There is an old saying among dog trainers: "You can't teach nothing."
It sounds grammatically incorrect, but it means that everything you do with your dog teaches him something. Playtraining can be a wonderfully rewarding time for you and your companion, and an easy way to teach him manners.
Before you get your dog you must make the commitment that you will set apart some time every day for a scheduled play time. Researchers have found that play is crucial to the development and well being of a pet. It is as crucial to his mental health as food and water is to his physical health.
Incorporating sit-stay, heel and stand-stay into game playing is a positive way to bond.
Supervision when outdoors is critical to bonding, and is the way to remain a good neighbor.
What kind of games are most rewarding for dog and owner? Tasks that make the dog feel an integral part of the family. Making the dog feel he is an important family member discourages him from the roaming that causes neighborhood conflicts, accidents, and even eventual relinquishment.
Below are some positive games:
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Retrieve on leash: Place a collar and six-foot leash on the dog.
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Throw an object such as a soft Frisbee, a wooden or plastic dumbbell, a stick, or a stuffed toy just a few feet in front of you. Have him watch as you throw. Then give a command such as "take it," and run toward the toy with him. He will usually run eagerly and pick up swiftly. Be ready to exchange a tiny, soft goodie so he will gently give the object back to you. The command I say is "thank you."
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When the dog is retrieving reliably, you can start hiding the object just out of sight. As he becomes more proficient you will see him placing his head down and sniffing. Your dog is now using his highly developed olfactory system to track.
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When completely reliable on leash, go back to the first step, but now take off the leash. If the dog comes to you on command you have taught "come when called" as well as retrieving skills. Remember that the dog must always be praised when he comes back to you. Do not reach out to grab him as he returns or attempt to tug the toy from his mouth. Keep your hands close to your body and wait till he returns and sits in front of you to pet or take an object away.
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The rest of the family can participate in these games too. Two people can have the dog run from one to the other on command. The person who calls the dog should have a toy or goodie to reward him as well as giving verbal praise and petting.
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Graduate from a well-learned sit and stay to teaching him the skills of shaking hands, rolling over, or even barking on command. One of my dogs has been taught to open her crate on command, run inside and speak for a goodie.
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One game my dogs like is for me to place a message in a discarded paper towel roll. The dog is commanded to take the roll to a designated person in the next room. That person retrieves the cardboard cylinder removes the message and thanks the dog profusely.
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Mail addressed to "occupant" is treated the same way. The dog accompanies me to the mailbox and is allowed to carry that important missive back to the house. I take it from him with much praise. Being given tasks to do makes the dog feel important and wanted. It makes him even more eager to respond to your commands the rest of the day.
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Families often get dogs as companions for children. When selecting a pet for children, the best temperament is a placid dog that does not startle at percussive sounds and fast, erratic movements. However children must still be taught manners with dogs and appropriately interact with them only under adult supervision. They must be taught not to tease, chase, pinch, pull tails, or disturb the dog that is sleeping or eating. Dogs are different than that stuffed toy. They are living, feeling beings.
Now it is even more important to teach that tug-of-war or wrestling games are destructive and may become dangerous. Tug-of -war teaches the dog to use his mouth aggressively, and that is not what the pet owner wants to communicate. So don't start teaching that bad habit to a pup because it seems funny, and expect him to be gentle as an adult. Do not tease, or wrestle with him. Pups learn those activities in the whelping box and it is the way to establish dominance among littermates.
Games can be used to teach manners, develop skills, and can be aerobic workouts to keep you and your companion in shape. They vent energy that might otherwise be expended in destructive digging and chewing or excessive barking. Play is entertainment, relieves stress, and helps build the life-long bond between dog and owner.
North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance 2006
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