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Play Play Play!!!!
This article concentrates on play, play, play! How you play with your
dog (and how you don't) makes a big difference on how your dog behaves,
both in and out of play sessions. Play can enhance your relationship,
increase your dog's willingness to do what you ask, teach emotional control,
and in general make life a lot more fun. However, anything with the power
to do that much can also do harm. Inappropriate play can teach bad habits
and create dogs who are emotionally out of control.
Many games with your dog will involve toys. Some of your dog's toys should
be of hollow, indestructible rubber into which you can stuff food (they
are called Kongs). These are great at keeping your dog occupied when you
don't have the time for him at that moment. This will also encourage your
dog to play by itself. There are also many interactive toys out there
that can entertain your dog for a long time. Have plenty of toys around,
but only leave 3 or 4 out at any one time, and rotate in some 'new' toys
every week, even though you bought them months ago.
Although all dogs should have toys they can play with by themselves, the
best kind of play is interactive play with you. It's not only fun for
both of you, it's full of opportunities for your dog to learn and become
more responsive and better able to control himself when being emotionally
aroused. It's also a great way to enhance the bond between you and your
dog.
Teaching your dog to fetch
This is a great way to exercise your dog before having to hike 5 miles
yourself before you get your cereal. You can stand in your back garden
enjoying your morning cuppa while your dog runs its tail off - well, you
can as long as your dog brings back the ball so you can throw it again
(otherwise, that is chasing not fetching!). To get started, practise in
an area with few distractions, start by waving the ball in front of your
dog. It's usually the movement that interests the dog, not the object.
When he's focused on the ball, throw it 4-5 feet away. When he grabs it,
that's great, but resist the urge to say 'good boy!'. Now clap your hands
and start running away from your dog. This will encourage your dog to
move towards you with the ball in his mouth. Don't worry if he doesn't
bring it back all the way. As soon as he drops it, pick it up and throw
it again immediately. Don't ask him to sit after he brings it back, that
won't reinforce him for bringing the ball back and might even feel like
a punishment to him. You want to reinforce your dog for bringing it back
by immediately having it again.
Repeat this a few times, but be careful about asking for too much too
soon. Don't worry if your dog loses interest after 3 or 4 throws, this
is common at this stage of training. Gradually, over a period of months,
throw the ball more often, ending either before your dog gets bored with
the game or before he gets too tired. If your dog at the end fails to
chase after the ball, no problem, game over. Don't coax and plead, just
walk away. Otherwise, you are being taught to fetch the ball yourself
and be forewarned: dogs are really, really good at teaching humans to
retrieve!
Teaching Tricks
Teaching tricks is another wonderful way to play with your dog. Trick
training has the advantage of feeling silly and fun for both of you,
while still teaching your dog that it's fun to pay attention. Tricks are
also great mental exercise, and dogs need mental exercise as much as they need physical exercise. It makes sense if
you think about it. Our dogs' ancestors were problem-solving, strategic hunters who had to plan and coordinate
their activities based on a complexity of factors. Many of our dogs are woefully under-employed, and teaching tricks
is a wonderful way to engage their brains.
The tricks you can teach your dog are limited only by your dog's
physical condition and your imagination. You can teach your dog to sit pretty, to look sad, to take a bow, spin,
roll over, shake, pray or even roll himself up in a blanket when you say 'night night'. We like to use clicker
training when teaching tricks, as it gives the dog feedback with such precision. There are many books out there
in the market that take you step by step through clicker training on some of the more popular tricks.
There's
no reason not to think of sit and lie down as tricks too, and that might be a good thing. People seem to be more
relaxed and cheerful when they are teaching their dogs 'tricks' rather than 'obedience'. They also have more
realistic expectations about tricks, rather than expecting their dogs to obey out of respect and submission.
Remember you get back what you put in. If you want your dog to be enthusiastic, then be sure to be enthusiastic
yourself.
Good dogs are made not born, and they rely on you to be their coaches, supporters
and benevolent leaders. So… here's to a long, wonderful life for both you
and your dog, and to keep practising and playing together to forge the relationship
you want. |
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