- A piece of white paper and a pen to draw lines on to create 9 squares.
- Get a variety of treats that your dog likes and place them in the squares.
- Get your play partner into a sitting position near the game.
- Get them to pick up 1 treat (if you can) and mark a O or X in the square. Whichever symbol you decide they are going to be.
- Then it’s your turn. Give the treat to your dog for sitting and waiting so patiently.
- Continue this until all treats are gone and one of you has won the game by getting 3 symbols in a row.
This game is great for your dog in helping them with self-control, patience and using the continuous training of sit, wait or stay and take.
Most importantly, enjoy and have fun together.
We’ve put together some brain games and enrichment ideas for dogs during the coronavirus lockdown period to help keep your dogs happy.
Enrichment is described as giving animals’ mental stimulation that allows them to perform natural behaviours, permits them to be more active and increases the control over their environment. Enrichment helps satisfy both the physical and psychological needs of animals and allows them to make choices and encourages them to use their brain to solve puzzles and problems. This can increase their overall happiness and satisfaction, whilst reducing boredom, anxiety and physical and psychological energy.
See all of our good ideas for lockdown.