How to play with a dog
Make sure you buy your dog a bunch of toys and bones
You could play tug of war with the rope, play fetch or just run around chasing the dog
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Great Activities You Can Enjoy With Your Dog
Here is an introduction to some great things people do with their dogs. Most activities welcome all dogs, whether purebred or of mixed breed heritage. Some of these activities are classed as "working dog" activities, but are also done on a recreational basis, or as a public service. Some dog activities are purely recreational in nature, while others are competitive dog sports. Many of these activities may be new to you. I have chosen my links based upon how welcoming they are to the merely curious.
People who play with their dog, stay with their dog.
Why do dog activites matter? Why promote them? Dog activities matter because they help dogs keep their homes.
When people and dogs do things together it is good news all around. Many of these activities provide the structure that helps people learn to better communicate with their dogs. The dogs have a better opportunity to learn good manners. That makes them easier to live with and less likely to be given up. The activities help people get in touch with one another to share information. That also helps people to learn about dogs, to avoid problems, and to solve them in a healthy way. The activites provide exercise in a fun way that boosts the relationship. The exercise, in turn, reduces boredom. A dog that exercises with its human is less likely to have behavior problems. A wonderful side benefit is that these activities can be a mental boost for humans and dogs alike.
Do we need lessons on having fun with our dogs?
All the evidence is, yes, we need to learn how to have fun with our dogs. Too many people just dont know how much fun their dog can be. Their relationship is one way; they havent learned to communicate. They need help learning how to have fun with their dog. When they enjoy their dog they are motivated to work through problems, to solve them instead of giving up on the dog.
And yes, your mutt can play too.
The big surprise to me was how many actitivies I can do with my mixed breed dogs. And the variety of sports, games, and just plain good times was also an eye opener. Many of the activities listed here will be new to you. Some of them you may have seen on TV, but never thought of getting involved in yourself. Well plunge right in and explore. You and your dog will be glad you did.
http://www.dogplay.com/
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Steps
Consider the age of the dog. Puppies (which, depending on the breed, can be up to 2 years old) will often be rambunctious and enjoy roughhousing.
Play fetch. Some breeds of dogs generally enjoy fetching more than others. Find an open space and throw a tennis ball or a frisbee, and hope that Rover will bring it back. (Be attentive to puppies who may be in their "chewing phase" because they can end up tearing the fuzz off a tennis ball or chew plastic frisbees and end up swallowing materials that could be harmful to them. If your dog starts this, change to a different toy to throw.) Insist that the dog drop the object at your feet before picking it up to throw again. If your dog does not drop it, one option is to bring two fetch toys. Throw the second one to get the first one.
Play tug-of-war with your dog. Dont be scared of some growling, as long as the dogs tail is wagging. It is a common misconception that one should never let the dog "win" a tug. Whether or not to allow the dog to win is dependent on the temperament of the dog. Some dogs are confident and spirited and do not need much encouragement from their owners. These dogs should not be allowed to win, as winning the tug is a simple way of establishing the proper hierarchy. However, many pet dogs are submissive, anxious, and lacking in self-confidence. It is healthy, and recommended, to allow these dogs to win tugs. It helps boost their confidence and drive. Playing (and losing) tug-of-war with a low-drive dog is a common technique used by professional trainers to build a dogs self-worth. Just imagine how youd feel if you were asked to play a game you always lose.
Blow childrens soap bubbles for your dog. Many dogs love to chase the bubbles, jump and "catch" them in mid-air.
While playing with your dog should always be a group activity, keeping your dog stimulated and entertained when he is alone is also important. Some important things to keep in mind are:
Do not use household objects, such as old shoes, bungee cords, or belts as toys. A dog cant tell the difference between your 10 year old shoe and the one you bought yesterday. Also, most household objects can be torn into small pieces by a dog and eaten. They will eat things you would never have thought possible.
Limit the number of toys your dog has to a few favorites. Dogs dont require 10 different toys to stay interested and often focus on one or two. Having more toys often confuses dogs as to what is a toy and what is not a toy.
Heavy rubber toys such as the Kong brand are excellent for chewers. Putting treats or peanut butter inside them can really keep a dog occupied for hours.
http://www.wikihow.com/Play-With-Your-Dog
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When you play with your puppy and adult dog, you can easily play too rough and in time you will produce a very dominating or an aggressive dog. Problems like food guarding, biting, nipping, and many other problems can be a result when you play with your dog or pup too roughly. Children need to learn not to play rough, pulling on body parts of the dog, or hitting the dog. There is a child conditioning method which will help to condition the dog to minor child behavior such as poking and screaming around the dog. (Click here for the child condition method.) If you play too rough with a submissive dog, the dog may become fearful of you. (Click here for more about fearful dogs.) If you have a pup or dog which is nipping or biting click here. (Im still working on the fearful and nipping or biting pages.)
http://home.att.net/~vlea/PLAYING_WITH_YOUR_PUPPY_OR_ADULT_DOG.htm
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Fetch is a game we take for granted. Yet fetch is the most perfect of all dog games. Its easy to learn. Its easy to do. Fetch is great exercise for your dog (even exercise for you, if you walk or jog to a park to play). Most important, fetch is all about give and take (quite literally); you and your pup are working in tandem.
