How to play with dogs?

Dogs are incredibly sociable animals. They love long, adventurous walks, imaginative games and other forms of spending time with the family. Do you want to take care of their development and well-being? Find out how to play with your dog indoors or outdoors.

All dogs are alert, attentive and full of energy. Especially during walks, when they can follow the fresh, exciting scent and seek rewards in the tall grass. Although the tendency to follow the instincts may seem like disobedience, it is better not to try to fight it. There are many interesting games and activities that will help you gain better control over your pet and use its natural predispositions. Daily exercise is a fun way to release stress, learn and bond with all family members. Regardless of whether we are preparing something special at home or planning outdoor activities, we can use the innate skills of each quadruped to search for traces, recognize and take tracks. Do you want to work on the condition and coordination of your four-legged friend? In the home garden, you can also prepare various tunnels and obstacles that have to be overcome in the right order or on command.

A properly arranged strategy should, of course, engage not only physically, but also mentally. Some scenarios are conducive to staying focused and calm. Fearful or elderly dogs will therefore not be constantly looking for opportunities to play simple games that allow them to run, such as following a ball or a stick. We must alternate them with more intellectually demanding entertainment that stimulates brain functions and thus delays the ageing process. This usually combines a sense of smell and the ability to solve problems quickly.

A beloved little friend recently had surgery, so you need to limit the activities for a while? Are you wondering how to teach your puppy more independence, stimulate its creativity or tame its fears? Remember that muscle fatigue is not enough. When running after a ball doesn’t work, you can try smell games. What are their advantages and for whom are they suitable? First of all, they can improve the concentration of dogs that are still a bit hyperactive. At the very beginning of this journey, it is also worth using this type of activity to get the puppy used to being in a different room. All you have to do is to provide the little one with a safe task that engages all the senses for your pet to gradually stop being afraid of loneliness. Solving difficult puzzles will also be useful for older animals. Thanks to this, they will stay in good shape longer and will have better self-esteem. How to play with a dog?

At the very beginning, adjust the game to the character, habits, health and capabilities of your pet. You can wrap the tasty prizes in a blanket or put them in a surprise box, which consists of several different layers. To get to the snack, the pet will have to deal with unrolling or unpacking them. It’s a good idea to hide them in different places in the room. By encouraging your dog to search, you can also teach it to respond to certain commands. You can also hide a few different prizes in the garden. The exercise will be even more stimulating if you have several dogs that can compete with each other for any prize. However, you should watch them carefully to prevent violent, aggressive reactions.

Also read: Do Dogs Dream? Interesting facts about the dreams of our pet friends

Research conducted in England suggests that the behaviour of quadrupeds during play is related not only to their temperament but also to the relationship they have with their guardian. Games involving frequent physical contact help build trust and a strong, lasting bond with all family members. The way we organize them is also important. If there’s too much chaos, your dog might become much less docile and tends to be aggressive. What else is worth remembering? It is beneficial to encourage puppies to play with other puppies or adult animals that have no problem with anxiety or socialization. In this way, they will be able to gather a lot of basic information about the world and gradually learn their strength.

Regardless of the circumstances, however, it is worth constantly monitoring their behaviour. Check if the sounds they make indicate excitement (such a signal can be, for example, a growl) and if their body language indicates relaxation and good fun. When to react? Particular caution is required when the pet becomes more and more tired, has less energy, seeks the owner’s attention by force or starts to behave badly. When playing, you should also not encourage inappropriate habits such as biting and poking other animals, scratching or jumping on the guardian.

It all depends on their age, preferences and physical condition. Older, ailing animals with increasing joint problems are unlikely to enjoy fetching or tugging. Chewing toys, interactive toys or puzzles will be much more appropriate in this case. Similar attractions can be used in case of uneasy pets, which often cannot concentrate on several different activities at the same time.

Puppies will appreciate the varied exercises that develop both their cognitive abilities and physical fitness. In some cases, however, it is worth ruling out games that could damage their delicate teeth and gums. Also, try not to distract them unnecessarily with many interesting ideas. Ideally, nothing will interfere with joyful running, tracking or solving puzzles.

What to do if the pet usually does not feel like doing any intense or long activity? If its sports habits are not caused by health problems, choose fun, stimulating activities, such as running together, passing Frisbees or biting, tugging and pulling thick braided ropes. Remember, however, that a depressed mood can be a symptom of more serious ailments. In some situations, it is worth consulting a specialist who will tell you how to play with your dog without risk.

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