Dog bowling: Teach your dog to ten pin bowl

Can your dog bowl? Find out how to teach them and you'll be bowling together in no time.

Who knew toilet rolls could be so much fun? Grab your empties and teach your dog how to strike.

All you’ll need to get started are empty toilet roll tubes, a ball and your dog’s favourite treats.

Teach your dog to bowl

1
Let's go dog bowling
Take the ball and present it to your dog. When they sniff it and show interest, mark and reward with a treat. Repeat this a few times so that your dog learns that when their nose touches the ball, they are rewarded.
2
Get your dog used to the ball
Once they get the hang of touching the ball with their nose, start to bring it closer to the floor. Mark and repeat each time.
3
Get things rolling
Pop the ball on the floor. Every time your dog touches the ball and makes it move by nudging it with their nose, mark and reward. Repeat this a few times so they begin to understand that you want them to move the ball. If your dog is finding it tricky to begin with,...
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Pop the ball on the floor. Every time your dog touches the ball and makes it move by nudging it with their nose, mark and reward.

Repeat this a few times so they begin to understand that you want them to move the ball.

If your dog is finding it tricky to begin with, place the ball on the floor with a few treats underneath it. As your dog sniffs for the treats the ball will start to roll and you’re off.
4
Set up the pins
Set up your toilet roll pins in a triangle nearby, and see if your dog will roll the ball towards them. Keep marking and rewarding every time they do something you like, such as nudging the ball towards the pins.
5
Strikes come with practice
Bowling isn’t easy for dogs or humans, and practice makes perfect!