How To Exercise A Dog That Doesn't Play

You'd think that dogs and play would get together like apples and cinnamon, and in most cases, they do. Only depending on how a dog was raised and treated, he may not enjoy or even know how to play.

Most dogs alive life to the fullest, and love to play by themselves or with their humans. Toss a toy their way and they pounce, toss, jerk and have a smashing fourth dimension. Only there are also dogs who don't seem to grasp how to play, or who have a low play drive. Why does this happen, and how can we teach these dogs to savour play?

Allow'southward start past defining "play", and then we are on the same page. According to the Collins Lexicon (collinsdictionary.com), "When children, animals, or adults play, they spend fourth dimension doing enjoyable things, such as using toys and taking office in games." The takeaway word is "enjoyable." If the activity isn't enjoyable for both parties, it'south not play. We need to remember this whenever we interact with our dogs.

Why a dog may not savour play

In my experience, dogs don't play with their humans for two reasons.

1. They weren't brought upwardly to play during their puppyhood and developmental menstruum,

and/or

2. They were reprimanded for playing "incorrect".

Puppies brought upwardly playing a multifariousness of games with a variety of people become proficient players and grow into more confident and engaging dogs. On the other hand, if a domestic dog is trying to play with someone, but the person reprimands or scares him, the dog volition learn non to play, with negative behavioral consequences. The aforementioned applies to a dog who was never given enjoyable human contact while growing up.

How to restart play

If you take or know of a dog that doesn't seem to know how to play, there are ways to help him learn while having fun in process. With some simple guidelines, a positive attitude and patience, he can soon exist upwards and playing with the all-time of them.

1. Stay positive

Remember, the definition of play includes the word "enjoyable". During playtime with a dog, e'er be positive, fun and encouraging. Don't use words such as "no", "wrong", etc. The same goes for your body linguistic communication. Dogs are amazing at reading human body language, so don't slump or seem disappointed. You want to teach the dog to fully trust you lot and feel confident most trying anything.

During playtime with a dog, always exist positive, fun and encouraging.

2. Consider the dog'south comfort level

Information technology's ever of import to sympathise your canis familiaris'south comfort level, and what makes him happy, nervous or excited. Some play-deprived dogs are very nervous, and startle at the smallest gesture or change in voice. For these dogs, it's important to continually monitor his enjoyment versus his stress levels. You may need to actively tone down your intensity to friction match his fashion.

3. Know what he likes to do

What does your dog like doing best? Does he similar sniffing, chasing, using his feet or touching you? Don't exist discouraged if he doesn't have in interest in domestic dog toys; play does not have to include an object. Information technology'southward almost connecting and enjoying each other. When introducing play to your dog, choose the behavior your canis familiaris seems to enjoy most (run into below).

"Find it" — a beginner game for play-deprived dogs

"Observe the treat" is a great game for most dogs, and a good place to start with a canis familiaris that doesn't relish or know how to play. The object is for the dog to discover treats you hibernate around the firm. All y'all need for this game are good for you treats — 100% meat tends to be best considering of its high aroma, making the treats easier for the dog to find in the beginning stage.

Start past showing your dog the treats. Ask him to stay, if he knows this behavior, and place one care for five feet in front end of him. Then tell him to "find it" as you encourage him to get upwardly and swallow the treat. Right later on he eats it, give him a second treat for being so smart. If the dog doesn't know how to stay, but tell him to "find information technology" every bit y'all toss the care for right in front of him. Once again, give him a 2nd treat right after he eats the commencement.

Exercise this fun game a few times a day. At this stage, you lot are teaching your dog two things:

"Find it" means he's going to get a treat.
You lot are a bully person to play with. (Yes, this is play!)

As your dog starts to sympathise this game, increment the distance of your care for placement or toss. Instead of five feet, move it to ten, xv and so on. Finally, the canis familiaris's treats volition be out of sight and he must search for them. Prep him with a few easy "find its". Then put him in the side by side room and close the door, identify a handful of treats virtually x feet from the closed door, open the door and happily say, "find information technology". Watch your domestic dog lite upwards every bit he sees his loot!

Repeat this sequence about 4 more than times. On the fifth set up, place the pile of treats about fifteen feet out from the door and off to the side. Now, your domestic dog volition need to offset looking for the treats. Gradually make it more challenging for him to find the care for stash.

Over time, you and your dog volition become masters at this game. When he can hands find hidden stashes of treats, yous can get-go decreasing the number of treats in the pile and place single treats the hourse around for him to observe. This volition besides actually start to exercise his scenting ability.

One time your domestic dog understands the basic concept of "find it", you tin teach him to find other objects such as his dinner, meaty bones, yourself, and whatever toys he happens to like. Remember: if he doesn't have a desire for the object, then he won't take a desire for the game. If he's not a brawl dog, for example, asking him to observe a ball won't exist very fun or successful. But sneaking out of the room, ducking behind the defunction and saying "discover me" as your domestic dog runs effectually looking for you can exist loads of fun when he finds you. Every bit an extra bonus, requite him some treats when he finds you. If your dog isn't having any luck finding you, make a flake of noise to make it easier for him.

Games dogs play

When choosing a game or form of play for your dog, remember about the things he likes to practise most. Play doesn't e'er have to involve toys. It tin can include:

Petting, rubbing, nose or paw targeting
Chasing you
Tricks and training
Sniffing walks
Obstruction training

Toys meet unlike needs depending on the dog's play fashion:

Food-dispensing toys
Fetch toys
Tug toys
Chase toys

Play is non a frivolous action, just something every dog should know how to do.

Education a dog to play is a powerful fashion to interact with him. Not only will yous both take fun, simply you will be creating a bond with him and helping him build confidence and trust in you lot and in life. Play is not a frivolous action, merely something every dog should know how to do, for his own physical, social, mental and emotional well-beingness. Now, get have fun!