Dogs love to play. Whether you have a brand-new puppy, a senior dog, or a pup who’s somewhere in between, we’re willing to bet that they love nothing more than spending time playing with you, their doggy pals, or even just one of their favorite toys.
While we often lead busy lives, it’s important that we spend time playing with our dogs ourselves. You could use one of the best dog toys, or spend some time in the dog park or field, just you and your pup – it’s up to you!
Whatever you choose, playing with your dog is great for them both physically and mentally, as award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training has explained in a recent Instagram post.
Play is great for tapping into your dog’s predatory instincts and providing a safe and controlled outlet for them. Burton explains, “Depending on your dog’s breed, he’ll likely feel deeply reinforced by behaviors like grabbing and holding, parading, shaking, shredding and dissecting, scenting and stalking, chasing, retrieving… the list goes on.”
When you give your dog an outlet for these behaviors, they’re less likely to arise elsewhere, which could be frustrating, annoying, or even dangerous.
At the same time, playing with your dog – particularly at the end of a training session – can help improve their learning and even slow the progression of cognitive decline and help dogs with dementia. It’s a great way to exercise your dog, too – walks are vital, but if your dog is still full of energy or you can’t walk them due to poor weather conditions, play can fill the gap. We love these eight fun games to play with dogs as well as these 10 great brain games for dogs – why not give some of them a go?
And, as Burton says, “When you are engaged in play with your dog, you’re giving them all your favorite things: your undivided attention plus an opportunity to fulfill their natural drives.”
So, what sort of things can you try with your dog? Burton has a few ideas, from classics like tug and fetch to obstacle courses, hide and seek with treats, using a flirt pole, and even structured activities like Treibball and freestyle.
Take some time to figure out what your dog likes the most, and don’t be afraid to mix it up and try new things! You might find find this article useful, too: I played these 7 fun games to engage my reactive dog and they improved her impulse control.
