5 Holiday Activities to Strengthen Your Dog’s Obedience

The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends, and, of course, our dogs. Amid the festive lights, family gatherings, and celebratory meals, you can incorporate fun activities that strengthen your dog’s obedience, reinforce training commands, and help desensitize your dog to different holiday decorations. These activities help keep your dog engaged and serve as beneficial training sessions disguised as holiday fun. Here are five festive ways to enhance your dog’s obedience during the holiday season, making it a memorable time for both of you.

Activity 1: Holiday Obstacle Course

How It Helps with Obedience

An obstacle course allows your dog to practice commands like “Sit,” “Come,” and more in a dynamic and engaging setting. Navigating through obstacles helps your dog build focus and reinforces their ability to follow directions amid distractions. It’s a fantastic way to practice obedience while engaging your dog’s mind and body, reinforcing impulse control, patience, and recall.

How to Set It Up

To create a holiday-themed obstacle course, use household items or holiday decorations that are safe for dogs. Here are some simple ideas:

• Weave Poles: Stand wrapping paper rolls or tall decorations up for your dog to weave through. Consider placing small stakes in the ground so you can set the wrapping paper rolls on top of them, decreasing the chance your dog knocks them over with a wagging tail.
  • Make sure your weave poles are at least 2 feet apart from each other. 
  • Put your dog in a “Sit” at the beginning of the weave pole course.
  • While your dog is in a sit, place yourself in front of your dog and have some treats ready. 
  • Release your dog from the sit and offer them a treat. 
  • Then begin luring them with a second treat through the weave poles. 
  • In the beginning, you may need to reward your dog for each pass or weave through the wrapping paper rolls. 
  • As your dog gets better at weaving through the poles, begin to intermittently reward your dog at different points in the weave pole course. 
• Tunnel: Drape a blanket over a couple of chairs to create a tunnel for your dog to crawl through.
  • In the beginning, make the tunnel very short.
  • Avoid adding turns in your tunnel until your dog has had lots of practice. 
  • Ask your dog to sit on one side of the tunnel. 
  • While your dog is sitting, go stand on the other side of the tunnel.
  • Put a treat in your hand and extend your arm through the tunnel so that your dog can see it inside the tunnel. 
  • Release your dog from its “Sit” so that it moves into the tunnel toward the treat in your hand. If it seems very excited, continue to lure it through the tunnel until it is on the other side, and then reward it with the treat. If it seems hesitant, reward it for leaning towards the tunnel or sticking its head inside at first. 
• Hurdles: Create a makeshift Hurdle for your pup to jump over using soft gift boxes or bags.
  • Place a line of gift boxes or bags closely together. 
  • In the beginning the height of the hurdle should be below their chest, or even lower if your dog is struggling to jump.
  • It sometimes can help to place these boxes or bags in a doorway or hallway. 
  • Ask your dog to sit on one side of the hurdle, at least 5 feet away so that your dog can build some momentum. 
  • Step over the hurdle and then get a treat ready in your hand. 
  • Ask your dog to come. Your dog should begin moving towards you to get the treat. Your dog should be able to easily step over the obstacle and receive the treat. 
  • As they improve, increase the height of the obstacle.
  • You can also practice standing on the same side of the obstacle as your dog, tossing a treat over the hurdle, and then releasing your dog so they can jump over the hurdle to access the treat.  

Start with a sequence like “Sit” before a jump, “Stay” before entering the tunnel, and “Come” as they finish. Use treats or toys to encourage your dog through each step, rewarding them at each successful completion. As your dog gets the hang of it, you can mix up the obstacles for a fun and varied challenge.

Activity 2: Hide and Seek with Holiday Treats

How It Helps with Place and Mental Stimulation

Playing hide and seek with treats engages your dog’s natural hunting instincts while helping them focus and work impulse control. This activity teaches them to rely on their sense of smell and helps to develop a strong place command. By introducing holiday-themed treats, you’re creating an extra layer of excitement.

How to Play

1. Choose a Treat: Select a holiday-themed treat or a small portion of your dog’s favorite snack.
2. Show the Treat: Let your dog see and sniff the treat, getting them excited to play.
3. Place Your Dog: Ask your dog to “Place” on an elevated dog bed or training cot.  
4. Hide the Treat: While your dog waits, hide the treat somewhere within reach but slightly challenging, such as behind a chair or under the edge of a rug.
5. Give the Command: Release your dog with the command “Find it!” and encourage them to search.

