Dog lovers cherish dogs that fill their homes with laughter and fun with their playful nature. All dog breeds come with their own unique traits, and their level of playfulness can vary, too. Even pet owners prefer different kinds of pets depending on their environments and lifestyles.
Playful dogs are amazing for active families and those with children, as they entice everyone with their cheerful and mischievous nature. A dog breed’s playfulness also reflects its intelligence and physical energy levels.
Different dogs might enjoy different kinds of games and physical activity. While some pups are great lap dogs, others love to keep things interesting with games and playtime. Here are 9 amazing dog breeds that don’t just love games, they’ll even come up with their own shenanigans.
Dog Breeds that Invent their Own Games
1. Labrador Retriever
Labs are the perfect combination of hot and cold; they are the go-to pups for people who want a reliable furry presence, while being ideal partners for fun-loving owners. They’re high-energy and highly intelligent dogs that can shake your world (in a good way) with their love for exploration and playtime.
Labrador Retrievers were originally bred as gun dogs used for retrieving game and waterfowl. Their hunting dog instincts are always at work in one way or another.
While they make amazing therapy and service dogs due to their dedication and intelligence, their love for exploration makes them come up with new ways to play around. They’re highly trainable canines and can be taught many games like hide and seek, tug of war, and fetch.
They won’t mind getting creative and keeping themselves engaged in their own silly ways.
2. Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers can keep their owners happy with just their gentle smiles and affirming presence. These sweet and loyal pups possess a natural fondness for engaging in fun games and activities with their humans.
From joining you on hiking to playing fetch in dog parks, Golden retrievers can quickly adapt to your activity-filled living. They love learning new tricks; you’ll never get bored of spending time with these canines.
Goldies are highly energetic dogs and need regular exercise to keep them from getting bored easily. Training your Golden Retriever is important not only in helping them socialize better, but in keeping them healthy and well-grounded.
3. Border Collie
Border Collies don’t just have a mesmerizing appearance with their smooth and thick coats; they’re renowned for being the most intelligent dog breed. They don’t just master complex commands quickly; Collies have a feisty side that gives them an itch to discover fun ways of playing around.
Border Collies were bred in Scotland as herding dogs, which explains their alertness, endurance, and active nature. This breed thrives on physical exercise as well as mental stimulation; playing both mental and physical games is their favorite pastime.
Collies are explorers and independent thinkers. While they’re loving family and companion dogs, their versatility has taken them places (like the military and police force). So, they don’t shy away from a challenge. Give them obstacle courses, give them puzzle toys; they can master it all.
4. Boxer
Boxers are goofy dogs with muscular bodies and make amazing companions for owners who don’t mind engaging in games with their pets. With their sturdy build and clownish natures, Boxers will never say no to interactive games like tug of war and fetch.
Boxers have a high-spirited nature that can inspire both children and adults into a life filled with fun activities and games. They will play any game to burn off their excess energy and stay close to their humans.
Boxers need regular exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. They will greatly enjoy activities like agility training, anything that involves chasing, and hide-and-seek.
They have a stubborn streak, which also points to their smart minds. So, while training them will need some positive reinforcement and rewards, Boxers can be amazing once they’ve learned to follow basic commands.
5. Australian Shepherd
Though their name sounds serious, Australian Shepherds or “Aussies” are as fun as they look. Aussies are from the working group and were developed to help on ranches. They didn’t just herd sheep, but also assisted their farmers in different tasks. Nothing says “smart” and “trainable” more than this background, as per PetMD.
But do Aussies make good “game time” companions? We know it’s not easy to contain their boundless energy and enthusiastic nature. They need to stay on the move and stir everything around them in action.
They’re a dog owner’s dream come true in trainability, so teaching them games is going to be a lot of fun. They love learning and being given a job to do; you can count on them to turn anything they do into a game.
6. Jack Russel Terrier
These compact dogs will surprise you with the amount of energy and fiestiness they carry. Jack Russel Terriers are confident and spunky dogs that can entice both adults and kids alike with their playful tactics.
If you want a dog with a personality, these pets will never disappoint you. One thing we can vouch for about Jack Russel Terriers is; they’re determined and will let their energetic temperament carry them away.
If they get the urge to chase small animals or moving objects, it’s going to be hard to convince them otherwise. Train these canines as puppies, and they’ll be able to channel their intelligence in playtime. Socialization classes and mental games are amazing for these pets.
7. Dalmatian
Easily recognizable due to their gorgeous, spotted coats, Dalmatians are a dog breed every dog lover knows and cherishes.
Their medium-sized, sleek stature makes Dalmatians one of the most charming dog breeds. These high-energy and sensitive pups need regular exercise, as well as lots of attention from their owners. Hill’s Pets warns that they can be grumpy towards strangers and should be socialized early.
Dalmatians need enough physical and mental activity to keep boredom away while burning their extra energy. Interactive games are what they enjoy the most. You can even think beyond typical games like playing fetch; you can invent new games because your pup surely enjoys it.
8. Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are delightful dogs with their silky coat and sweet temperament. You won’t get a game buddy better than the famed Spaniel. They love to spend time bonding with their humans; adding some fun games and toys during these moments will make them overjoyed.
These friendly and fun dogs will easily turn any moment into playtime. From cuddling on the couch to being outdoors playing hide and seek, Spaniels won’t let your life get dull.
These smart pups won’t say no to a challenge; problem-solving games and puzzles suit them a lot.
9. Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are fun to look at with their compact size, pretty coat, and a cute beard. Their ability to have fun and explore different games is also undisputed.
These dogs thrive on playtime and mental games. You can introduce your pup to different kinds of interactive play, from making them find a toy to making them identify the names of objects (by touching).
The better they get at learning commands and rules of games, the more games you can add to their playtime routine. They can pivot towards following more complex instructions and become more creative with their tendency to play.
Conclusion
Teaching your dog different tricks and games is definitely going to be both challenging and satisfying as a dog owner. Our furry friends help us in more ways than we know. Their playful and entertaining company can help us fight day-to-day stress, while improving our quality of life.
