A dog is more than just your pet. He is a friend one can always count on when things go wrong and no one seems to care. Having a dog for a pet is not just about feeding it and giving it a good home. It also takes maintenance to keep that dog strong and fit.



Spending time with man’s best friend further deepens the relationship one has with a pet. It tells the dog that the owner loves being with him. And by either playing or working together; it strengthens the communication, understanding and respect between man and animal.

There are many ways to teach a dog discipline and new tricks and by teaching it through games instead of the normal routine. With a little imagination thrown in, it can both be fun for the dog and the owner.

One game you can use for training your dog is called follow the leader. This activity consists of a group of owners and their dogs. By placing objects such as cones or cans on the ground and making the group go around these objects, the dog will learn to follow when it is called. Further strengthening the activity could be accomplished by switching who the leader is and doing the entire process all over again.

Another game you can use is hide and seek. Children play this game with other children all the time, but by teaching the dog to stay in one place then have the dog search for the person when the dog’s name is called, it teaches the dog discipline and will make the dog learn to wait until being called.

One can modify this game by hiding a treat in a certain area and have the dog look for it. The animal will learn to use its keen sense of smell to search for things and be rewarded for it.

Waking up in the morning and taking the dog out for a jog is another good opportunity to spend time together. This gives both the owner and pet a good exercise, keeping both physically active and in shape. Dogs like to play often and by changing the game with a little twist like catching the Frisbee or fetching the stick; it not only strengthens the limbs but also involves some thinking on the part of the dog to successfully catch the object.

Spending quality time with ones dog through a variety of activities is fun. It gives the animal an opportunity to learn good manners, making it easier to live with and allows the owner to enjoy how wonderful the experience of dog ownership can be.