It’s been a weird few weeks for everyone in lockdown, with many challenges to face and new routines to work around. Your dog, however, is most likely living the dream at the moment: going on longer walks, having company all day and being the centre of attention – even more than usual! With lockdown set to continue for a few more weeks, now is the perfect time to show your dog how much they really mean to you by trying my 14 Day Happy Dog Challenge: 14 fantastic activities you can do at home to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. These activities are also great if you have kids as it will keep both them and your dog entertained.
All of these ideas are tried and tested; can be performed in the home; are beneficial for you and your dog; and get the ‘paws up’ from my gang. Use my printable schedule to help you keep on track but feel free to switch around days to suit your routine. Plan ahead as you may want to buy in some resources e.g. paw print pad for day 14. Please share your Happy Dog Challenge journey on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter #14dayhappydogchallenge.
14 Day Happy Dog Challenge
Day 1 – Catching Treats
As simple as it sounds. Choose treats that are appropriate for your breed of dog or you could make some of my Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Training Treats, which are the perfect size. Start off at a short distance in front of your dog and keep the treat in your dog’s line of vision as you throw it. If they catch it, give them lots of praise.
Day 2 – Brush Your Dog
If your dog is not used to being brushed, now is the time to get them used to the grooming process. Pick a time when your dog is relaxed and start with the back legs then, when they are comfortable with that, work your way forwards to the head. Use frequent rewards and just do short bursts of brushing. Slowly, build up the amount of time you brush them for.
Day 3 – Make Some Treats
There are lots of recipes to follow on my blog but google ‘homemade dog treats’ and you will find hundreds more. One of the easiest treats to make is Beefy Bites. They only have one ingredient and every dog is sure to love them. This is sure to be your dog’s favourite day of the Happy Dog Challenge.
Day 4 – Play ‘Which Hand?’
Use your treats from the previous day to play a game of ‘which hand?’ with your dog. With your hands behind your back, clench a treat in one fist then bring both of your hands out towards your dog and have them pick which hand it’s in. If they touch the correct hand, open it and give them the treat. If they don’t, show them that there is no treat then put your hands behind your back and start again. The Positively Victoria Stilwell website has lots of ideas for indoor games and links to impulse control training if your dog is struggling to get the hang of this game.
Day 5 – Dog Massage
This won’t just relax your dog physically, but mentally too. It’s a great way to get your dog used to being touched and provides the perfect opportunity to carry out a quick health check. If you’d like to see how a professional does it, look up your local canine massage practitioner (when everyone is allowed to come out to play again) on Association of Merishia Massage Therapists. They can work with your dog to overcome many mobility problems – absolute magic!
Day 6 – Make a Puzzle Toy
There are lots of puzzle toys to buy but there are easy ways to make your own at home too. Look at my 7 ways to exercise your dog indoors blog post for some ideas.
Day 7 – Netflix and Nap
What could be better than snuggling in with your best furry friend and watching a dog-themed movie together? Nothing! You just need to place bets on who will be snoring first.
Check out this Top 20 List of Dog Movies for inspiration – our favourite is Turner and Hooch.
Day 8 – Agility Course
Use furniture, plant pots, canes, kids toys etc. to set up an agility/obstacle course in your house or in the garden. Give your dog something to crawl under, jump over, weave in and out of or even climb through!
Day 9 – Paw Massage
My dogs love getting their feet rubbed and using coconut oil to massage their paw pads makes their feet super smooth. I also rub some on their nose if it looks a bit dry. The great thing about using coconut oil for this is that it doesn’t matter if they try to lick it off as it is safe for dogs to eat.
Day 10 – New Trick Time
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Whether you have a new puppy or a senior adult, teaching new tricks (or revisiting old ones) is a great way to improve your dog’s cognitive function and keep them entertained. Think of how many times you get to praise and reward your dog while teaching tricks! This is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your pooch. Not all dogs are suited to every trick so think about your dog’s breed and work to their strengths. Break down the trick and build up to the finished product. Remember – when you see dog trainers on TV, they’ve broken down commands and repeated them endlessly to achieve the finished product so don’t be disheartened if you think your dog just isn’t getting it; take a break and come back to the trick later. Lots of consistency, repetition and rewards are needed to make this a fun experience for you and your dog.
Bertie: down 
Bertie: down 
Archie: sit and paw
Day 11 – Photo Shoot
Your dog may like dressing up and posing or prefer taking part in action shots. Whatever their preference, let them be the focus of your attention – make some memories that you can treasure forever because we all no our dogs are never here long enough.
Day 12 – Bones
Chewing on bones can provide mental stimulation for your dog and can help keep their teeth clean and healthy. However, you need to make sure that the bones you choose are safe for your pooches. Never feed cooked bones and choose a bone that is roughly the same size as your dog’s head to prevent them from trying to swallow the bone whole. Dogs should always be supervised when chewing bones and toys. Check out PetMD for more information regarding the feeding of bones.
Day 13 – Make a TikTok
TikTok has taken off big style recently and every celebrity under the sun seems to be getting in on the action. There are some great animal-themed videos being made and shared so let your dog be the star of the show for 15 seconds. Check our Robby and Penny’s Top Tips for making a viral TikTok video.
Day 14 – Paw Print Memories
In years to come, when your precious dog is just a treasured memory to you and your family, you will be grateful that you did this activity. You can order Paw Print packs online or you can easily make salt dough at home and make a paw impression. I made mine into Christmas tree decorations and I love when we get them out of the attic every year.
