Toys and games are important to puppies, just as
they are to children. They
encourage them to play and, through play, they learn. Puppies which do not
have many toys will quickly start finding their own – a toilet roll, a
shoe etc…
Playing with the puppy’s
toys is as important for you as owner and ‘pack leader’ as it is for
the pup – through playing with our dogs we learn more about them,
enabling us to build a strong bond of friendship and, above all HAVE FUN !
Toys and games are a useful tool, which will help you to mould and
shape your puppy into the adult dog you wish to spend the next decade
with.
Think dog
Different breeds and types
of dog will enjoy different types of play, and it is worth giving some
thought to which would be most suitable for your pup.
Of course, the rules are not rigid and you should experiment with
lots of different toys and games to find out what your puppy enjoys most.
A dog of any breed is capable of enjoying a good game, but your
puppy’s instincts will dictate what sort of game he is likely to be best
suited to. Herding breeds and
gundogs and hounds all like to chase and retrieve (though gundogs are best
at the retrieve part!), guarding breeds enjoy games of strength and
terriers like to pounce and ‘kill’ small, fast moving toys –
especially if they squeak!
Keep the best toys for
yourself!
One rule for playing with
any dog is that you should always be in control. If you take charge of the games your puppy will grow up to
respect you and enjoy playing with you; let him take charge and you could
have real difficulty training him. There
is no reason why he shouldn’t have a few toys, such as nylabones or
kongs to mess around with on his own, but keep the best toys for yourself.
Keep the toys in a special box, out of the dog’s reach so that
you can bring them out when you wish to play with him.
As pack leader, it is your right to choose who you share ‘your’
special toys with, and when you wish to play.
As pack leader, you will win most games, and you will always keep
the toys for yourself at the end. Let
the puppy have a small victory occasionally – it’s no fun if you
always lose – but the toys are always put out of reach at the end.
If you find that your
puppy is always snatching the toys and running away with them to his
‘den’, attach a light line to him while you play so that you are able
to stay in control, by gently guiding him back in to the game.
If he won’t give up a toy, don’t make an issue of it.
Switch your attention to another toy, pretend to examine the new
toy, or toss it around, ignoring the one the pup has.
Soon YOUR toy will become the very best in the whole world, and the
previous toy will be forgotten as the pup comes running to join in the new
game. Ask him to sit before
sharing your new toy with him and gather the original toy up at the end of
the game, when it has been completely forgotten.
In this way, you will have kept control of the situation, kindly
but firmly making the point that you will not allow the pup to manipulate
you.
Choose when to play
Play with your puppy
often. Several short play
times a day is better than one long game which leaves the puppy exhausted
or bored at the end. Stop the
games while the pup is still having fun, so that he is always eager to
join in a game and will remain far more attentive to you, always on the
lookout for the next playtime.
The serious side of
play
Use your toys as training
tools to help you mound and shape the puppy’s behaviour. Incorporate small training exercises into your games, such as
asking the pup to ‘sit’ or ‘down’ at the beginning of a game or
before you throw a ball. Similarly,
you can incorporate toys and games into training sessions, by using a
short game with a favourite toy as a reward for coming, instead of a food
treat or as a focus of attention when practicing heel work.
Take some of your special
toys with you on walks. Teaching
you pup to play with you when you are out will keep walks interesting and
encourage the puppy to focus on you rather than on mischief! Arm
yourself with toys that can easily be whipped out of a pocket to distract
the puppy form trouble – a favourite squeaky which is more interesting
than a rabbit next to a railway line can literally save your dog’s life.
Games to play
Fetch
Everyone knows how this one works. Fetch games are great exercise and fun, and help you to teach your puppy to come back to you. Do make sure that he brings the toy all the way back, and ask him to GIVE it to you before it is thrown again. Don’t let him teach you to fetch for him! Introduce a ‘sit’ or a ‘down’ occasionally, rather than just throwing the toy again when your dog commands it! This will keep you in control, and maintain variety.
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