KEEPING KITTIES AND CANINES ENTERTAINED DURING CONFINEMENT

GAMES FOR DOGS

Train your dog to ‘find the treat’ hidden beneath one of three cups. Stick a small treat under one cup, shuffle them around, and see if they ‘paw’ at the right cup. Other games include

‘hide and seek’ (they love this one). Ask a family member to hold your pet, find a good hiding place and say their name once. Watch them go crazy trying to find you! If you have a garden, fill ice cubes with doggy treats or small pieces of food. Watch Fido lick away until the ice melts and he can finally gobble the treat.

TRAINING TIPS FOR DOGS

Fido, too, can do his share to keep your house clean. Train him to collect his toys and keep them in a special box at the end of the day and also how to identify different toys by asking him to “pick up Mr. Octopus,” giving him a treat if he chooses the right toy. S tudies show that walking with your dog every day brings fantastic health benefits, yet this pleasure, enjoyed by so many on Marbella’s most magnificent esplanades is, for now, the stuff dreams are made of. While we are still allowed to venture outside the front door with Fifi, our walks are supposed to be short and purposedriven. In a way, confinement is easier for human beings because we have many resources at hand – sound systems, streaming services, and the like. If your pet is a bit down in the dumps because they miss their daily exercise, bring back the spark with these top actvities.

UNDER, OVER AND THROUGH

Teach your dog to jump over a low pole, climb under tables, and jump through a low hoop (some dogs, especially terrier types, love this activity). Reward them with a click and, of course, something good to eat!

AGILITY COURSES

Now is the time to put your imagination into overdrive and design your very own agility course for cats. This can include jumping through hoops, walking up and down a ramp, darting around poles placed in a straight line, and finally, shaking hands/ paws.

FOR CATS

GAMES FOR CATS

If you have a fishing rod, remove the hook and tie a badminton shuttlecock to the end of the string, launching it across your living area and reeling it back in so your cat chases after it. If you don’t have a rod, just tie a feather to a string and secure the string around a stick. The feather won’t reach as far but it will work in smaller spaces. If your dog enjoys the game of fetch, throw a ball around the home and watch them chase it. Some cats even go nuts about torches, giving it their all to ‘catch’ the light.

AGILITY PUZZLES FOR KITTY

Fill a cardboard box with kitty snacks or toys, securing the box with tape or any safe way to keep it shut. Use a cutter to cut out several shapes (triangle, square, sphere) and watch your cat try to pull out the contents of the box.

TIPS FOR TECH KITTIES

Some cats love playing with tablets and smartphones; others pass completely. You may be surprised to learn that there is a wide array of games for cats. Try the Paint for Cats app (made to unleash your cat’s inner Picasso) or Friskies Jitterbug (this app lets insects and other crawlies lose on screen while your cat tries to ‘catch’ them). e

PAPER BAG MAYHEM

Get a loose paper bag and invite your cat into it. Use your fingers to gently ‘poke’ them from the outside and watch them try to ‘catch’ your fingers or any other soft object you may choose to tease them with.