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You may think to yourself âwhy exactly did I get this dog?â, especially at times when you are clearing up confetti that used to be your reading book, or when you are soaking up the newest puddle that your new puppy has made on your rug, or maybe when it is necessary for you to cancel a dinner date to prevent your dog from being left alone at home.

Well, letâs face it, your dog is your best friend, and it is imperative that you play with them to experience what fun they can be, not just little terrors.  It also gives us the change to act goofy.  Play is not only good for you and your dog, but it is also a powerful tool for making friends.  Dogs can learn new behaviors and self control when playing.  Playing with your new dog or puppy can also help an insecure dog to gain confidence.  When you have a puppy, he is used to playing with his brothers and sisters, and I am sure that when they are separated they ask themselves âwho am I going to play with now?â.  It is important to allow your puppy to play with you; otherwise he will grow up not knowing how to play.

So for that reason the importance of playing with your dog is vital.  But you may ask yourself âwhat sort of games do I play with my dog?â  Fetch is always a game that dogs love to play.  Try different sized balls or toys to entertain your dog, as he may get bored with the same toy.

Fetch is a game that all dogs with a variety of personalities can enjoy.  However, not all games are suitable for all dogs.  If your dog is insecure, then you may be better playing cooperative games rather than competitive games.  Cooperative games are whereby both of you work towards the same goal.  Hiding treats and then having the dog search for those treats is a cooperative game.  Learning tricks is also a cooperative game.  These games can then gradually grow to be more competitive once your dog outgrows his insecurity a little.

If your dog is pushy, then search and learn games are good for dogs with a controlling attitude.  Of course you can still play fetch with that dog, but all you will be doing is running around after the dog because he refuses to give you the object that he has retrieved, which can still be fun, but a little naughty.

Tug of War is a great example of a competitive game.  Competitive games should not be played with those dogs that wish to rule the roost.  It is always a good idea to play this game with a dog that understands a release word, and that he gets a treat when he does release the toy.

It is imperative that your dog understands when you have had enough of playing and wish to do something else.  You could train the dog that âgame overâ signifies that you no longer wish to play. If your dog does not understand this, then you are in a difficult situation of either continuing to play, which will be just what he wants, letting go of the toy, which will make him think that he is the winner, or prying it out of his jaws, which can be rather dangerous and not advised.  Your best bet is to simply call âgame overâ and walk away.

Donât forget the importance of educational toys.  Toys that make your dog work for prizes are a great idea and educational.  You never know, you may just have a canine Einstein in your home.

Play is an essential component of learning.  There are few things that can motivate as strongly as fun and games.  Many top drug-detection dogs work for a chance to tug a toy rather than to eat a treat, and many dogs are trained with games by some of the leading dog trainers in the world.  Consequently, donât be too busy so that you cannot give your dog some essential play time.

Tags: Playing with your dog