Getting the most out of play
How we play with our puppies is far more important than many people realise. While your puppy is still young, he needs to learn how much fun it is to play with humans so we can channel his energies and teach him good manners.
Why play is so important
Playing games is more than just a way for you and your puppy to have fun, although having fun during games is essential. Games allow the participants to find out about each other and learn about the qualities and traits of the other player.
Playing regularly will help you to form an attachment and provide a way of establishing a friendship and mutual trust. If your puppy wants to please you, and you are fun to be with, he will work harder to do as you ask.
The more games you play with your puppy, the more he will consider you to be the most interesting thing in his world. If your puppy stays near you on a walk, for example, waiting for you to start a game, he will not wander off by himself and be more likely to rush back to you when you call for an exciting game.
Some dogs, particularly those of the working breeds, are bred to be physically active and mentally alert all day. This is just not possible in most pet homes and in the absence of any work to do, play is a useful substitute.
Adequate physical and mental exercise is essential, especially as your puppy matures and becomes a young adult. Lack of exercise can result in a bored, discontented dog with more energy than he knows what to do with. Very often, such excesses of energy are the cause of unwanted behaviours as the dog finds alternative outlets for them. Several vigorous and mentally taxing play sessions, given at varying intervals throughout the day, can result in a dog that is well-adjusted, contented and looking forward to the next time you bring out the toys.
Since puppies, particularly those of the large, heavy breeds, should not be walked long distances until their bones and bodies have matured, play with toys provides a useful way to use up some of their exuberance. Several short play sessions spread throughout the day are preferable to one long play session.
Once your puppy knows just how much fun games with toys can be, you can use the toys themselves as a reward for a training exercise, particularly the recall. Games with toys can also be used to your advantage in other areas; for example, overcoming your puppy’s shyness or any other fears that he may develop.
How to play successfully
Safe toysToys should always be large enough so that they cannot be swallowed and should be removed before they break up into smaller pieces.- Soft toysSmall puppies prefer soft things that are similar to their littermates so large fluffy soft toys work particularly well. Long fluffy toys help to put a lot of distance between your hands and any accidental nips as they learn.
- Play when excitedWhen you have a few minutes for a game, or when you interact with your puppy when he is excited (such as when you have just come home after an absence), get down to your puppy’s level, present the toy and wriggle it on the floor! Keep the toy at floor level so your puppy does not have to jump to catch it.
- Wiggle that toy!Move it erratically, sometimes slowly, then with little dashes of speed, wriggling it behind objects out of sight and then back into view. How fast you need to keep the toy moving depends on your puppy so experiment and find how fast you have to move the toy to keep their interest.
- It's OK to play tug!Frequently put the toy within range of your puppy and pull it away slowly so he can chase and catch it. Tug gently (be careful of his teething mouth). Sometimes let him take it and ‘win’ it from you. When he does so, praise him enthusiastically but don’t try to take it. Let him bring it to you and let the excitement subside so he drops it and you can take it and start the game again
- Have funHave fun with your puppy and keep his interest until you are both a little tired. Then remove the toy and put it away for the next session. Always stop play before your puppy gets too excited and begins to lose control and bite you instead of the toy.
- Be preparedHaving a toy in every room and in places where you will greet your puppy after being away will mean that you always have one to hand when you want to play or you can see that your puppy is in need of a game. For a calm, relaxed puppy, play in short, frequent sessions throughout the day.
Different types of game
Four types of games
Chase and retrieve gamesOften preferred by herding dogs, gundogs and hounds- Possession games (tug)Often preferred by guarding and bull breeds
- 'Shake and kill' gamesPlayed with squeaky toys. Often preferred by terriers.
- Sniffing gamesEnjoyed by all!
Most puppies will play all games at first but will often eventually prefer one type to the others.
Keep a toy in your coat pocket so that you always have one to play with when out on a walk. Playing with toys instead of with sticks will prevent injuries to your puppy’s mouth, eyes or face. Balls on a rope are safer than balls that can accidentally be swallowed and cause choking.
When playing, try interspersing active chase or tug games with sniffing games by hiding toys in long grass and encouraging your puppy to find them. This will help to reduce the adrenaline and excitement caused by too much chase which can lead to your puppy coming home unable to settle and relax. Sniffing games, where your puppy learns to find objects or follow a trail are more calming and can be very satisfying.
Making the toy more valuable
Keep it excitingDo this by keeping it for play only, never leaving it down with your puppy to play – and get bored with – by himself.- Create interestEncourage short, exciting games with this toy. When you start the game, treat the toy like a precious animal, keeping it away from your puppy, talking to it, stroking it and being really interested in the toy itself in order to create huge interest from your puppy. Pretend to accidentally drop it and snatch it away again as your puppy goes to get it. Then let him chase it and hold it for a while before getting it back again.
