Hiking Helper: Engagement Games for Your Dog on the Trail

Practicing games while trail-hiking can be a great way to stay engaged with your pal. Photo by Liz WIlliams

The number one question I’m asked when I tell people about the High Tail Hikes off-leash group hikes is: “How do you make sure the dogs don’t run away?” 

The short answer is that we spend a ton of time working on recall. But the other answer is that we work a lot on engagement - finding fun ways for the dogs to want to be around us. 

Let’s face it, hiking offers lots of distractions for a curious canine - wildlife, puddles, gross things to roll in, other trail users, dogs, bikes, horses, and more, not to mention potential safety hazards. So it’s not only crucial to build a solid recall, but equally important to work on engagement so that your dog learns that it’s fun and rewarding to stay near you. 

Here are five simple engagement games to mix into your outings with your dog. Remember, when working on new skills, it’s best to start in a low distraction environment (like home) and gradually build up the level of outside distractions. When out on the trail, make sure you always have plenty of tasty treats to reinforce your dog - and don’t forget to have fun!

Touch (Hand Target)

Targeting is a great foundational skill. The goal here is to have your dog “touch” or target the palm of your hand with their nose. To teach a hand target, present your open palm in front of, or slightly to the side of, your dog’s nose, about a foot away. When your dog approaches to investigate, whether or not they actually touch your hand with their nose, mark that behavior with a “Yes” and give your dog a treat. Take your hand away for a few seconds, then present it again. Once your dog begins to consistently target your hand, you can add in the verbal cue “Touch.” Keep practicing, increasing the distance and the level of distractions. While out hiking, hand targeting can help guide your dog away from a distraction, or it can be a fun way to finish a recall to ensure that your dog comes all the way back to you. 

Photo by Liz WIlliams

Up

“Up” is a skill that can help build confidence and body awareness, while giving your dog an alternative to approaching or focusing on other dogs. The idea is for your dog to jump up on a tree stump, rock, bench, or any raised surface. Start with small approximations - encouraging your dog to put their front paws up on a small raised surface - and work up from there. If your dog seems nervous or hesitant, don’t push it. Just keep finding little objects to practice on, and keep it fun. Over time, with practice, your dog may eagerly look for objects to jump up on while hiking! 

Find It

“Find It” is a super simple game that dogs love. Start by just tossing a treat on the ground a few feet away from your dog. After they “find” it, toss another one close by. Repeat until they get the idea, then you can add in the cue “Find It.” As you practice, toss the treats a bit farther away, or scatter a few treats at once for your dog to sniff out. Sniffing is very calming for dogs and it can also improve their mood. At High Tail, we’ll often scatter a few treats to help the dogs settle down after a big play session, or play “Find It” with some of the pups while the others play. 

Catch 

This is another simple game - have your dog catch a treat in his mouth! It’s more fun than just delivering a treat from your hand, and it requires your dog to focus on you. Start by holding your hand just slightly above the dog’s nose, encouraging him to lift his snout slightly, and dropping the treat straight into his mouth. As he gets the hang of it, move your hand a bit higher, adding the cue “Catch.” Some dogs get really good at this game, especially the food-motivated ones.

Hide and Seek 

This is a recall game where you make it a little bit challenging for your dog to find you. Puppies and adolescent dogs love this one. To start out, while hiking, simply change direction and wait for your dog to notice and follow you. Then praise and reinforce your dog for “finding” you. You can gradually make the game harder by hiding behind a tree or a bush and then calling your dog. But don’t make it too hard or create frustration - the idea is for your dog to enjoy searching you out. 

These simple games will liven up any hike with your dog, while making sure he or she stays with you on your adventures. Wishing you many happy trails together!