The Importance Of Play

Want to keep your dog healthy and happy?

Are you hoping to minimize behavioral issues and help your pet follow important commands?

Play may be the answer you’ve been waiting for. This article will explain how making playtime a part of your dog’s routine can change your world for the better.

Better Behavior

It’s simple, really: Longer, higher-quality playtime will directly impact your dog’s behavior. Specifically, play can help reduce behavioral issues, such as:

Whining
Leash pulling
Poor listening

These negative behaviors can all be avoided by engaging your dog with consistent play.

A study conducted by Bristol University reveals dogs that don’t spend enough time playing are more likely to suffer from anxiety and aggression, along with other negative behaviors like growling around other dogs. The benefits of play are truly backed by science.

The Benefits

Playtime boasts many benefits for dogs and their owners (although this post will focus mainly on the former). Here are just some of the benefits of dog play:

Better physical health

Active play like a game of tug-of-war will keep your dog’s heart-healthy and their joints lubricated and in top condition. It’ll slow the aging process and even improve your dog’s balance and coordination. This will reduce the risk of injury later on.

Increased mental stimulation

The benefits of play don’t end with your dog’s physical health. Playtime will also engage your dog on an intellectual level. Games with specific rules—for instance, fetch—will teach your dog to use their brain and body for optimal results.

Enhanced social skills

Regardless of whether your dog plays with other animals or other people—or both—social interaction will work wonders for your pet’s overall health. With strong social skills, your dog will learn to coexist peacefully with others.

Playtime also promotes bonding with your pet. Even if you only take a few minutes each day to play with your dog, the results can be very meaningful. By keeping active together, you can also make sure you get the exercise you need (and even decrease stress after a long day).

Tips

Activities that involve running, walking, swimming, fetching, or even a trip to the dog park—the options for playtime are expansive.

Regardless, you’ll want to do your due diligence as a dog owner and go about things the right way.

Here are some tips for playtime:

Incorporate commands like “Sit,” “Down,” and “Stay” into your dog’s play. This will help emphasize respect and control.
The more challenging the activity and structure of the game, the more you will be able to address all of your dog’s energies.
Remember that you—rather than your dog—should decide when playtime is over. It’s best to end the fun when your dog still wants to play.

With these insights in your arsenal, you’ll be ready to take your dog’s playtime to the next level.

Recommended Posts

The Benefits Of Exploration

A Dog's Different Energies