Entry posted by Rss Bot
63 views
Puppies are famous for their playful nature, but adult dogs need playtime too. Even senior dogs enjoy age-appropriate fun. Play is a great way to provide any dog with mental stimulation and physical exercise. But how do you know if you’re providing your dog with enough playtime? And does the need for play vary across your dog’s life span? What about between different breeds? Learn more about how much playtime dogs need and tips for fitting play into your daily routine.
What Are the Benefits of Play for Dogs?
According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Isabelle Bazin, DVM, DACVB, of the Daubigny Veterinary Center in Quebec City, although dogs play with other dogs a little differently than they play with people, both can be beneficial. Play helps dogs expend physical and mental energy. That’s important because dogs with excess energy will look for their own outlets, which can lead to unwanted behaviors like destructive chewing or pulling on leash.
Play with an owner can also help strengthen the dog-human bond. Your dog will be reinforced for interacting with you which creates a connection that carries through into the rest of your relationship. For example, when you’re training your dog, your dog will be more likely to listen and enjoy the process if they see you as a source of rewards.
Dr. Bazin adds that play can also be used as a reward during your training. So instead of giving your dog a cookie, you can throw a ball or play a game of tug-of-war to reinforce a behavior or redirect your dog to a more appropriate behavior. “If you want to train something, and you don’t want to use food, or you cannot use food or the dog is simply more motivated by play, then play is a very useful tool,” she explains.
Does a Dog’s Need for Play Change Across Life Stages?
In general, puppies play more than adult dogs. It’s their way of exploring the world and practicing behaviors they might need as adults. Just be sure your puppy participates in safe play. For example, before allowing your puppy to play with other dogs, be sure they’re a match in size and play style. Also, prevent your puppy from participating in high-impact play like jumping until the growth plates in their bones have fused at 12 months or older, depending on the breed.
As dogs age, they tend to play less, although that’s a generality as some dogs will play quite a bit their whole lives. However, there are aging factors that can impact a dog’s ability to enjoy various kinds of play such as anything that impacts a dog’s ability to move around. “If they have osteoarthritis, a vision problem, or another condition that impairs their ability to move, then we need to choose appropriate play for the dog,” says Dr. Bazin. “Maybe more low-impact activities or locations that are more appropriate. For example, you want to pick a floor that’s not too slippery if you have a dog that already has trouble walking.”
How Much Play Do Dogs Need?
Although different breeds tend to have different characteristics, like most terriers love to dig and most retrievers love to fetch, these are also generalities. One Border Collie might need constant play and stimulation whereas another might be more low-key. Some dogs benefit from a daily play session lasting only a few minutes, while on other days, depending on the activity or game, you might play with your dog for 30 minutes. Therefore, understanding how much play your dog needs isn’t as simple as knowing their heritage.
Instead, Dr. Bazin recommends tailoring your play style and routine to your individual dog. Be aware of your dog’s personality and needs, then adjust the play you provide based on your dog’s response. You can even adapt your play to your dog’s physical condition, such as playing in the water instead of the yard for a dog with mobility issues. A dog who can’t run might enjoy swimming.
But avoid overdoing play. Too much exercise or too much play could overtire a dog, so they’re not at their best. It’s not necessarily advantageous for your dog to be exhausted all the time. You need to find a balance, but that will vary by the individual dog. Dr. Bazin advises consulting a dog trainer or veterinarian if you’re struggling to find the right amount of play time.
Is Your Dog Getting Enough Playtime?
So what should you look for when assessing your dog’s response to their play routine? Dr. Bazin suggests assessing your dog’s overall behavior. Are they displaying problem behaviors, like barking, or attention-seeking behaviors such as stealing things in the house? Then they might not be getting enough play and are trying to create games of their own. For example, your dog might steal your shoe then show it to you. Once you get up to retrieve it, your dog will run away from you. In this instance, their goal is to elicit a game of chase. If you run after your dog, you will only increase this behavior in the future. But just as important, it’s likely a sign your dog is looking for additional playtime with you.
Of course, these undesirable behaviors can have other causes such as anxiety or health issues. Consider the difference between a dog stress barking at the window in alert mode and one barking at their owner. Play isn’t the answer to the former issue. But if your dog is doing the behavior then looking at you as if to say, “Did you see that?” it’s more likely about needing more play.
Are There Types of Play to Avoid?
A lot of people ask Dr. Bazin whether there are types of play they should avoid so they don’t excite their dogs too much or create problem behavior. However, she believes if a dog likes a certain game, then it’s okay to play that way with them. Just be sure your dog can calm down easily afterwards. If your dog gets too excited, too quickly, break play sessions into short bursts. For example, if you play fetch, between throws, ask your dog to give you the ball then sit for treats, so they can calm down a bit before continuing. This prevents your dog from getting overly aroused and keeps everybody safe.
Dr. Bazin also recommends avoiding rough play with your hands or body wrestling. Instead, play with appropriate toys. Otherwise, “it’s harder for a dog to understand that in other contexts they cannot grab hands, grab feet, or grab different parts of your body. Because that night you’re dressed for your Christmas party, you don’t want your dog to do that,” she adds.
How Can You Fit Play With Your Dog Into Your Daily Routine?
To make it easier to meet your dog’s need for play, incorporate it into your daily routine such as at mealtimes or before walks. It could also be as simple as adding it to your calendar or agenda. And Dr. Bazin says don’t forget about food-dispensing puzzle toys. Although your dog is working for the food rather than interacting with you, these toys provide stimulation. Plus, you’re going to feed your dog anyway, so that makes puzzle toys easy to put in your routine.
Dr. Bazin also encourages people to think about whether there are behaviors they want to change or times of day where they want to see their dog make better choices. For example, maybe your dog is too excited at dinner or when there are visitors at the door. Then consider adding more play before those times, so it has the added impact of being useful to you from a training perspective. As your dog’s behavior improves, it will help keep you motivated to continue the routine. And of course, your dog is going to be happier too.
The post How Much Playtime Do Dogs Need? appeared first on American Kennel Club.
0 Comments
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.