Everyone knows that it's fun to play games with your dog, but what we do not often see is that the benefits of the game go far beyond mere pleasure. Adding a little more play time to your dog's routine is one of the easiest ways to enrich your dog's life. Here are 7 benefits of playing with your dog.
One of the benefits of playing with your dog is that it is a fun way to train daily. Now, I'm not talking about traditional training "teach your dog a ride" but to reinforce desirable behaviors. And in the case of the game which involves teaching your dog to follow some basic rules.
Does your dog have too much mouth when playing the tug? When that happens, I just stop playing the game. If you stop the game because your dog has too much in his mouth, you teach him that biting the hand is not acceptable. Does this sound like traditional training? Not exactly, and that's why it's so easy to forget that we train when we play. And this is one of the biggest benefits of playing with your dog: it gives you the opportunity to reinforce good behavior and have fun at the same time.
Play provides mental stimulation
We all know that exercise is important for our dogs, but we often neglect the importance of mental exercise. Interactive games such as towing or recovery may seem like a simple way to keep your dog busy, but they also provide a lot of mental stimulation to your dog.
Since games rely on basic rules such as "you have to bring back the frisbee if you want to keep playing", they give your dog a chance to make his own decisions and help him focus. Adding a few quick games to your dog's routine is one way to ensure your dog gets a good physical workout every day.
Dogs need regular exercise and using the game is one of the most fun ways to make sure your dog has a chance to release all that accumulated energy. And as playing with your dog requires you to get involved, it means that you are going to do more physical activity.
And when it comes to playing with your dog for physical exercise, do not worry; I do not offer a 3-hour marathon tug of war game. A few extra sessions of 5 to 10 minutes can make all the difference. Games like Frisbee or flirtatious games are demanding physical activities. Therefore, if you add them to your regular exercise program (which includes daily walking), you can make sure your dog is exercising a lot every day.
And if you have a very energetic dog, I recommend you check 5 quick ways to get your dog tired for more suggestions; These games helped tremendously when Laika went through her phase "OK, I know we just got back from a 3km walk but I'm always ready to go!"
Playing with your dog is fun, and when it comes to stress relief, it's a very simple way to improve your dog's overall mood. Spending time with your dog can have a calming effect, and some studies have shown that it can help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Adding two or three fast five-minute play sessions each day with your dog can have a significant effect on your dog's overall mood.
Playing with your dog strengthens your bond
One of the best things about playing with your dog is how much that strengthens your bond. Spend quality time with your dog is one of the best ways to strengthen this link, and regarding the game time of dogs, it is one of their favorite ways to pass the time. You do not just give them pleasure when you engage them in the game; you give them a routine and reinforce the idea that you are the bearer of all that is fun, which greatly helps speed up the process of creating links.
Dogs that play regularly are less likely to develop problematic behaviors such as excessive barking and sealants. The reason is that dogs get bored, and when your dog gets bored, they will find their own way of entertaining themselves - and that's the trouble that leads to things like chew shoes.
When you play regularly with your dog, you keep him busy and engaged, which reduces the chances of them leaving alone to find their own entertainment. If you are looking for ways to keep your dog busy and entertained, I recommend you check 33 ways to keep your dog busy indoors and 26 dog trouble busters.
It can improve your social life
And last but not least, playing with your dog can improve your social life. Whether in the park to play trash or take your dog to the neighborhood playground, chances are you and your dog will meet new people along the way.
Your dog will benefit from an upgrade of his social skills, and you too. A 2015 study found that being the owner of a pet was the third most common way people said they met people in their neighborhood and that pet owners were 60% more likely to get to know people from their neighborhood they did not know before. .
What are your dog's favorite games?
What games does your dog like the most? Do you have time each day for a few quick gaming sessions? Does your dog seem more relaxed after the game?
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