Indoor Game "Go Find"

When the weather gets so bad outside that it's difficult to get your dog the regular exercise they need, it's important to find a way to keep them physically and mentally challenged.  This is a great indoor (or outdoor) game I call "Go Find."

Basically we are teaching our dog to find an object, such as a toy.  To begin this training, your dog will need to have a reliable "Wait," meaning for them to wait in another room while you hide the toy, then you will release them to the room with the hidden toy to "Go Find" it.  If your dog does not have a reliable Wait command, you can have another person hold the dog in the other room until you hide the toy.  When first starting this game, be sure to "hide" the toy in a place that the dog will easily find it.  When they do locate the toy, praise lavishly.  Encourage the dog to bring you the toy and then engage in play with your dog and the toy.  This is a reward for your dog for finding the toy.  Be sure to keep it fun for your dog.

As your dog improves, hide the toy in more and more difficult places to find.  If your dog starts to get confused or lose interest, be sure to take it back a step and make it easier.  If your dog is doing exceptionally well, you may even try and hide the toy in a place the dog will not be able to retrieve it from.  Doing this will encourage the dog to start using their nose to seek out the toy when they can not find it visually.  Once the dog finds the toy that is out of reach, praise, then ask the dog to sit and reward the dog with praise and by giving them the toy they found.  Remember to play some tug of war with the toy as a reward for finding it.

The Flirt Pole

If you have a dog that enjoys chasing things or running, one of the best toys you could get him/ her is a Flirt Pole.
A Flirt Pole is basically a long stick with a string attached at the end of the stick, and a toy attached to the end of the string.  There are many you can buy online, but I recommend going to your local hardware store and making your own.  Be sure to put the toy away when you are not using it WITH your dog.  (Or remove the toy at the end and put the rest of it away.)

Poodle Jump--Dog Apps/ Game

Poodle Jump

iPhone Apps for Dogs/ Dog Game
Updated:  September 8, 2013
FREE


This game is extremely simple and requires very little effort to play.  The goal of the game is to jump your Poodle up the rungs of safety while eating bones and avoiding other dogs along the way.  Simple game, but fun.  This is a game I would highly recommend for smaller children.  The Poodle automatically jumps up the board, all you have to do is tilt the phone back and forth to make him land where you want.  If you land on a bone, you gain points.  If you land on a cat, it springs you quickly further up.  If you land on/ near another dog, your turn is over.

Start screen.

Watch out for those other dogs, they will bite you.

Dog Pairs--Dog Apps/ Game

Dog Pairs

iPhone Apps for Dogs/ Dog Game

Updated:  July 16, 2013

FREE

This game is your basic memory/ matching game, using dog pictures.  The free version of Dog Pairs is a very basic, one board game.  Good for kids maybe, but super boring for the rest of us.

After matching several boards, I was unable to go up in level using only the free version game.  Overall I'd say this game is a waste of time.

Dogs Playing Poker--Dog Apps/ GameGame

iPhone Apps about dogs/ Dog Game
Released:  April 27, 2010
FREE

Dogs Playing Poker

If you enjoy poker, Texas hold-em, and like dogs, you'll love this app.  I enjoy many types of games.  Generally, I'm not super into poker games, but I very much enjoyed this one.

Although being familiar with the game of poker will help, it isn't necessary.  There is a tutorial on this game that explains how Texas hold-em is played, and you are given several hands to practice.

You are given one of the dog players, the free version always starts you with the Dalmatian, and off you go with your game.  Games take place in many places from the pound, to a Chinese kitchen.  The cartoon based game play of the dogs is very pleasing and cute.  It actually makes me think I'm playing with dog characters from some sort of Disney movie.

For an additional fee of only $1.99 you are given the opportunity to play with any of the dog characters and change their name.  I was under the impression you would be able to create your own new dog character with this addition fee, but no such luck.

Overall I'd say that this is a GREAT GAME.  If you enjoy Poker and dogs, you can't really go wrong.  I'd recommend this game to anyone.  It's also quite fun when you win the round and some of the other dogs growl at you because they lost.

Star Hound--Dog Apps/ Game

Star Hound

iPhone Apps for Dogs/ Dog Game

Released:  April 24, 2013

FREE

Star Hound
Run.  Jump.  Swing.  Jet pack!

This game requires two hands to play.  Your left hand presses the jump button on the lower left screen while your right hand prepares to touch buildings to swing from.  Your left button controls both your jump, and jet pack.  Don't forget to save some of your jet pack fuel for emergencies.

Overall I found the game to be a little bit of fun; however it is a fairly easy game that may tend to get a bit boring after awhile.  The goal of your Star Hound is basically just to keep going, but there's no end point to get to.  The occasional new starting point is your only real goal.  Well that, and to have fun.  You keep running, swinging, and jetting along a sky line containing space ships.  Star Hound is able to swing from the space ships, but not land on them.  Be careful not to swing into the clouds or you will have to start over.  There are little refuel packs along the way to refill your fuel bar.

Apparently the aliens have come to take over the city and our last hope is to let Star Hound run along the tops of buildings.  I will admit, the swinging from building to building is fun.

It's a game to pass the time, but will only hold your interest for so long.

Scruffy3D-- Dog Apps/ Game

Scruffy3D

iPhone Apps for Dogs/ Dog Game

Released:  July 1, 2012

FREE

The evil frogmen of Mars have stolen Scruffy's bones.  This run and jump game contains 20 levels of fun including:  secret bone hunts, day and night environments, boat levels, and a showdown with the King martian.

Overall I found the game hard to control.  I suppose that as with anything, more practice would make it easier.  But I find the way the controls work on this game to be slow to respond and somewhat annoying.