How To Play With Your Dog

Playtime is one of the best ways to promote bonding with a dog. As well as being enjoyable for both human and dog, it builds mutually positive associations and can offer a variety of mental and physical benefits. There is no single way that dogs play, and may vary by breed and even between individual animals. For example, companions such as the Shih Tzu may appear less playful than working breeds that regularly try to initiate games of chase or fetch. Working breeds are also likely to mirror their primary form of “work” in how they play, i.e. Border Collies attempting to herd children and bully breeds particularly enjoying chew toys and tug of war.

Playtime can either be direct and interactive, or more hands-off. Interactive play directly involves you, so games of fetch, tug-of-war, and hide and seek which are not possible without your presence. These kinds of games are good ways to build extra exercise into your dog’s day, and will often help tire them out. They are also easy to integrate with ongoing obedience training, i.e. using rounds of fetch or playing a particular game as a reward for following commands.

Puzzles can also allow for solo playtime when you are unavailable, with treat dispensers being especially effective. As food is a high value resource for all dogs, a ball that dispenses treats when rolled in a certain way is very stimulating, as are snuffle mats and puzzle feeders. In their absence, hiding treats around the house or a field that needs to be sniffed out works well too.

For more information on how our expert team of trainers and behavioralists can help you structure a more meaningful and enriching play regime for your dog, please email us on info@protectiondogsworldwide.com.