There’s something magical about the bond between a child and their dog. It’s full of giggles, tail wags, and muddy footprints across the living room floor. But beyond the chaos, there’s also a real opportunity for kids to learn responsibility, patience, and empathy—especially when they’re involved in training. The secret? Make it a game.
Here are six fun and easy games that help children learn how to train their furry best friend without making it feel like work.
1. Red Light, Green Light
This classic game teaches impulse control—not just for kids, but for dogs too.
How it works: Your child calls out “green light” to encourage the dog to walk or run toward them. When they say “red light,” the dog must sit or stay still. Start with your dog on a leash and plenty of treats in hand. It helps reinforce basic commands like “come,” “sit,” and “stay” in a fun and engaging way.
Why it works: It teaches dogs to listen closely, and helps children practice consistency with commands and body language.
2. Treat Hide and Seek
Let your child hide treats around the house or yard, and watch your pup go searching. You can even start with simple hiding spots and increase the difficulty over time.
Encourage your child to use the cue word “find it” each time the game begins. Soon, the dog will associate the phrase with the act of searching, sharpening their focus and sniffing skills.
Why it works: Dogs love to sniff and explore, and this taps into their natural instincts while teaching recall and reward-based behavior.
3. Obstacle Course Challenge
Turn your living room, backyard, or hallway into a fun training arena. Use pillows, chairs, or broomsticks to create jumps, tunnels, and zig-zag paths. Ask your child to guide the dog through the course using commands like “over,” “through,” and “around.”
Make sure each completed step earns a reward or lots of praise.
Why it works: It builds confidence in dogs and teaches kids how to break tasks down into smaller steps—a key part of training.
4. Paw Target Game
This game involves teaching your dog to touch a small object (like a plastic lid or sticky note) with their paw. Kids love this one because it feels like magic when the dog “boops” the target on cue.
Let your child place the target on the ground and say “touch” every time the dog interacts with it. Don’t forget the treats!
Why it works: It encourages coordination and strengthens your dog’s ability to follow a specific, focused command.
5. The Name Game
Here’s a game that sharpens both memory and obedience. Have your child gather some of the dog’s favorite toys and give each one a name. Then, take turns asking the dog to “get bunny” or “bring ball.”
Start with two toys and add more as your dog learns.
Why it works: This reinforces word recognition, and gives kids a fun way to feel like they’re teaching something important.
6. Follow the Leader
In this game, your child becomes the leader of the pack. Let them walk around the yard or room slowly, encouraging the dog to follow with treats and praise. They can add commands like “sit” or “spin” as part of the walk.
Let your child decide the pace and direction while encouraging gentle control and rewards.
Why it works: It builds trust and responsiveness, while helping kids understand how their tone and movements affect their dog’s behavior.
Training doesn’t have to be serious to be successful. When kids are having fun, they’re more likely to stick with it—and so is your dog. These games not only improve your pup’s skills, but also help create a lifelong bond built on laughter, learning, and lots of tail wags.
