One of the best parts of puppy ownership is all the rowdy playtime. Puppies are fun. They can take a bad day and turn it around for you with a few happy wags and a good romp outside. Playtime is one of the ways your puppy communicates with you, learns your limits, and learns to obey you. For you it’s good exercise and a lot of fun and stress relief.
Before you and your best pal run outside for a quick game of fetch, consider this time to be perfect time to slip in a little additional training. Something as simple as making him sit before throwing the ball and demanding that he bring it you and drop it is a fun way to establish your authority and remind him that his manners always count.
Wrestling the ball out of his mouth encourages him to challenge you. If he wants to continue the game, then he has to do his part as well. It is always better to at the very least make him allow you to remove the ball from his mouth. Teaching him to drop it is even better.
On a rainy day a good game of hide and seek can reinforce the process of waiting. There is a difference between waiting and staying. If you want your dog to stay your request is that he remains where he is until you come and get him. Waiting means he needs to stay until he is called to come.
Start small, like in the same room. Tell him to wait (this may take several attempts until he gets the game) and then crouch beside the bed or sofa until he can just barely see you and then call him. As he begins to effectively wait, put more and more distance between the two of you until you can utilize at least one floor of the house. Puppies love this game once they understand the command, “wait.” They get so excited as they charge through the house looking for you, and finding their adored human is the only reward they will need.
You can play the same game with a treat filled toy of he is having a hard time grasping the wait command at first. This allows you to help him wait until you are ready to release him for the search, which you will both then do together. This is a valuable command for your puppy. Should he ever slip out the door behind you the wait command will keep him away from the street or other hazards until you can get his leash attached to him.
Indoor fetch games are good for reminding your puppy that you are the dominant figure in your puppy’s little world. Sitting on the floor and tossing the toy that he will inevitably bring back to you for more, gives you the chance to playfully pet him in between throws. It also gives you the chance to playfully flip him on his back and scratch his tummy or spin him around (gently.) Playful flipping on the back establishes your dominance in a playful manner and proves to him that he can trust you. It’s a great way to bond, just be careful he doesn’t get too playful with you on the floor. Puppies tend to go a little ape crazy when their human comes down to their level.
Teaching your dog to catch things in mid air is a fun project for both of you. Most people use popcorn, although for some dogs the kernels can get caught in their throat. It is now recommended that you use pieces of rice cakes or popcorn cakes. Starting with just one piece and your puppy close to you, toss the bit of rice cake so it bounces off his nose. Let him eat the first few that he misses. Continue to gently toss the pieces into the air, landing on his snout but pick up the missed piece before he has a chance to eat it. It may take a couple of sessions, but he will eventually learn to snatch it out of the air. After that, you can move onto treats and balls and toys.
Take a few cues from your puppy by watching how he interacts with you while playing. Does he lift his paw when waiting for you to throw the ball? Take his raised paw and tell him to shake while you proceed to complete the trick for him. Eventually, he will put it together and you can ask him to shake when his paws are down. Does he turn in circles when he’s excited? You can teach him to chase his tail.
Keep playtime short enough that you haven’t lost his interest or he hasn’t tired too much. Otherwise, he’s bound to start ignoring you and then he is no longer learning to behave. It’s never good to end a play session with a rebuke for bad behavior, so keep watch on his interest level. If he’s starting to wane, it time for a hearty “good boy” and to end the session.
One of the best ways to end the session is with one of those wonderful Kong toys filled with peanut butter. You’ll be able to slip in one last command. Have him sit first, keeping his eye on the Kong. Pull it directly down to the floor and add the command “down.” His body should naturally follow and he should find himself lying with his nose to his very special treat. Sometimes it takes just a little more assistance than that, but rarely. Not only has he obeyed another command but he has some settle down time as he smack his lips against the luscious peanut butter.
While your playing use words like “ball” and “toy.” The next time you catch him trying to snack on your boots, he may understand what you mean when you tell him to get a toy. Associating command words with playtime helps your puppy to learn faster and make commands in general more fun for him. Since puppies are all about having a good time, fun commands are more likely to be effectively listened to. Before he knows it, you will have trained him on several basic commands and a few tricks without him even noticing.