3 simple methods to boost Your Dogs Play Drive
Last updated on October 17, 2017 By Puppy Leaks 3 comments
Dogs, like us, are one of the only mammals that play well into adulthood. as well as while we may not believe much of it the reality is dogs thrive on interactive play.
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Play is a fantastic stress reliever, it’s a hell of a workout, as well as it assists produces a strong bond between you as well as your dog. as well as to top it off dogs that engage in a great deal of interactive play are less likely to display destructive behaviors such as extreme chewing as well as barking.
Play doesn’t always have to be about just having fun either (though there’s definitely nothing wrong with that). Play can be utilized to strengthen great habits in our dogs. for many years I stuck to just utilizing treats for training — however someday I tried utilizing a game of tug as a reward instead. as well as holy cow was I surprised by exactly how well it worked. turns out my dog would much rather work for a quick game of tug than a bit piece of cheese.
I lucked out with Laika — she had a strong play drive to begin with. If your dog isn’t so lively there are some things you can do to boost their wish to play. Here’s 3 tips to boost your dog’s play drive.
The Pros have Been utilizing Play as a Reward for Years
Although I’d like to take credit history for finding the truth that play works well as a motivator for dogs I’ve gotta be honest — the pros have been utilizing it for ages.
If you’ve seen authorities K9s or bomb detection dogs in training I’m sure you’ve notice that their reward is frequently a tennis sphere or fetch toy. They utilize play since it’s an extremely motivating reward. These dogs are naturally driven as well as their fitness instructors utilize that drive to their advantage when it comes to mentor their dogs new stuff.
But play as a reward doesn’t requirement to be restricted to high drive dogs. most of our dogs like to play — however sometimes it’s all about figuring out what kind of play motivates your dog in particular.
3 tips to boost Your Dogs Play Drive
Dog training is much easier when you’ve got a motivating toy reward on hand
1. exactly how to teach Your dog to Play
Does your dog seem naturally playful? if not you’re not alone. like us, our dogs all have their own personalities, as well as some are more lively than others.
A lack of play in your dog might likewise be because of their past experiences (or lack thereof). Some dogs don’t understand exactly how to engage in play. Some dogs have never resided in a house environment, some lack appropriate social interaction cues, as well as some just have no hint what toys are.
When mentor your dog to play begin with a toy that can quickly be tossed around like a tennis ball, tug toy, stuffed animal or braided rope toy.
Start By showing Him What to Do
Since your dog doesn’t understand exactly how to play you’re going to be the one mentor him, as well as you’re going to be doing it by showing him exactly how it’s done. begin tossing the toy around as well as chasing it. Act excited about chasing it, as well as don’t be afraid to get goofy.
Your goal is to play keeping that toy so enthusiastically that your dog will be motivated to begin getting in on the action as well. toss it a few feet, chase after it, as well as motivate your dog any type of time they begin to join in as well as go after it as well. utilize your happy & excited voice to get him even more hyped up when he joins in on the fun.
Use great deals of Praise & Encouragement
Praise your dog every time they put that toy in their mouth. Make it understood that chasing after toys & choosing them up is precisely what you want them to be doing. boost their confidence by praising all those silly play moves.
After they catch onto that very first toy you can move onto one more one, as well as as they get utilized to the idea of play you can move into different spaces & environments. With sufficient repetition your dog will comprehend that:
Toys are fun
This human is super fun
Once your dog starts to enjoy engaging in interactive play with you you’ll notice something remarkable occurs – your bond gets truly strong. as well as every time you play it gets even stronger. By utilizing something fun like play when it comes to training you can assist make new training experiences less stressful for the both of you.
You can boost your dogs confidence & have a great deal of fun by engaging in interactive play
2. discover a toy That Motivates Your Dog
Most toys that are utilized as training benefits are either fetch or tug based. When it comes to discovering difficult techniques or something brand new you’re going to want to stick with something truly motivating aka their preferred toy. After playing around with sufficient toys you’ll get a great gauge on what your dog discovers most exciting, as well as what toys are just blah.null