Teaching your dog to play with toys.
Your best 4-legged friend and loyal companion can become a good
playmate if you teach him on a regular basis. Of course the first
thing your dog should know is that he must always obey you, start
from basic commands, play a game of fetch, dogs love it. Dogs also like catching a Frisbee.
The most effective method for shaping your dog's behavior is to show
how you respect him and always react positively when he performs
command the way you want him to. If you are not excited (and you are
definitely not) about the idea of having passive and super lazy dog,
then we recommend you to offer
your dog various toys and your full attention during one-on-one
play time.
- Introduce your dog to a certain toy that will surely drag his
attention, shake it near him and throw it just out of his reach.
Always accompany your actions with words, thus your dog will be
able to comprehend what you want him to perform.
- We recommend to associate a command with the activity like
"play", "games" or "toys." Use the command each time a new toy
is introduced, your dog will be excited to play with you.
- Always encourage your dog and reward him immediately once he
plays with the toy the way you want him to. You can use food
treats, your dog will be very grateful. If your dog tugs a rope
when you offer it or fetches a ball when you toss it,
immediately treat him a piece of food he likes the most,
positive reinforcement such as "good dog" will also do.
- If you want good concentration and interest during a playtime
you should show positive excitement. If playtime is really fun
your dog will be engaged. Your task is to be active as
possible to involve your dog into a game.
- Try to avoid negative attitude. Yelling "bad dog" or using
force to make him tug or fetch a toy can worsen the situation.
Try to introduce new toy or if your dog doesn't show any
interest at all postpone it for better times.
- Never stop believing and loving your dog if something goes
wrong. You can always take a break and give some time for your
pet. If you are halfway to succeed you can gradually set higher
expectations towards your pet. You can reward your dog only when
you start teaching your dog, eventually he should perform all
tasks without any reward.
- Playing should be done regularly. The best places for it are:
backyards, parks, etc. Remember that playtime is a special time
for only two of you. Your dog masters his skills and you enjoy
time spending with him, also dog owners live longer and they are
healthier than those people who don't have dogs. It is easily
explained by the fact that dog owners always stay active because
dog ownership requires them to.
P.S.
- Try playing hide and seek with your dog. Hide any toy behind
your back or somewhere nearby. Tell your dog to search. Reward
your dog when he finds the toy.
- Use only one- or two-word command for better understanding
between you and your pet.
