One of the most rewarding things to do with your Cavapoo is play. From a young puppy until they are a fully mature dog, Cavapoos love to have fun and they love nothing more than spending time with you while they are having this fun! We have outlined some of the most rewarding games you can play with your Cavapoo.
Cavapoos really enjoy chase games, hiding treats and toys for them to find and chasing after toys. Learning the games your Cavapoo loves is a great way to forge a lasting bond and ensure both you and your dog have fun in the process.
So, what are the secrets to a good game with your Cavapoo? And do they want to play all the time (spoiler alert: there are definitely better times to choose). We will explore the best simple games you can play at home so you can develop a great relationship with them.
Chase Games
Who does not like a game of chase? Well, Cavapoos definitely love it, so it is worth incorporating a good game of chase into your play routine with your Cavapoo.
Chase games are fun for all the family. You can do them in a few different ways.
Get one of Cavapoos soft toys, or a ball and kick or throw the toy and get your Cavapoo to chase after it. They love this. This can be done indoors – with a soft toy of course – or outdoors. You could take your Cavapoo to the tennis courts and they can be your ‘ball dog’ and happily chase down the tennis balls for you. But you may have to deal with a bit of wetness in the ball when they do.
Consider progressing chase into a game of ‘fetch’ – probably the most famous dog game on the planet. With some rewards – small piece of roast chicken work well – for returning the object of the chase, your Cavapoo will have a high old time chasing and returning the ball or object to you.
Also incorporating the ‘fake throw’ into your routine is a great twist. Get your Cavapoo’s toy – and their attention – and then pretend to throw the toy and see their reaction. They will love it. But of course, they will love it more when you eventually throw the toy and they secure the target of their interest!
Hiding Treats and Toys
Hiding a toy or treat is a great game. Cavapoos are smart dogs (thank you Poodle parent) so quickly get the idea behind your game and will be happy to engage. Added to this are their exceptional nose which is 10,000 to 100,000 times times more powerful than a human’s. These noses were made for hide and seek.
You may notice that your Cavapoo is very scent orientated and will be able to find a hidden toy merely by its smell. Hide a soft toy they are playing with under a cushion on your sofa and have a key word (such as “find” or “where?”) and your Cavapoo will have a great old time finding the hidden prize.
A variation to this game is to hide treats for your Cavapoo to discover. Again, their expert nose will be their secret weapon here as they hunt down and retrieve a treat. You can get your Cavapoo to find a tasty morsel of food which you have secretly hidden. You could hide the treat under small boxes on the floor (three boxes; only one houses the treat) or hidden under one of their toys. It is quite incredible to see a Cavapoo’s nose in action – the twitch and pointing in the direction of victory and their dogged (no pun intended) searching until the food is revealed.
When to Play?
Like humans, Cavapoos are not always ‘game ready’. There are times they are more likely – and happy – to engage in play than others. So, it is important you pick the right moment to engage in fun with your Cavapoo.
For starters, do not try to play with your Cavapoo just before feeding time. You may notice their demeanor and body language changes when they are waiting to be fed, and while they may be a bit more ‘skittish’ and likely to chase after a soft toy thrown in their direction, they will soon lose interest and return to the ‘feed me’ position.
The exception to this rule is when the ‘play’ with your Cavapoo is an attempt to engage in training. Being hungry generally heightens awareness, so if you are training with food rewards your Cavapoo will be pleased to ‘play’ a little in return for a tasty morsel or two.
Summary
Getting to know your Cavapoo is one of the best times. From a puppy you will learn how they work and what they respond best to. Games are always quite personal – some dogs respond better than others to what you conjure up – it is best to ensure that whatever game you choose makes sense for your Cavapoo, is one they enjoy, and is one you will also get a kick out of playing with them.