What not to do when playing with your dog?
Yoshiko Ruecker
2025-05-21 12:14:05
Count answers: 2
Unconstructive play can lead to mouthing, jumping up, pulling on clothes, snatching toys out of your hand or encouraging excessive chasing. Some examples of unconstructive games include pulling on clothing, playing games that encourage mouthing on hands and feet and games that overexcite your dog and encourage jumping up or mouthing. These games should be avoided as they encourage jumping up, mouthing and tugging on clothes, behaviours that your dog may begin to do in day-to-day life if they continue to practice them during play. If you are playing with a tug toy, try to avoid jolting the toy upwards sharply, as this can encourage your dog to jump up, and can hurt their neck. The most important thing to remember during constructive play is not to overstimulate your dog too much. We want them to be excited but not so excited that they aren’t able to respond to commands. If your dog breaks their ‘sit’ or ‘down’ before you say ‘get it’, reset by asking for a sit or down again.
Dean Hintz
2025-05-21 09:51:24
Count answers: 1
Dogs are totally entitled to their dinner and while you can add interest to mealtimes, you don’t want to create frustration – or make getting their meals contingent on solving complex and difficult puzzles. Dogs who don’t get mental enrichment or who don’t get an outlet for their natural hardwired behaviours can resort to behaviours you are going to find undesirable – perhaps by chewing the sofa, becoming hyperactive or over attention-seeking, or playing with things you don’t want them to. In other individuals, boredom can cause depression and so they may sleep a lot, lose interest in training and your relationship may start to break down.
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