1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On teaching your dog to play
Dog Trainer Auckland
July 1, 2025
1 Tip - on life with your dog
Teaching your dog to play can take a little strategy, especially if they're not keen.
Try these four steps to start:
Find the Right Toy. Try out different toys (soft, hard, squeaky, chase, tug) and activities (fetching, hide-and-seek, tug) to see what gets their attention.
Make Yourself Exciting. Dogs find things that are moving, unpredictable, and seem valuable to you more interesting:
Play with the toy. Wiggle it, drag it away, make it "come alive" like prey.
Use a gentle tone to encourage your dog.
Move the toy away, then closer, then hide it slightly building your dog's chase drive.
Keep sessions short, 1-5 minutes. End the game on a high note and put the toy away while they're still interested, this keeps them keen for the next playtime.
Only use these toys for structured play sessions making these toys special, increasing your dog's desire to play with you.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
Teaching your dog how to do something may seem hard, especially how to start and what to do. Break the task into small bite-sized pieces, for example, making the toy come alive. Go slowly and praise your dog's progress. Don't be discouraged if it isn't a success the first time; learning takes patience and perseverance. Try again.
1 Quote - on dogs
Teaching your dog how to do something may seem hard, especially how to start and what to do. Break the task into small bite-sized pieces, for example, making the toy come alive. Go slowly and praise your dog's progress. Don't be discouraged if it isn't a success the first time; learning takes patience and perseverance. Try again.
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