You can play fetch with all the intensity of New York Yankees Derek Jeter firing one to Jason Giambi, or you can play fetch like Mildred Williams of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She says, "I take Little Duckie [a plush toy that quacks] and throw it to little Piper [her Pomeranian]. We just love it!" Mildred is 89 years old.
Some dogs will teach you to play fetch -- no surprise that those automatic conveyer belt bowsers tend to be retrieving breeds. Herding breeds are pretty good at it too. Experts suspect that catching a toy or a ball and then returning it is pretty much the same as herding the toy or ball back to you. However, theres no guarantee about innate talent. Check out any book on dogs; the Brittany was bred to retrieve waterfowl. Our own dog, at 13, still hasnt read the books. Chaser does exactly as her name implies. She gives chase. But then she keeps going. Im finally resigned to the fact that fetch will never be a part of her vocabulary.
Lucy, our Miniature Australian Shepherd (a.k.a. North American Shepherd) went to the same school for fetch and had the same teacher (thats me) as Chaser. Lucy will play fetch, at least until she decides she just doesnt want to do it anymore. Then were all familiar with dogs like my friend Jerrys Golden Retriever, Mandy, a total fetch-a-holic. Shes addicted. The lesson here is that some dogs will live to fetch, others will moderately enjoy the game, and still others just wont do it. Like most things in dog training, begin with an already favorite toy, whether its a tennis ball or a plush toy, and begin indoors when there are no distractions, tossing it just a foot or so from your dog.
If your dog doesnt have a favorite toy, create a favorite. Use that toy only for this game, and tell your dog all about it in an upbeat voice. Its dangerous for me to say this -- I may get nasty notes -- but Ill say it anyway. Tease your dog a little bit with the toy; make her want it. But then, when she barks, "Let me have it," oblige her.
At this point, you have several choices, mostly depending on your dog. Some dogs will naturally return the toy to you and drop it so you can give to her again; it seems they instantly understand. For others, teach the "drop it" command. Or, if you want, offer a piece of kibble or a treat. In order to take the kibble, the dog will drop the toy. The kibble can also encourage dogs who may not return with the toy. As time goes on, be sure to phase out that kibble or treat.
Dont give in and give chase. If you do, youve created an altogether different game. Or more accurately, your dog has taught you an altogether different game. Meanwhile, gradually increase your distance from the dog. Also, dont be afraid to use her name to call her to you if she doesnt instantly return. One secret is to always end the game before your dog losses interest, so you leave her wanting more.Once fetch has been mastered indoors, take it to your backyard or the park (in a fenced-in area, please). Some dogs will instantly play outdoors as if theyve fetched outside their entire lives. Others will act like theyve never heard of the game -- theyre just too distracted by all those interesting smells. For these dogs, just start gradually, the same as you did indoors, and dont be afraid to use yummy treats to encourage her to return with the ball or her toy.
Once I was playing fetch with Lucy while on my cell phone. I tossed the toy. Lucy retrieved. I tossed the toy. Lucy retrieved. I tossed the phone. Lucy did not retrieve.
http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/articles/dogs/068-01.htm
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Flying Disc Dog Sport
Youve seen them on TV - the dog races out, makes a spectacular leap and snags the flying disc from the air. Grinning the dog races back eager for the next throw. And youve seen them at the local dog park, no less enthusiastic but with varying degrees of skill. Thats Disc Dog.
Flying Disc is one of the dog sports that catches the eye the general public as well as people involved in dog activities. Teams competing at the higher levels can demonstrate truly spectacular displays of teamwork and athletics.
Disc dog is very exciting for dogs because it engages the instinct to chase and stop small moving objects, the dogs natural prey drive. It beats a ball because the disc proves a bigger challenge. It can hover and even reverse directions. Mixed breeds and purebreds can all play without regard to differences in their pedigree. Whether it is casual play or exciting competition Disc Dog is great for the dogs and humans alike. Anyone can play the game even if they never compete. Even if you decide that getting involved in the formal end isnt for you please take the time to learn how to keep your canine friend physically safe. Dont risk injuring your dog because you dont know what you dont know.
Competitive Disc Dog does have the some advantages. People who get involved in a group are more likely to check their dog out with the vet before starting, and train properly to avoid injury. The formal activity motivates the person to learn better dog teaching and communication skills. It helps to set goals and the measure the success in reaching those goals. Just as the dog needs rewards and praise for good performance people also benefit from getting positive feedback. Preparing for competition helps encourage regular practice which gives the dog the attention and exercise it needs. The social contacts developed during training and competition also provide resources to help solve dog problems before they become critical. Still if you cant keep it all about fun and teamwork, then dont do it.
