Holiday Themed Dog Games & Fun

10 Super Fun Halloween Dog Games, Challenges, Treats, & Tips

Games & Toys:

Whether you are planning a Halloween party for you and your doggy friends, or you just want to get into the spirit of this holiday, here are five fun dog games and food challenges that are certain to get your dog’s attention (even if they have to wear that stupid costume that we insist on putting them in because they are just oh-so-cute)!

1. Bobbing for Bones. Or hot dogs. Or tennis balls. Or a stick. Or whatever. If your name is Max, anything will do! Check out this fun YouTube video of Max playing this game in the living room – and then later at the lake:

 2. Hide-and-go-Treat. This is a great game to play any time of the year, but playing it when you (and your dog?!) are in costume may have an added entertainment factor! Simply take some of your dog’s favorite treats (there are some recipes for how to make some of our Halloween themed doggy favorites below) and hide them all over your living room, and then challenge your dog to “Go find your treats!” Once your dog gets really good at this game, you can further challenge him or her to discover hidden treats in more rooms and eventually, your whole house! If you do this, however, ensure that the treats you are using are not perishable, just in case your dog’s super sniffer manages to somehow miss one of them…

 3. Make a Halloween-themed agility course (which your dog will have – get to? – to do in costume…) This dog game takes a little more work and effort, but if you are having a Doggy Halloween party it may be a party favorite and well worth the effort! If you don’t have special agility equipment to use, you can incorporate chairs, old towels, blankets, pillows, and sheets to create tunnels and other obstacles in a large area or in your back yard. If you have other doggy guests, you may want to time each dog and their people to see which guest is the quickest – with the dog with the fastest time invited first to enjoy his doggy Halloween treats!

 4. Pumpkin Food Challenge. Give your dog mental stimulation, some exercise, and a tail wag this Halloween! This is a super easy and fun little food challenge that you can either make for your own dogs, make and give out as part of doggy treat bags if you are hosting a Doggy Halloween Party, or have the materials on hand for your guests to make at the party, custom-designed for their own dogs. Check out the video for how to make this pumpkin food challenge here:

And if your dog loved that one, check out how to make a similar Ghost Treat Challenge here:

 5. Squeaky Snake Treat Toy. Finally, this is a great Halloween-themed squeaker toy, and it also has the added bonus of becoming a food challenge to give your pup some mental stimulation and exercise! This food challenge can also be included in doggy treat bags or used as an activity for your invited guests to create. Check out a video for how to make these here:

To discover OVER 50 awesome dog games and food challenges just like these, visit this page:

http://www.DogGamesAtHome.com/products/

Treats:

There are so many great doggy recipes out there for special Halloween treats! Here are some of Tango and Sparky’s favourites:

6.  Check out the site below to learn how to make Maple-Pumpkin Cookies & Liver Brownies for your dog:

 http://www.dogbirthdaysandparties.com/doghalloweentreats.htm

 7. Tango and Sparky also LOVE their Halloween Doggy Smoothie:

These costumes only lasted about 5 minutes :-)

Ingredients:

-          ½ cup plain low-fat yogurt

-          A splash of apple juice

-          A dollop of canned pumpkin

-          ½ a banana

-           A handful of carob chips (NOT chocolate!)

Directions:

Simply place all of the ingredients in your blender and blend. Then serve in small bowls or freeze the mixture in ice-cube trays to be enjoyed later as doggy pupsicles!

Tips:

Halloween can be a lot of fun for everyone, including our furry friends, if we take the proper precautions to ensure their safety.

 8.  Check out these 10 tips before you purchase a Halloween costume for your dog:

http://www.dogbirthdaysandparties.com/doghalloweencostumes.htm

9.  Check out these great Doggy Halloween party planning ideas:

 http://www.ehow.com/how_2093131_host-dog-halloween-party.html

 10.  And follow these safety tips to ensure a great time for everyone on Halloween night:

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HalloweenSafetyTipsforPetOwners.php

 Finally, to show that your house is home to pet-lovers on Halloween night, you might want to consider carving your dog’s silhouette into your pumpkin this year and placing it outside your door; a simple and fun way to celebrate your pet. Happy Howl-Free Halloween!