How to Encourage a Dog to Play with Toys

Figuring out how to encourage a dog to play with toys can be a frustrating task. Some dogs enjoy playing with toys more than others for some reason but every dog has something it likes, we just have to find out what it is. Some dogs are fetchers, some are tuggers, some are chewers, some squeakers, some catchers, and some just don't seem to get it at all. Some dogs need to be taught or encouraged to play with toys. Here are 6 ways to get your best friend playing with you.

Firstly, try various toys with your dog to see if they are naturally drawn to any of them. Which toy, if any, they choose can give you vital clues to your dog's personality. Do they like noise, do they like to chew, do they like to run, are they jumpers, etc. These things can let you know things to watch out for in your dog such as if your dog likes to jump to catch things, they may also jump fences. If your dog likes chewing watch out for your furniture, if they like noise there could be a barking problem in your future. If you know what behaviors your dog is prone to you can start training before it becomes a problem.

If you would like to train your dog to fetch, try this. Start with your dog sitting, I like to use a leash at first so the dog doesn't take off with the toy, this can be frustrating if you hadn't planned on running a marathon that day. Have two identical toys, one hidden on your person and the other visible to your dog. Show the dog the toy, make a motion in the direction you will be throwing it so the dog knows what to expect, then throw it a short distance. Let the dog go get the toy and praise them when they pick it up, even if they don't bring it back. Show the dog the other toy and get their attention, they will most likely drop the first toy and return to you, praise them and make them sit. Throw the second toy and while your dog is getting it pick up the first toy to distract them again. Eventually you will only use one toy and praise your dog when they get the toy and bring it back. Use a keyword such as "fetch" to reinforce what you want the dog to do. Use toys for fetch that the dog doesn't get to play with at other times, this reinforces that playing fetch is a reward and also keeps the dogs interest in the toys active. If you need even more help getting your dog interested in fetch you can use the Kong toys that have a cavity for treats inside, this usually works.

To encourage your dog to play tug-of-war, get an old sock or two for bigger dogs, tie them together and tie knots in the ends. Use this new toy to tease your dog to grab on and pull. You can let the dog grab one end and you the other, or you can grab both ends and let the dog grab in the middle, whichever the dog seems to respond to the most. If they don't take to it very easy you can put a treat inside the sock in the dogs end and let them try to take it away from you. Once they play enough to get that treat out of the end you shouldn't have any trouble getting them to play tug-of-war again.

If your dog is a chewer and has a problem chewing things up, here is a tip to help correct them. Find toys that are similar in size, shape, and texture as the things they are chewing up, rawhide bones can be a life saver as they come in a variety of sizes, shapes and consistencies. Offer them the toy often, encourage them to chew on it. When you catch them chewing on something they shouldn't be, use a stern voice, say no, take the object away and give them their chew toy. Always replace the wrong object with the right one and let them hear the difference in your voice, stern and scolding for the wrong item and kind and encouraging for the right object. With some persistence your dog should get the idea.

Here are some tips for teaching your dog to "play nice" with toys. Dogs tend to attack toys and destroy them as fast as possible and in some cases this is encouraged but most dogs can be taught to play gently with toys and have a blast with them over and over instead of destroying them in minutes. First of all, adopt a "everything is mine" attitude, let your dog know that the toys are yours and he/she is being allowed to play with them. When you offer the toy to your dog, do not let them have it if they don't take it gently. If they try to take it aggressively, take it back and hold it in your arms and look away from the dog for a bit. When you look back at the dog, offer it again and repeat the process until your dog understands they do not get to play with the toy if they are not nice about it. If you catch them being too rough with the toy while playing with it, make them give it back and reinforce by making them take it back gently.

If your dog likes to bite you when playing with you some niceness training may be in order. If you are playing with your dog and they get too rough simply stand up, pull your arms away from them, and say "be nice" very sternly. Slowly reach out and pet them saying "nice". Resume playing with them, and repeat every time your dog gets too rough.

With some training and encouragement, your dog can learn to play properly with toys and play nice with you. Learn from them and they will learn from you.