How do I get my dog to stop playing too much?
Ruby Bergstrom
2025-05-22 15:08:48
Count answers: 4
To stop your dog's demand for play, you must resist once you've given the "All done!" cue. If you give in after you've given your cue, you are in for a lot more of the same. Start with a long play session – long enough that it's reasonable to expect that your dog will be able to end the game and relax. Give your "All done!" cue, and put the toy somewhere your dog can no longer see it – in a cupboard or in a backpack – and ignore any of your dog's efforts to re-engage with the toy. Notify any other humans in the vicinity to also ignore your dog's attempts to get them to play. Make sure to give your dog plenty of opportunities to engage in ball-chasing and other favorite activities daily. You don't want your dog to feel deprived after you tell him that you are done for the moment, but confident that he will have another opportunity later. Generalize your "All done!" cue by using it in other training situations and recreational activities, so that your dog will realize that the cue means the end of whatever he is doing when he hears it.