- Play regularlyIf you play with this particular toy in this way several times a day, your puppy will begin to see this toy as very special and will work hard to ‘win’ it. It can then eventually be used to help train your puppy and get him working hard to do the things you ask.
- Maintain valueGive your puppy toys to play with by himself, but keep lots of other toys up out of his way. Use these toys to play with him. In this way, they will not get chewed up and will be in a place where you can easily find them when you want to play.
Keep games fun
Puppies are naturally playful and it is not difficult to encourage them to play with you from the outset. The only exception may be a very shy puppy which may need time and careful coaxing before he feels bold enough to attempt a game.
What you do during games will have a great effect on whether your puppy considers you to be an exciting playmate or not. Children are usually best at games since they are often less inhibited than adults. Imitating their ways by squeaking, moving quickly, laughing, and being excited makes a puppy excited too. Be as silly as you like!
If you are a fairly reserved person, unused to being silly in public, practise in private. It will become second nature and you will find yourself playing daft games with your puppy in company as well. Onlookers will not think anything of it; everyone expects owners to be silly with their dogs, especially when they are puppies.
Movement excites puppies so keep the toy moving erratically. Tying your puppy’s toy to a piece of string and using it to make the toy ‘jump’ may encourage a reluctant puppy or revive an old game. Be inventive and try new games whenever either of you begin to get bored with old ones. Make games fun for you too. Nothing motivates a puppy quite like our smiles and laughter.
Competition can encourage some puppies to try harder to win the toy. If you throw a toy and allow your puppy to fetch it, he will enjoy the game of chase. However, if you throw the toy and sometimes race after it yourself, getting to it just before your puppy does and snatching it away before he gets to it, or sometimes allowing him to get to it first, he will put much more effort in next time and will have more fun doing so. Teasing your puppy with the toy before you throw it will have a similar effect but do not overdo this and it is best not to encourage children to do it or they might do it too much.
Puppies will want to play games whenever they get excited about something. This could be anything, from you coming home to visitors arriving. During these exciting times of the day, you will often see dogs playing their favourite games. Labradors may carry a slipper when you come home, terriers may grab at and ‘kill’ papers put through the letterbox, and some dogs may play tug with the lead during the initial excitement of getting ready for a walk. You can use this phenomenon to encourage a reluctant puppy to play with you by getting out toys whenever your puppy is excited about something.
Controlling the games
Do not insist on perfect retrieves, or a sit stay before the puppy is allowed to chase after the toy until much later. Get the enthusiasm for the games first, and put the control in afterwards.
Once your puppy really knows how to play with toys and is really enthusiastic about playing, you can begin to teach rules for playing and can use the toys to get control in times of excitement. You may need further help from your tutor to help your puppy learn this, but it is well worth doing and an important part of your puppy’s education.
Useful life lessons you can teach with toys
- 01 /Don't start the game or run after something until cued
- 02 /Stop when asked
- 03 /Calm yourself when you are really excited
- 04 /Listen for and respond to cues when you are really excited
- 05 /Don't put your teeth on human skin
- 06 /Stop or come back even when you are in full flight after something
- 07 /Stop tugging immediately when asked
Please remember - Dogs are not robots
Testimonials
What Clients say
about Puppy School
-
“Definitely a great basis for puppy training and we will be attending more classes. Also liked the fact it was a small class.”— Jeff
-
“Puppy School has been an all round excellent package from start to finish but the greatest asset to this training was Sally! Sally was calm, clear and responsive to us all so you feel you get the benefit from being in a group of handlers and puppies with all the benefits of that but also individual attention to support you and your puppies specific needs/issues. Banjo is a nervous puppy, Sally was very sensitive to this and managed situations so Banjo benefitted from all the training exercises and interaction in a very positive way. She also gave me lots of support in how to help him outside of class. It was also brilliant to have a booklet and online access at home to watch reminder supporting material videos of the things taught in each session. There were also a range of vouchers and free trial bags of different foods which has proven helpful in determining what works for Banjo. I have had several puppies over the years, and have been to several classes, this has been the best experience yet for both me and my puppy. Thanks especially to Sally! ”— Maria
-
“Charlie was absolutely wonderful in all aspects. Friendly, kind and knowledgeable. Always available to answer any questions or concerns. Charlie is very experienced and myself and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the classes and wish that we had more weeks together with our puppy family! Highly recommended and really enjoyable! Thank you for helping us understood our puppy and teaching us ways to grow together - invaluable”— Sam
-
“Carole definitely knows her stuff. She took the time to get to know each dog throughout the course which benefited us greatly. Using each dog for a demonstration as well as coming round and making sure we weren’t struggling. Giving us hints and tips for Maisy especially since she is part kangaroo and is always 10ft off the ground! Tailoring each exercise to the dog so we can maximise training and our pups mind!”— Trevor
-
“A friendly, professional class, taught by an instructor with a deep understanding and experience of working with puppies. Plus, it was lots of fun!”— Rita