WONDER DOG GAMES
(The Social Distancing Version)
GeT READY…
1) Set-up the A-frame signs so that incoming cars can see where we’ll be gathering AND set-up the field with cones.
2) Warmly greet everyone and provide easy-going introductions to one another as the team, volunteers & clients arrive - making sure that everyone has on a name tag with large print with their first name (only) and another name tag below for their dog’s name. (Remember fat letters are readable, not tall letters).
3) Invite everyone over to the field, leaving one volunteer back to welcome late-comers to the Games.
4) Game Masters will intro themselves, the BIG IDEA behind the Games using the math metaphor (training them to obey with distractions) & re-assuring everyone that this is a safe place because all dogs are at a different place in their training.
5) Split the Players into 2 or more groups - A’s and 1’s (because no one is chosen last or comes in second place with Wonder Dog!), then tell them to gather in their groups. This will create more community as they move into relay races and team games of strategy.
6) Start the first exercise by simulating a real-world meeting in the park with the assignments of standing close to another dog and person and finding out their names and a fun fact about their dog.
7) Now it’s time for the easy warm-ups and Games below.
Evolution 1
Perimeter Walk - Have them heel the perimeter, 2 cones apart, and do a sit or down at various places.
Down and Back - Have them heel in lanes from one side of the cones to the other with a down or sit along the way.
Red Light, Green Light - Line them up on one side of the cones, call out Green Light to Go, then Red Light to stop, count to 3 Mississippi. If their dogs aren’t sitting or downing, then they have to go back. If they are pulling on the leash or are being pulled on the leash, they have to go back. The first one with a paw over the line, wins.
Obedience Relay Race - Split them into 2 teams behind 2 cones. Set out 3 hula hoops for each lane. When you call GO, they are to heel to the first hoop, then sit, heel to the next hoop then down, heel again to the third hoop then do a sit and STAY while the handler walks to the final cone alone and calls their dog to them (on a long leash if need be). Once the dog is back with the handler, they walk/run/heel as fast as they can back to the starting line for the next person on their team to go. The first paw over the line from the last dog in the group wins!
Evolution 2
Runway Gauntlet (aka Ruffle the Palace Guard but in a straight line) - Set up 2 rows of hoops with a space between them. All but one team will sit and stay in the hoops. The remaining dog team will walk, run, zigzag down the gauntlet making noises and doing whatever they want to agitate the others. The object is to get the dogs to get up from their sit/down/stay position. If someone moves, even from a down to a sit, it’s now their turn to play agitator. One rule: The player who is walking around cannot say “Ok” or “Come on” or “Let’s Go” since those are all release words.
Tic Tac Toe - Set up 9 hula hoops in a hashtag set-up. Split the teams in 2 and make 2 captains. Team 1 will be sits, and Team 2 will be downs (or you can do bandanas and no bandanas). The captains will take turns moving their team onto the board until someone gets 3 in a row. Each dog MUST sit or down and NOT move once commanded. If a dog changes their position, then they must leave the board to open up that space.
Long Leash Relay - Set up 2 lanes. Set up the dogs at one starting line cone with the handler down the lane at the distance of the long leash. On go, the handle calls their dog as best they can and to win the dog must sit first once at the handler. Pair them up to compete based on breed, size, gender, age or even color to see who gets eliminated until a final winner is crowned!