101 Fun Things to Do with Your Dog

Gr 4—8—Smith opens with practical, basic commands—sit, down, stay, fetch, drop, come, etc. Participants are encouraged to stimulate both the mental prowess and physical dexterity of their canine companions. There are games and activities to ward off boredom, including flying discs, treat bobbing, and playdates. Some activities can involve the whole family. For those who wish to go beyond informal backyard fun, there are competitive opportunities, such as agility, obedience flyball, showing, rallies, and even dancing. For each undertaking, a set of symbols indicates the number of animals and people needed and whether it is an indoor or outdoor activity or both. Excellent color photos show a diverse assortment of breeds enthusiastically engaged in each endeavor. Although every dog may not want to become a skateboarder or soccer star, most would enjoy a party time with some special doggy recipes, such as barking banana cookies or savory slobbers. From massages to tug-of-war, humans and their dogs will find lots of enjoyable moments together using this entertaining manual.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA