Is Puppy Play Important?

Play is an essential part of growth in mammals. Since dogs are domesticated animals, play for them used to be their way of teaching their litter the basics of hunting and survival. But now, puppy play is for the sake of socialization. Socializing for your puppy is needed to ensure that your puppy won’t turn out to be one of those dogs that barks at anything or anyone who is new to them. Unsocialized dogs often react to new situations through biting. Now, you wouldn’t want your dog to be that way in the future would you?

Puppy play also develops a bond between you and your pup. The more time you spend with your pup, the more that your puppy will become a loyal companion to you in the future. You must, at an early age, make your puppy understand that you are the leader of the pack—that you are more powerful than him. This is not because of ego, but because of the fact that dogs are pack animals. In order for them to show respect, and loyalty to you, you must establish yourself as someone who is more superior.

Below are a few tips on how to play with your puppy:

• Establish yourself as the alpha dog with playing tug of war. Although tug of war can lead to puppies becoming more aggressive, it can also be a way to establish yourself as a more dominant figure compared to him. Initiate the play, and let your little pup tug as much as he can while keeping your hand steady on the toy. Once your pup becomes more eager,  pull on the toy to further encourage him to try harder. Once playtime is over, store the toy in a place where your puppy can’t get to it.
• Play fetch with your puppy. Fetch is a great way to get rid of your puppy’s extra energy. It is also a great way to bond with your puppy or dog. Playing fetch can also improve your dog’s obedience.
• Be gentle when playing with your pup. Rub and pet your dog softly and nicely.
• Do not tolerate biting. It is but natural for a puppy to get exited during play but when he starts to bite, stop playing. You need to stop puppy biting early so that he doesn’t think this is an acceptable behavior.

In addition to regular puppy play, try some basic obedience training in between. Puppies and dogs in general love pleasing their masters. By including obedience training during play, your puppy will learn faster.

Puppy play will determine what type of dog your puppy will become in the future. By effectively playing with your puppy, you can make it into a productive bonding, and learning experience for your pet.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.