24/11/2025
FETCH CLUB SWANSEA – 10 DAY GAME CHALLENGE
Welcome to Fetch Club Swansea’s 10-Day Game Challenge! Over the next 10 days, you and your dog will play one simple, fun daily game designed to build calmness, focus, connection and real-life behaviour skills. Each game takes just 5–10 minutes and requires no special equipment. Let’s get started
• 1 game per day
• 5–10 minutes per game
• Easy to play at home, garden, or on walks
• Suitable for all ages and breeds
• Fun, empowering, relationship-first training
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DAY 1 – The Scatter Calm Game
Builds: calmness, optimism, decompression, focus
How to Play:
Sprinkle a handful of kibble/treats into short grass or a snuffle mat. Let your dog sniff and hunt. Sniffing instantly lowers arousal and begins the programme with calm foundations.
Real-Life Result: A calmer dog at home and on walks.
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DAY 2 – Boundary Games: The Bed is Best
Builds: impulse control, settle behaviour, listening skills
How to Play:
Reward your dog for choosing their bed, mat, or place. Mark and reward calm downs, lying, and staying put. Keep it short and fun.
Real-Life Result: Better behaviour when guests arrive, at cafés, or when you need your dog to chill.
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DAY 3 – Food Manners Game
Builds: impulse control, stillness, patience
How to Play:
Hold a treat in your hand. When your dog backs away or offers stillness, open your hand and let them take it. If they dive in, hand closes.
Real-Life Result: Less grabbing, calmer behaviour around food, and better self-control overall.
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DAY 4 – The Orientation Game (The “Check In” Game)
Builds: attention, engagement, focus around distractions
How to Play:
Walk a few steps. When your dog flicks their eyes towards you or turns their head, mark and reward. Don’t cue — let your dog choose to check in.
Real-Life Result: A dog that pays attention on walks and before distractions escalate.
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DAY 5 – Fun Recall Foundations: The Run Away Game
Builds: recall drive, engagement, enthusiasm
How to Play:
Say your dog’s name once → run away for 3–4 steps → reward when they chase you. Keep it short and exciting.
Real-Life Result: A dog who loves running towards you, not away.
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DAY 6 – The “Middle” Game (Safe Positioning)
Builds: confidence, safety, focus, coping skills
How to Play:
Lure your dog to stand or sit between your legs facing forward. Reward heavily. Practice holding the position for calmness or use it as a fun pattern.
Real-Life Result: A dog who feels safe in crowds, around triggers, or in new environments.
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DAY 7 – Toy Swap Game
Builds: play confidence, impulse control, value for you
How to Play:
Offer a toy → let dog engage → present a second toy → when they let go of the first, mark and reward or play with the new toy.
Real-Life Result: Easy toy retrieval, less guarding tendencies, and better engagement.
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DAY 8 – Pattern Games: One-Two-Three
Builds: predictability, calmness, coping around triggers
How to Play:
Walk forward counting “1…2…3” and reward on “3”. Repeat rhythmically. This predictable pattern helps dogs settle in difficult environments.
Real-Life Result: A dog who can hold it together around dogs, people, or traffic.
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DAY 9 – The Whiplash Turn Game
Builds: instant recall, focus, stopping mid-distraction
How to Play:
Say your recall cue (or a special sound like “pup-pup!”). The moment your dog turns their head towards you, reward big!
Start indoors, then garden, then quiet path.
Real-Life Result: A dog who spins on a dime when called.
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DAY 10 – Proximity Party! (“Stick Close” Game)
Builds: loose-lead walking, engagement, connection
How to Play:
Walk around randomly. Every time your dog ends up near your legs, reward and celebrate. They learn being close is the best place to be.
Real-Life Result: A dog who chooses to walk near you — not at the end of the lead.
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