The basics of Disc dog are simple enough. Throw the disc, dog catches disc, dog returns disc. It is the details that get complicated.
Competitive disc dog trials are more varied than most dog sports. It leaves room for creativity and physical artistry. There are two primary types of competition Distance/Accuracy and Freestyle, but there is a lot of variation of those types.
Freestyle can be very showy. It may involve contact such as launching off the knees, back, or chest of the handler. Routines may involve throwing multiple discs, which might require multiple rapid returns or dropping one disc in favor of the next or catching the next while still holding the first. Specific styles of throws and catches are judged, and will include a variety of distances. Scoring is based on showmanship / artistry, agility, difficulty, accuracy in setting up the catch, how (and whether) the catch is made, and more. Freestyle competitions may include using multiple discs.
Distance/accuracy competitions score based upon the location and distance of the dogs catch and landing. The labels used to describe these classes will vary. Scoring may also evaluate how the catch was made and whether the dog was airborne. Some tests will challenge the dogs ability to respond to throws delivered rapidly, one after another. A time is set and scoring depends upon the number of catches within that time. Sometimes precision is also called for and the catch must be within specified boundaries to be scored. Typically the handler is restricted to a throwing area indicated by lines or other markers and stepping outside that area can reduce the score or invalidate the throw.
One of the advantages of this sport is that the equipment is inexpensive and the training environment requires only a largish open field. While it is often called "Frisbee® Dog" that name is properly applied only to activities involving the specific flying disc with that name, the one developed by Wham-O. The Frisbee is only one of many disc brands used in the sport. So the more general name of the activity is "Disc Dog." The choice of disc is important not only to performance in the sport but also to the safety of your dog. The disc should not be hard nor brittle. Dont let your dog treat it as a chew toy. Discard it if tooth marks leave burrs that can cut your dogs mouth.
There now discs of all sizes to accommodate the great variety of dogs involved in this sport. Be sure to choose a disc that is comfortable and the right size and weight for your dog.
No matter how experienced your dog is dont expect to quickly go from beginner to star. One of the good things about getting involved in the formal end of the activity is that everyone takes a step back and learns about safety. There are safe and unsafe catches. Dog and handler together learn to reduce impact, assess risks, and encourage safe landing.
Engaging in this activity can be a life saver for some dogs. It can keep dogs out of the shelter and in their homes because it develops bonding and communication. The activity itself provides a focused outlet for physical energy. The dog and the human form a team, each must do its part to be successful. Neither can play the game without the other. The training involved develops self control and discipline in the dog, and teaches the person important basics about teaching and motivating their dog. Teaching some of the more impressive catches, for example, requires that the dog be able to sit and wait until signaled. Set moderate goals that are right for your dogs physical and developmental level. Train for teamwork, fun, safety and success.
Dont make giving up or dropping disc a bad thing for the dog. There are a variety of ways to get a dog to drop the disc without ripping it away. Which is the right way depends upon what motivates your dog. Some people "trade". They may exchange a treat or a chance to play with a tug toy. Sometimes ignoring the dog makes the dog try to figure out how to get you to play again. Reading up on "operant conditioning" can really open your eyes as to building toward a solution, you dont have to solve it all at one go. Successful training, in all endeavors, requires paying attention to your dog, patience, consistency and readiness to consider a new approach.
Dont overwork it. Always stop while your dog is still eager for more. Avoid the "just once more" syndrome. If you got the goal STOP. Dont try it again. First, many dogs, especially the thinking ones, will try something different because obviously it was wrong. After all you kept trying and trying before so if you are trying again then it must still be wrong. Also it takes time to put that new knowledge into longer term memory. So stop while you have it right, and let the dog learn. That doesnt necessarily mean stop playing, just go on to something else. And if you try again after success there is a very good chance it will go wrong again. So end on an up note.
While there are certainly physical types that are at best advantage in the disc dog sport all dogs are welcome. Not all dogs, however, are well designed for this sport. At the competitive level, especially, both a sound structure and an athletic one are vital. The very small and very large dogs will find the sport more physically challenging that more moderately sized dogs. Some disc dog organizations have special divisions for the small dogs. If your dog is physically capable it can enjoy this game even if it isnt perfect for the top levels of the sport. If you dont already have a dog dont choose purely by which breeds do best in the sport. Your dog is your friend and companion first. So choose a dog with the personality and character that you enjoy, then have fun with what that wonderful dog can do. If you find yourself disappointed in your dog STOP and find something else. No activity is right for all dogs or all people.
http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/disc.html
If you have an aggressive dog, you have a problem. Though these inclinations may not seem to bad when you first bring home a sweet little puppy – in fact, they can actually seem quite endearing – these issues will only get larger as your puppy becomes a dog. When an aggressive dog is an adult, you have a severe danger on your hands.
Certainly, you won’t be able to correct an aggressive dog completely overnight, but with love, patience, and consistent training, you’ll teach your dog how to be comfortable and calm and bring out the great pet he or she has inside.
