Dogs bond with their litter mates and other dogs through play, it is no different with their human. Never underestimate the power of play with your pup….

Playing with your pup can do a number of things;

• Give them much needed exercise,
• It keeps them busy,
• Theirs bonding time,
• You help them learn manners and boundaries,
• It can help to prep them for training time,
• And of course just generally make them happy.

Much needed exercise – exercise is so so important for your dogs well being. We usually leave our dogs at home all day while we are at work. A lot of us don’t realize how stressful that can be for them, and how bored then can get. Taking them for a walk or spending some time playing in the backyard in the morning as part of their routine will not only help them relax while you are gone but will also help with how hyper they are when you get home. Not to mention the added bonus of keeping them healthy through a regular exercise routine.

Keep them busy – when your pup has their fill of exercise and engagement through activity, they are less likely to look for things to get into. For example when your pup has their own toys and they are rewarded regularly by you playing with them together, they are more likely to continue to do so on their own time rather then look for things to chew on like your shoes or a couch…

Bonding time – building a relationship with your pet is something we all want, that is why we got the pup in the first place isn’t it? playful interaction is one of the best ways to build that bond.

Learn manners and boundaries – when your pup is with their litter mates their brothers and sister teach them how to interact and play. They learn when they are being to rough, or when they are hurting their siblings. They do this through playing with each other. You are usually bringing your puppy home between 8-10 weeks old, at this age there is still plenty to learn. You can continue this teaching when you bring your pup home, it will help with training and your pup will grow to respect you as well.

Prep them for training time – attempting to train and teach your pup new tricks when they are full of energy will end with you being frustrated. They will spend more time doing everything you don’t want them to do rather then learning. Next time you want to do some training, take your pup for a walk or play a bit first to help reduce some of that excess energy. Then when you go to do some training you will get a much better response, you can also reward the training session with some more play after. Your pup will really feel like they did something right and will be much more interested in doing this process again the next time. The key is consistency.

Happy puppy happy life – this really speaks for itself. Anyone who comes from a pet family has experience those trouble makes that get into things, chew on everything they are not suppose too and generally cause havoc in the house. Most of the time this is a result of a bored dog. Fixing the habits once they have been created is harder, so start with a healthy exercise and interactive routine early and the chances of this behavior developing is way less likely.

The best toys to use for this interaction are ones that involve both you and your pet. A good tennis ball, a Kong, a rope toy, are just a few of the toys you can use to play. The friendship that will evolve from this time you are spending will be really rewarding, your dog will build a bond with you that will help in many ways… I really encourage all pet parents to take the time