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Yes thats right playtime between you and your dog is really important,I know I have mentioned this before but it does easily get over looked especially as your dog gets older.
Play provides cognitive, physical and social benefits for dogs – and it’s a great way to relieve stress for you both!
I love playing with my two dogs Erick and Ally, Erick loves a soft toy to chase after while Ally likes a ball! Both of my lunatics love to wrestle with me and I love it too!
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1. Play Provides Physical Exercise
We’ve all heard that a good dog is a tired dog, and there’s certainly some truth to that. Dogs need physical exercise each day, and if those needs aren’t met they can get bored and a borded dog is a destructive dog (I.e. excessive chewing or ripping cushions up). If you’re having trouble giving your dog enough exercise each day you can add in play to their routine at home.
Games like tug, fetch and play wrestling are great at tiring your dog and by adding in a few quick play sessions each day you’ll create a routine that provides your dog with plenty of exercise.
2. Play Strengthens The Bond With Your Dog
One of the best ways to strengthen the bond you have with your dog is to spend quality time together – and playing together is fabulous for this. Playtime that we share with our dogs is part of what makes our relationship special. it’s hard not to form a deep bond when you can play and have fun together.
So if you’re looking for a relatively simple (and fun) way to strengthen the bond you have with your dog add in some more playtime.
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3. Play Provides Mental Stimulation
Another reason why play is important for dogs is that it provides mental exercise. Brain games and activities are a fun way to enrich our dogs lives it gives them something meaningful to do. In addition to physical exercise I like adding in a few quick mentally stimulating games into my dogs daily routine. And because these activities prevent boredom they decrease the likelihood of my dogs becoming destructive dogs.
Some of my favorite brain games for dogs include sniffing games - Ericks favourite, Snuffle Matts and Kongs - Ally's favourite. They’re easy to play, and best of all they’re a simple way to keep dogs focused, active and entertained throughout the day.
4. It’s a Fun Way to Train
Playing with dogs is fun, but it’s also a great way to work on some basic training and improving manners. Playtime is one of the ways puppies start learning basic manners right from the beginning. I always encourage and use play in my training classes!
Take tug for for example; it’s a fun game by itself, but it also helps teach your dog how to be gentle when it comes to using their mouth. Our dogs are always observing us, so when we engage in play they’re learning social cues from us.
5. Play Relieves Boredom
One of the biggest benefits of play for dogs is that it relieves boredom and keeps them busy. It can be a challenge to keep our dogs occupied all day, and when dogs get bored they’ll come up with their own ways to entertain themselves.
By playing with your dog a few times a day you can decrease the likelihood of them developing destructive habits. When you add in some more playtime to your dog’s routine you’re giving them something meaningful to do, and preventing them from having to come up with ways to entertain themselves that might involve chewing up your shoes.
What are you waiting for? Grab your dogs favourite toy and have a quick game!
Let me know how you get on
Take care
Suzanne