Mastering a well-behaved, content dog within arm's reach? A professional trainer unveils the mystery, and it's more manageable than you might assume!
In an interview, award-winning trainer Lisa Burton of Listen Dog Training emphasised the importance of play for dogs. She explained that playing with dogs not only provides a safe outlet for their predatory instincts but also benefits their physical and mental health.
Playing games with your dog can be as simple as a game of tug-of-war or as exciting as an obstacle course. Classics like tug and fetch can be played with dogs, but there are also other ideas such as hide and seek with treats, using a flirt pole, and structured activities like Treibball and freestyle.
Tug-of-war is a classic game that appeals to dogs' natural urge to grab and pull, simulating the "fight" phase of their predatory sequence. It provides physical exercise and bonding, but it's important to teach clear rules like "take it" and "leave it" to prevent over-excitement or aggression.
Using a flirt pole, a long pole with a toy attached, can be an interesting addition to playtime. This encourages dogs to chase, stalk, and pounce, closely mimicking hunting behavior. This improves their focus, physical fitness, and mental engagement by giving a safe outlet for their chase drive.
Playing safe, controlled chase games taps into a dog's natural instinct to pursue moving objects. These can be done with toys or even by running with your dog and encouraging them to follow you.
Engaging a dog’s powerful nose with scent detection games allows them to use their searching instinct. Hiding treats or toys for your dog to find provides excellent mental stimulation and taps into their natural searching and stalking behaviors.
Spending time playing with dogs is beneficial for their physical and mental health. Beyond just exercise, walks that encourage sniffing and exploring new environments satisfy a dog’s innate need to investigate scents and surroundings, lowering stress and improving mental well-being.
Puzzles that challenge dogs to solve problems can simulate the "search" and "hunt" phase intellectually, enhancing cognitive skills and confidence. These can be store-bought or created from household items like boxes or muffin tins.
Letting dogs safely shred or "dissect" toys mimics their natural drive to tear apart prey and provides mental and tactile stimulation, fulfilling predatory urges.
Interactive games like "Jump'n Run", which engage dogs' instincts digitally while strengthening the human-dog bond, can also be fun. These apps or games created to simulate hunting scenarios (e.g., chasing virtual targets) can be a great addition to your dog's playtime.
In summary, incorporating a combination of these games—especially tug-of-war, flirt pole chases, scent and tracking work, sniffing walks, puzzle solving, and safe shredding—provides a comprehensive approach to exercising and enriching a dog's mind and body while tapping into their natural predatory drives.
Playing with dogs is not only fun but also serves as an alternative exercise when walks are not possible due to poor weather conditions. In addition, there are brain games for dogs, such as the ones mentioned in this article, that can help stimulate their minds. So, get ready to have fun and engage your dog in some exciting playtime!
- Tug-of-war, a classic game, appeals to dogs' natural urge to grab and pull, offering physical exercise and bonding time, but clear rules like "take it" and "leave it" should be taught to prevent over-excitement or aggression.
- Using a flirt pole, a long pole with a toy attached, encourages dogs to chase, stalk, and pounce, closely mimicking hunting behavior, thus improving their focus, physical fitness, and mental engagement.
- Playing safe, controlled chase games taps into a dog's natural instinct to pursue moving objects, reducing stress and providing mental well-being.
- Engaging a dog’s powerful nose with scent detection games allows them to use their searching instinct, providing excellent mental stimulation and tapping into their natural searching and stalking behaviors.
- Puzzles that challenge dogs to solve problems simulate the "search" and "hunt" phase intellectually, enhancing cognitive skills and confidence.
- Interactive digital games like "Jump'n Run", designed to strengthen the human-dog bond while stimulating their minds, can also be a fun addition to your dog's playtime.
