The importance of play

Playing with our dogs has so many benefits:

Its a great form of physical exercise, both for us and our dogs. A game of tug,hide and seek etc. needs us to get involved and so burns calories for both owner and dog. It also helps to maintain healthy joints and muscles, although we need to make sure that all play is appropriate for our dogs life stage and is not putting our dogs at risk of injury through repetition e.g repeated chasing of a ball (for more info on safe play for your dog https://caninearthritis.co.uk/cam-conversation-with-cam-lynsey-mel-rebecca-kathryn-and-danielle-about-ball-throwing-for-dogs/ )

We can also use play as part of our dogs training. A flirt pole can be used to help with impulse control and we can incorporate cues such as wait and recall into games. Also a game of tug or chase can be used as rewards to reinforce behaviours that we want to see more of.

Play also provides mental stimulation to our dogs. It can keep them from becoming bored and keep them in a happy state of mind. Try varying the types of play to keep them interested and also find out what they enjoy the most.

For both us and our dogs, play can be a great stress reliever. Studies have shown that dogs that play less are more likely to show problem behaviours such as anxiety.

Playing with our dogs strengthens our bond. It's a great way to spend quality time together and it shows your pup that you're the provider of all things fun!