Playing with your Puppy

Playing with your Puppy

Puppy social play behaviour starts soon after the puppies are able to move about which is as early as three weeks of age. They use play to develop the survival skills they will need as adult dogs. These inborn behaviour patterns can be seen in all puppies – they want to chase, play-bite, bark, track and retrieve. They also play competitive games of rough-and-tumble and tug-of-war. This is how dominance is developed. The winner gets the prize and carries it away.  Even without playmates or toys a puppy will chase its tail and pounce on imaginary objects.

Once a puppy has joined our human “pack” we need to build a sound relationship with our puppy and make use of puppy play activities to strengthen this bond. Through games we can satisfy a dog’s prey drive. I have started all my puppies playing ball first thing each morning after our bonding session. Rolling a ball and bouncing it in the kitchen where it can be controlled, works best for me. Playing outside has too many distractions and stoppages.

Play is not only fun for you and your puppy but it teaches some very important lessons to both. While playing, puppies learn about what is allowed and what not. They discover the capabilities of their own bodies and how to interact with humans and other animals. Nothing is more important than playing with your puppy and your dogs!!!

Always start using toys that are the right size for your dog. A small or medium sized Kong is ideal for a puppy to investigate and find food rewards and he will soon be able to pick it up and throw it about. Puppies should be encouraged to carry items from a very young age to help in retrieve exercises later. A variety of toys consisting of different materials as found in most pet shops should be available.

Hide-and-seek is one of my favorite games. As soon as my puppy is distracted, I hide behind a tree, around a corner, under something, on the beach behind a rock or sand dune and wait for my puppy to search and find me. This all dogs have enjoyed and it teaches them to always keep an eye on its owner. This prevents dogs from getting lost or stolen.

Most dog trainers warn against playing tug-games with young dogs. One must be very careful while they are teething not to hurt their mouths. However, the concern seems to be in that if the dog is allowed to win in tug-games they may have a pre-disposition to dominance and aggressive behaviour. Tug-games should have rules otherwise it can become a power struggle. Dogs should be taught to let go of the object on command.

I prefer to play tug with a ball on a string. Dogs move five times faster than humans so to avoid being bitten, hold onto the string. This may not always help especially where puppies or young dogs are inclined to leap up to get at the ball. The mistake most owners make when they want the dog to release an object is that they get hold of the object in the dog’s mouth and while telling the dog to leave they are pulling at the same time. This creates tension in the dog’s mouth and the game continues and becomes worse. Rather play “dead mouse” by holding your hand under the dog’s jaw and giving a command, “Give” or “Leave” and wait for the dog to drop it in your hand for praise. Swopping it for a treat is easier in a small puppy.

Do not allow possessiveness over toys. All toys are your toys and must be accounted for at the end of the game when it goes back into your pocket or toy box. I regularly have a roll call at the end of a play session or walk and demand, “Where is the ball?” and my dogs rush off to search for it because we cannot leave before I have the ball. Do not leave toys lying around. Toys left with dogs will be destroyed. Quanto’s favourite ball on a string is more than five years old.

Games involving young children and dogs must always be supervised to avoid allowing the game to get out of hand. Children need to learn how to administer a treat to a puppy by placing the treat on an open palm and not between the fingers. A nice game is for a child in a group to call the puppy and reward it with a treat when it comes. Then the next child calls the puppy and so on. This teaches the puppy to respond to its name and to come when called. The next time the format changes slightly and puppy first has to sit or down before earning a treat.

Playtime should be scheduled after the early morning walk or run at the play park.