MUSICAL CHAIRS
SET UP: Start with one less chair than you have players. Set boundaries 3 feet outside the row of chairs. If the chairs are in a circle or a square, draw another circle or square 3 feet outside the circle of chairs. If the chairs are in a straight line, alternating facing opposite directions, draw the line 3 feet out in front of each side. When the music plays, everyone tells their dog to heel and starts walking in a clockwise direction, with the dogs on the outside. When the music stops, the handlers must have their dogs lie down, then, try to find an available chair to sit in. If a dog pops up, the handler has to immediately give up his chair, go to the dog, and have him down again. No butts are allowed in chairs unless the dogs which belong with them have their elbows on the ground! This might make a chair available for someone who was a little slower, but finally got their dog to lie down and stay.
When everyone has a chair but one person, and no dogs are breaking the down-stay, do one of three things:
Sub-novice version: The person without a chair is "OUT", and one chair is removed, and the music and heeling begin again.
Regular version: The person without a chair tries to GET a chair by distracting the other dogs to see if any of them are not trained well enough to remain staying as their owners told them to do. If a dog falls for the act, and breaks the stay, the person can jump in that dog's person's vacant chair. This goes on for a few minutes, when the game leader starts the music again, and the standing person is out and one chair is removed. In the regular version, handlers are not allowed to use specific command words, like "come" or "sit" or "Okay!" They are also not allowed to use the dog's name to distract, they can not touch the dog, and they must not pull on the dog's leash or collar to try to get him to get up.
Advanced version: The person without a chair tries to get a chair by distracting the other dogs to see if any of them are not trained well enough to remain staying as their owners told them to do. If a dog falls for the act, and breaks the stay, the person can jump in that dog's person's vacant chair. This goes on for a few minutes, when the game leader starts the music again, and the standing person is out and one chair is removed. In the advanced version, handlers ARE allowed to use specific command words, like "come" or "sit" or "Okay!" They are also allowed to use the dog's name to distract, and they can pull gently on the dog's leash or collar to trick him into getting up. Treats, balls and toys are also allowed. They are still not allowed to touch the dogs (no bumping, pushing, pulling, tickling, belly rubs or other contact allowed).
Regular version: The person without a chair tries to GET a chair by distracting the other dogs to see if any of them are not trained well enough to remain staying as their owners told them to do. If a dog falls for the act, and breaks the stay, the person can jump in that dog's person's vacant chair. This goes on for a few minutes, when the game leader starts the music again, and the standing person is out and one chair is removed. In the regular version, handlers are not allowed to use specific command words, like "come" or "sit" or "Okay!" They are also not allowed to use the dog's name to distract, they can not touch the dog, and they must not pull on the dog's leash or collar to try to get him to get up.
Advanced version: The person without a chair tries to get a chair by distracting the other dogs to see if any of them are not trained well enough to remain staying as their owners told them to do. If a dog falls for the act, and breaks the stay, the person can jump in that dog's person's vacant chair. This goes on for a few minutes, when the game leader starts the music again, and the standing person is out and one chair is removed. In the advanced version, handlers ARE allowed to use specific command words, like "come" or "sit" or "Okay!" They are also allowed to use the dog's name to distract, and they can pull gently on the dog's leash or collar to trick him into getting up. Treats, balls and toys are also allowed. They are still not allowed to touch the dogs (no bumping, pushing, pulling, tickling, belly rubs or other contact allowed).
This goes on until there is only one chair left, and two sets of handlers and dogs. The last ones out are usually pretty hard to get to break a stay, so it becomes more of a test of good reflexes, lightening fast downs, and a "battle of the butts."
On-Leash with Distance between Dogs version: Set up the chairs as far apart as needed so that as teams are circling their individual chairs, each team has plenty of space. When the music stops, have your dog sit down and then sit in your chair. If your dogs gets up, you must too until your dog is back in a sit. The last person sitting in their chair is out and that chair/team is out. You may rotate teams to different chairs for variety.