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Playing with your dog.

We talk a lot about using food and toys as rewards for your dog. Whilst that is great, sometimes we tend to overlook the fact that we can, and should be, just as much fun for our dogs as a piece of sausage or fluffy toy! It is an essential stage in sports dog training as you cannot take food or toys into the ring.

How are the ways that we can play with our dog without using food or toy?

1. Praise your dog - you can be calm or crazy, use your words!

2. Use a happy voice, and smile so its sincere

3. Move away from your dog, encouraging the chase!!

4. Play movement games like hand touch, spins, zig zag running, Hide and seek

Play touch games if they like that - spank their butt, push them away, push through your legs etc

Start with short sessions

Mix it up with some work.

FOOD PLAY.

Sometimes your dog wont care for the treats you have - he may not be hungry, he may be stressed. The food value may not be high enough (dry vs luncheon/dog roll) or he may have free access to food so cant really be bothered.

Food is a really powerful motivator and reward so we do want our dog to want it!!

Just giving the food to your dog straight to its mouth isnt really that exciting. Whilst there are occasions when this is a good thing to do, how can you make food more exciting?

Ideally combine food with motion and energy

- by throwing food in the air for dog to catch, or so the dog has to jump up in the air

- using a prey hand - moving your hand around so the dog has to chase it to get the food

- Throw treats to and fro so dog has to move to get the food

- Hold dog and release to food

- throw food stuffed toys

- play Hide and seek with food 9Hunting games)

- hand touch for food

- spit cheese out of your mouth!

TOY PLAY

Not all dogs like toys but it is worth building the desire as toy play can be a lot of fun for everyone and highly rewarding. Its also easy to reward at a distance when using toys. Create desire by letting your dog win the game and run around happily with the toy in their mouth.

What types of toys?

Soft and long is great for sensitive dogs, run the toy along the ground as if it was prey.

Tugging is great as your are both involved in the game.

Many dogs like to retrieve, and sometimes using 2 toys can help with the bringing it back aspect.

Some dogs like their toys to squeak but its not a good idea to use these toys in a class or competition situation as too many dogs will want to join in the game.