Fun Activities to Do with Your Labrador Retriever

Fetch

It probably comes as no surprise that Labrador Retrievers love retrieving. What better way to do this than with a game of fetch? This activity is inexpensive, lets your Lab get plenty of exercise, and is an excellent opportunity to work on commands. Fetch can be played anywhere and with practically anything. Labs areenthralled by the opportunity to retrieve a stick, ball, or whatever you can find. Make sure to work on commands like “drop it,” “stay,” and “come.” If you want to up the ante, fetch can be combined with object association. Throw multiple toys or objects and ask your Lab to retrieve a certain one.

Tug-of-war

Tug-of-war is a classic game that dogs adore. It also is a great teaching moment as it prevents the buildup of possessive behavior. Labs enjoy it because it’s a collaborative game based on their natural instincts. It’s also a great teaching game to prevent aggressive behavior, and you will need to teach your Lab to drop the rope on command.

Agility Training

Agility training is something that Labs excel in. You can build an agility training course with just about anything or go to a dog park. Agility training is excellent for Labs because it’s not only great exercise but also stimulates their minds. You will have to work with your dog to help them conquer the obstacles in front of them. This is a great bonding activity. In addition, Labs are eager to please and are working dogs. They enjoy having tasks and challenges, and agility trials are a great way to provide them with both.

Tricks

If your Lab has already mastered their basic commands, don’t stop their training. Instead, one of the best mentally stimulating pursuit in this list of Labrador Retriever activities is to move on to teaching them cool tricks. These tricks don’t have to be complicated. They can be a simple handshake. On the other hand, you can get as creative as you like, such as having them fetch a drink from the fridge. Again, Labs are working dogs, and teaching them new tricks keeps their mind engaged.

Find the Treat

This game is one of the more challenging Labrador Retrieveractivities on this list. “Find the Treat” consists of hiding treats around the house or yard and let your Lab find them. Essentially, this game helps your Lab test their sense of smell as they try to differentiate between the scent of the treat and everything else around them. It may be difficult at first as they can be easily distracted by all the other smells around them. This game is a challenge that a Lab will enjoy.

IQ or Interactive Toys

IQ toys are a great way to keep your Lab not only entertained but also mentally engaged. There’s a whole myriad of toys that can be bought online. The concept behind these toys is to challenge your dog to get the treats out of the toy. If you’d like to test your dog in a DIY way, roll up a towel and sporadically place treats within it. Your dog will have to unroll the towel to find the treats.

Chew Toys

Labs are notorious chewers. Providing them with a good chew toy is not only crucial for their oral health, but it is incredibly entertaining to them. Although this may sound simple, don’t underestimate the power of giving your Lab a good bone or Kong filled with peanut butter.

Hiking

Hikes are a great way for both you and your Lab to enjoy the great outdoors. Not only will your Lab get the exercise they need, but they are also being exposed to a variety of scents and sounds. Remember to prepare for longer hikes and bring water (and perhaps food) for longer adventures.

Swimming/Dock-diving

One of the favorite Labrador Retriever activities is swimming. Labrador Retrievers were bred as waterdogs, and their webbed feet and otter-like tail account for that. Throwing things into the water and having them retrieve it is a great way to engage with your dog in the water. You can also throw things off a dock and have them dive into the water for even more fun.

This list of fun activities to do with your Labrador Retriever isby no means an exhaustive list of all the things you can do with your Lab. There are a whole plethora of other ventures to explore. Remember, Labs love a good challenge and are always up to try something new.

Sources

Labrador Training HQ, “Unleashing Energy: 10 Great Games to Play With Your Lab.”

Wag!, “Activities For Labrador Retrievers.”

Rover, “11 Things Only Labrador Owners Understand.”

Walkthepets, “7 Best Games To Play With Your Labrador Indoors Or Outdoors.”

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