There is always time for fun.
I love taking photos of Thunder and Storm and last weekend I took some of them retrieving “fun bumpers” in the snow.
What is a “fun bumper”?
Fun bumpers are just for fun and have no rules attached. Sometimes we use them as a reward or to relieve stress when the dogs have been learning something difficult during a training session. They can be very helpful.
Last weekend Thunder and Storm did some retrieving with rules. The rules were:
- They had to wait to retrieve until they were released.
- They had to go directly to the bumper and not go off smelling around the forest unless they needed to search for the bumper.
- They had to come directly back into heel with the bumper and deliver it to hand.
When they were done with that, hubby threw some “fun bumpers” for them. They had not been doing anything complicated or stressful, but they so love fun bumpers that hubby tossed a few for them anyway.
Of course they both wanted the same bumper so the chase was on.
I think they had fun. What do you think?
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Any dog can have fun, but fun is exponentially increase with another dog to have fun with!
They sure do have a good time. What fun to have the bumper run. Great pictures too.
I love pics of pups having fun! These are great! 😀
They are definitely enjoying themselves! I love that you let them just have some fun after you do some training.
oh they sure had fun… like me while watching your photos… the one where they jump over the snowpile is priceless :o)
Of course they had fun! Fun bumper are the best!
We wish we had your snow! Penny has still yet to see a REAL New England snow storm!
How do they know the difference between working at the bumpers or the fun part? (I was thinking you had a different color for each one.)
Usually a fun bumper is thrown by the handler immediately after a retrieve. That makes it different from a bumper thrown out in the field. We usually grab whatever bumper s handy.
Definitely looks like they had fun! When Callie was still with us, she, Shadow, and I played with the ChuckIt! balls much the same way out in the back yard. We had great fun, with rest time in between multiple play sessions on nice days. Shadow and I have continued those play sessions – and we have fun – but it’s bittersweet now without our best friend.
I like to give my guys some no-rule fun stuff also, it’s like letting them out for recess.
Beautiful. Celebrating life!
Love the high jinx! Think it is very important for dogs to have playtime! Nothing like the chase to a bumper, or sticks in the pond.