Play and Toys

Not all dogs like to play.  This might be total disinterest or because the dog has never been taught to play, whether with human or canine friends.

Playing with canine friends not only means chasing one another but can be a good old rough and tumble.  When you know your dog well, you can tell by the noises made whether or not it is just play.

Most dogs love to play with a ball.  This is far safer than using a stick which can break leading to a piece becoming lodged in the throat.  This in turn may lead to a large vet bill.  If you are playing with your dog in a public area and a strange dog appears, pick up the ball and put it away as this could lead to a fight over who wants the ball.  Ensure the ball you use is not small enough to swallow.  A tennis ball is an ideal size and with a ball on a rope you can also enjoy a game of tug of war.

Dogs can become quite protective of their toys so start as you mean to go on and ensure you can take their toys away from them when you want to.  Remember you, as the owner, must always be top dog - in other words leader of the pack.