As they start to understand the game, increase the difficulty by expanding the hiding area. For dogs who are new to hide and seek, start with treats in easier locations and gradually make it more challenging. This game helps reinforce their place command, as they learn to wait to start the game, while maintaining their focus on finding the reward.

Activity 3: Holiday Costume Training

How It Helps with Calm Behavior

Introducing your dog to holiday costumes or accessories can help them stay calm and comfortable in new situations. This training is also a valuable way to desensitize your dog to wearing items, making it easier for them to adapt to wearing a harness, collar, or even protective boots in other contexts.

How to Train for Costumes

1. Start Small: Begin with simple items, like a festive bandana or holiday hat, to gauge your dog’s reaction.
2. Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward your dog immediately with treats and praise each time they show calm behavior while near the item. Your dog can sniff the item but is not allowed to bite or chew on these items. 
3. Gradual Introduction: If your dog seems comfortable, begin placing the object gently on your dogs body while rewarding them with treats and praise. As they y gain more confidence around the item, you can begin slowly putting the costume on them, but always watch for signs of stress. If your dog becomes very stressed and uncomfortable, move back to gentle touches with the item, or just simply having your dog be calm near the item. 
4. Keep Sessions Short: Practice in short, manageable sessions, especially if your dog isn’t accustomed to wearing accessories.

If your dog seems uncomfortable, avoid pushing them, as this can make them anxious about future interactions with costumes. Keep it fun and light-hearted, using treats and positive attention to create a positive association.

Activity 4: Holiday-Themed Fetch

How It Helps with Impulse Control

Fetch may seem like just a game, but it’s an excellent way to practice impulse control. By incorporating commands like “Sit” and “Stay” before the “Fetch” command, you’re teaching your dog patience and reinforcing obedience, as they must wait calmly before chasing after their toy.

How to Play

1. Choose a Festive Toy: Pick a holiday-themed toy, like a red ball or a plush reindeer, to make it feel special.
2. Ask for a “Sit” or “Stay”: Before throwing the toy, instruct your dog to “Sit” or “Stay,” rewarding them if they hold the position. 
3. Release with “Fetch”: Once they’re focused, release them with the “Fetch” command and then throw the toy encouraging them to go get it.
4. Reinforce with “Come”: When they pick it-up, get excited and encourage them to “Come” to you.
5. Utilize “Drop-It”: Once they get close to you, you can ask them to “Drop-It”. When they drop the toy you can reward them with a treat, or pull out a second toy and throw it or use it for play. 

If your dog struggles with holding the “Stay” command, practice shorter holds and reward them frequently while they are sitting. Over time, they’ll learn to wait until released, building better impulse control and patience.

Activity 5: Practicing Obedience Commands During Family Gatherings

How It Helps with Real-Life Obedience

The holiday season often involves gatherings with family and friends, making it the perfect time to practice obedience commands in a real-world setting. By working on commands like “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Leave it,” your dog learns to stay calm around new people, food, and unfamiliar environments, which reinforces good manners and obedience. Make sure that you have already seen consistent success giving these commands in quieter and more controlled environments before trying this around family and friends. 

How to Manage Training During Events

1. Set Up a Safe Space: Designate a quiet area for your dog to retreat if they become overwhelmed.
2. Practice at Key Moments: Use arrivals and mealtimes as opportunities to practice “Sit” and “Stay” commands, rewarding calm behavior. 
3. Reinforce with Treats or Praise: Positive reinforcement helps keep your dog engaged, even in a busy setting. Offer treats or verbal praise when they obey commands amid the activity.
4. Take Breaks: If the environment becomes too chaotic, and your dog becomes stressed, allow your dog some downtime in their safe space. A great 5-10 minute e session is much better than a 20 minute session that becomes unbearably stressful for your dog. 

Using family gatherings to practice commands in a controlled, high-distraction environment helps your dog learn to apply their obedience skills outside regular training sessions. Over time, they’ll become more comfortable staying calm around guests and food, improving their overall behavior.

Conclusion

The holiday season is an ideal time to blend obedience training with festive fun. By incorporating activities like obstacle courses, hide and seek, costume training, and obedience exercises during gatherings, you create an engaging, playful environment for your dog to practice essential commands. These activities not only reinforce obedience but also build a stronger bond between you and your dog, ensuring they stay calm, focused, and well-behaved in various situations.

If you’re ready to take your dog’s obedience to the next level, consider exploring Toko Dogs’ Obedience Training Services for a structured training program tailored to your needs. Enjoy the holidays while giving your dog the gift of learning and fun!