When to Play with Your Pup: A Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Playtime Needs

dog playtime

If you have already acquired a new four-legged pet, this implies new obligations. It is not enough to just feed and brush the dog, you also need to know how and when to play with it. At the beginning of every human-dog relationship, the question arises for the owner himself – how to play with the dog.

You have to take care of the condition of your dog, and your friend, and we are not exaggerating when we say, a part of you. If you do sports together with your faithful friend, he will love you back with even greater affection.

The most important thing is to start playing with your pet while it is still a puppy, don’t let it seek its own entertainment, leave it alone only when it needs to defecate, eat or want to take a nap. It is precisely thanks to this game that you will raise an obedient and loyal dog, but also prevent the pet from acquiring bad habits.

Because if your dog knows that a walk will be an interesting pastime for him, he won’t want to leave you even a single step. A good idea is to acquire some tough dog toys, just to make sure it doesn’t chew things you don’t want them to chew, like for instance, furniture or food scraps around it.

The puppy will quickly understand that the owner can offer him much better entertainment than searching for food scraps around, so you will certainly not have problems with the dog wandering away from you in search of food on the street. These are all basics for training, but also participation in the game by which you help the dog to be in excellent shape.

Every dog owner will play with their pet every day, at least a little. The game is fun for us and them, but also very important for the dog. It has cognitive, physical, and social benefits, and most importantly, it’s a great way to relieve stress. What are the benefits of playing with a dog, read below.

Play Is A Great Way To Satisfy The Need For Physical Activity

play with dog

We’ve all heard the phrase “a tired dog is a good dog” and there’s certainly some truth to that. Dogs need physical activity every day. Lack of physical activity can lead to destructive habits, such as chewing on your furniture. If you don’t really have time to give your dog enough physical activity outside during the day, you can make up for it by playing at home.

Games like tug of war and fetching a ball will tire your dog and satisfy the need for physical activity. A few such games during the day will replace running around outside. The only problem in this situation could be the neighbors below you if you live in an apartment, who are not always tolerant of noise, even if it is short-lived.

The Game Strengthens Your Bond

strengthens bond with dog

One of the best ways to strengthen the bond you have is to spend quality time together, and play is a great way to do that. A dog is almost always ready to play, whether young or old, and you have to admit that we like to play too. Playfulness is one of the traits we share with our furry friends, and it’s exactly what makes our relationships with them special.

Numerous studies have proven that play is one of the main factors influencing the creation of an emotional bond with our pets. So, if you want to bond even more, just relax and enjoy the game. Then rest and play some more.

The Game Provides Mental Stimulation

dog with toys

Lack of mental stimulation can cause stress in dogs, and you don’t want your pet to be stressed. Mentally stimulating activities are a fun way to enrich your dogs’ lives by giving them something meaningful to do. Because these activities relieve boredom, they make it less likely that dogs will develop behavioral problems, such as excessive barking or chewing.

One such game is the sniffing game, which places treats around the apartment and lets the dog search for them. Toys with a treat slot are also a great way to entertain your dog, he won’t give up until he gets his hands on all the treats. These games are simple and light, and dogs are concentrated, active, and entertained throughout the day.

The Game Is A Fun Way Of Training

dog Training

Playing with dogs is fun, but it’s also a great way to work on basic training and improving manners. Puppies test their limits by playing with larger dogs. If they get too rough they will get a warning from the other dog with a growl, maybe a light bite, or stop playing.

The tug-of-war game helps you teach your pet how to control his urges, that is, how to be gentle when using his teeth in play. They learn by observing, so they read our signs and can judge when they have overdone it.

Playtime Reduces Boredom

Playtime with dog

One of the biggest benefits of playing for dogs is that it reduces boredom and keeps them busy. If we don’t give them enough entertainment, they will find a way to entertain themselves. Their way of entertaining often involves unwanted behavior such as barking or nibbling on our belongings.

By playing with your dog several times a day, you can reduce the likelihood that he will develop destructive habits. When play is part of its daily routine, there is no need for it to search for sources of entertainment that we are unlikely to like.

The secret of eternal youth is in play, so play for the benefit of both you and your dogs. Make sure you keep things interesting by buying your furry friend some toys.