Play is an important part of a dog's life, from puppyhood to old age. This is due to the fact that the dog is a social animal, which learns through interactions with others, therefore, the game is a key piece for the learning that will accompany you for the rest of your life.
For this reason, as we explain in this article on our site, knowing how to play with a puppy is necessary for his basic education, as well as consequently to prevent it from developing behavioral problems that would harm its well-being and coexistence with your pet.
The importance of play in puppies
Play is essential for the proper development and well-being of your puppy. Contrary to what many times may think, it is not an optional whim to offer your furry to play with him, since this activity is instinctively part of his learning and maturing processIt is not for nothing that we see how puppies play with their siblings and mother and, therefore, it is part of their natural behavior. So let's see what are the main benefits that the game brings to your pet, as well as to your relationship with him:
- He exercises physically: the game is a physical activity that involves the use of the muscles. In addition, it helps strengthen bones and prevents your dog from being hyperactive due to lack of exercise.
- It is a means of socialization: through play, your puppy learns to interact and relate to others, so it is necessary to have your social needs covered.
- Learn self-control: When playing, a puppy should measure his strength proportionally to the activity, as well as, little by little, learn to inhibit biting with proper guidance.
- Learn to tolerate frustration: The game also involves your puppy having to overcome challenges, which will make your pet recognize its limits and become more tolerant of frustration when you don't get a reward the first time.
- Prevents behavior problems: Without a doubt, play is a means for your dog to release tension, stress and not be bored, fundamental elements so that your adult puppy does not develop most behavioral problems and, therefore, be a dog that feels safe and balanced.
- Spend some quality time with you: Last but not least, the game acts as a social reinforcement, which associates with you. In this way, your dog will see you as someone fun and trustworthy, strengthening his emotional bond with you.
In addition, playing with your puppy will help him to socialize properly. In this other article on How to socialize a puppy correctly?, we explain more about the subject.
How long to play with a puppy?
There is no strictly set time period for how long to play with a puppy, as the time will vary depending on the energy, type of play and age of the little one. We must bear in mind that puppies begin to play from four weeks of age, but it is not until they are twelve weeks old that it does not begin to shorten their sleeping habits progressively, since on average, a puppy can sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day.
This means that although the puppies are in a very busy stage, they get tired easily, being able to play at most a few 20 minutes approximately, until they are exhausted and fall asleep again. Therefore, as your puppy grows, he will have more endurance, until reaching 40-50 minutes in which an adult dog can have fun without getting tired.
As we said, playing also helps them exercise. It is also interesting to know How much exercise should a puppy do?
Types of play with puppies
There are multiple options of games that you can play with your puppy. Let's see the main ones:
- Tug of war: This game is highly recommended, as it is a way to satisfy your “hunting” instinct, while who exercises and entertains with you. When you play with your dog to grab a rope and try to "take it away", it is important that you encourage him to let go (showing him another moving rope or food), to reward him once he does so, in turn, try to give him an oral instruction such as “let go”. In this way, you will prevent your dog from developing a resource protection problem, and he will learn that you do not want to steal his toy. In addition, teaching him to let go is also necessary in case he ever grabs something inappropriate.
- Chase: Playing chase with a ball or other toy will also be a way to tire him out and satisfy his instinct. You can alternate it with tug-of-war, for example, throwing the rope at him every time he lets go, to reinforce this behavior
- Olfactory: the game of smell is one that aims to stimulate this sense through the search for food or a toy through nose. This game can be played, for example, by using a sniffing mat (available in stores or homemade) in which prizes are hidden, hiding something valuable in a box, glasses, etc. So your pup has to use his nose to find it. In the process, you can add some oral instruction, such as "search" or "toy", so that it associates it with the activity.
- Propioceptive game: activities aimed at stimulating proprioception are those aimed at using the body's internal senses, that is, the perception of own movement, balance, muscle tone, etc. This kind of games, therefore, are made up of circuits in which the dog has to overcome different challenges, such as overcoming different heights, obstacles and different terrains (soft, irregular…).
- Intelligence games: these kinds of games are those in which the dog has to solve a problem or overcome a challenge to achieve a goal (usually a prize). They are beneficial because they stimulate your puppy mentally and create patterns of behavior from trial and error that he will adopt in various situations in his life.
- Solo play: It is vitally important that your puppy also learns to entertain himself from an early age through activities such as extracting food from a Kong, look for hidden food, ropes, bones to gnaw… in a space where you feel calm and safe. In this way, if the puppy learns to be alone without depending on the owner, the development of separation anxiety can be prevented when he has to stay home alone.
If what you are wondering is how to tire out a puppy at home, you may find this other article on our site about 6 games to play with your dog at home useful.
How to play with a puppy? - Guidelines and recommendations
When you want to play with your puppy, it is very important that you follow a clear structure that your pet can understand to avoid misunderstandings.
You start the game
To start the game, you should always pay attention to whether your puppy is receptive to it, that is, respects the space and breaks of the. In the same way, the initiative should always be marked by you, indicating it with some slogan such as, "Let's play!", since in your day to day with coexistence with your pet, there will be situations in which your puppy will demand that you play with him and, in the same way that you must take into account his space and limits, he must learn to respect you too.
Conversely, if you always agree to his wishes, he will learn that he always gets his way and when you want to correct him it will be more complicated, because he may insist on calling your attention in unwanted ways (breaking things, barking, biting your feet…). Therefore, if your dog asks you to play, be indifferent and ignore him, and once he has given up, invite him to play.
Teach him not to bite
During the play activity, you must train him to learn to inhibit the bite To this end, every time he bites you hard, You should say something with which he understands that he has hurt you, such as "ouch!" and you will stop playing, in this way, he will associate biting hard with the end of the fun and he will learn to measure himself.
Puppy-Appropriate Toys
The toys or game elements you use should be varied to arouse their curiosity. And, obviously, safe and innocuous for your pet, without toxic elements or with which it could hurt itself (for example, a stick or a pineapple could splinter and hurt it). mouth wounds). In the same way, if the toy is broken or damaged, it would be better to get rid of it, as it could put your puppy at risk by injuring himself or choking if a piece breaks off.
Also, you should not allow your puppy to play with everyday items that you don't want him to get used to, such as slippers (even if they are old, he could find a new one that you don't want him to break), paper, furniture … Offer more suitable alternatives.
Games adapted to their abilities
Next, you must bear in mind that the activities that pose a challenge, such as games of intelligence or smell, must be adapted to their abilities, since the interesting thing is to find a balance point betweenNot too easy to avoid getting bored , but not too difficult to avoid getting frustrated and associating it as something negative.
You finish the game
Le the same way as the beginning, you must be the one who indicates the game end once you see that your puppy is calm after playing, but not enough for him to abandon the activity (you have to be one step ahead). It is advisable that you communicate it through some sign or slogan such as “he is here!” so that he understands it and, not to give in if he continues to insist on playing for the reasons that have been previously mentioned. You must understand that the activity has a beginning and an end.
Finally, it is recommended that you always have access to a rest area and solo fun, because if you have the need to play and you cannot be for him, he must respect him and know that he has alternatives to entertain himself, without resorting to playing with unwanted elements (plants, furniture, etc.).
For more information, you can consult this other article on How to train a puppy?
