Simple DIY Dog Game with Items in Your Garage & Pantry

Horses are my first love but dogs are a close second. Recently I began following a number of other pet bloggers (mostly dog, but some cats) on social media. I stopped in my tracks when I saw this clever idea on a blog called Golden Woofs  featuring Sugar the Golden Retriever. (You should really read Sugar’s post and take a gander at the video).

It has been rainy and my dogs have been bored this last week. So it was a perfect time to try it out. “I have tennis balls and a cupcake pan and dog treats! I could do that!”

Can you tell which tennis ball is hiding the treat?

I ran to the garage and opened 4 cans of tennis balls. It was one of those moments I was actually thankful we buy in bulk from Costco.

I snatched a cupcake pan from the pantry (the one that looked the oldest of the three I own) and grabbed a Charlee Bear treat and I was ready to start the fun.

So all you have to do is simply place a treat under one of the tennis balls in the cupcake pan and then make your dog sit nicely and present him or her with the tray o’ glorious tennis balls. The dog, or in my case–dogs, will do the rest.

And the tennis ball game champion is. . .

Both dogs eagerly approached the pan the instant I set it down. Missie my Dobie quickly snatched up a tennis ball and her stubby tail began wagging like a metronome and she took several strides as a victory pass. Tigger kept sniffing the tennis balls which signaled to Missie to come back and smell them again.

At one point she gave Tigger the glare and he backed away from the game as she pawed at the pan and then eventually snapped up the correct tennis ball and grabbed the treat. All the while Tigger watched.

I gave him a treat for being a good sport and then we played a few more rounds. I acted as referee and placed a few more treats under the tennis balls so both dogs would have fun.

If it’s a rainy day, too cold for a dog walk (thinking of my friends in Chicago), or your dog needs some mental stimulation but you’re too tired to engage in a game of hide and seek with you, this simple DIY dog game will not disappoint.

I told my husband my new goal is to get the dogs to pick up the tennis balls and put them back into the cupcake slots. He’s not optimistic this will ever occur. We’ll see.

Thanks for reading and see you next time. 🙂

Your Turn: What clever dog games does your pup (or pups) love? 

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