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 reach 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, practice 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 TricksTeaching 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 practicing and playing together to forge the relationship you want.

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