Interactive exercises and play are the most effective ways of bringing about changes and neurogenesis – that is, developing new neural pathways to new behaviours, vital when we are trying to help dogs will various issues whether anxious, fearful, abused, reactive from poor welfare backgrounds in general. It is also the best way to facilitate any training and this is why even the foundations exercises I introduce are all laid out as games a dog can win. We have to keep in mind Repair the Brain Before we Train
Although food is one of the most effective ways of rewarding for so many reasons (you can find out more why here) it isn’t the only reward. Play and play with us, is really important. We also have to keep in mind that dog and human play is different – dogs don’t just play chase games so just throwing a ball is neither normal nor suitable, even if we think dogs like it! What tends to happen is that we get an over stimulated dog and for those that are already a little higher up the impulsively scale, we just blow their minds. Over stimulation and excitement is a serious problem that many people face with their dogs. Over stimulation all too easily tips into arousal which in turn can lead to a reactive response to something and that in turn can become a dog fight. Check out the article on Excitement and when it is unhealthy here.
One great interactive game that can also involve some chase, is tug. I hear lots of people say to me that they were told tug isn’t good because the dog will end up not giving things back or will end up pulling on everything or that it can be too rough around their children. While these things can be true, tug taught correctly is a highly valuable exercise. It can also be taught to dogs who don’t naturally tug – I have one such dog and specifically sought out a trainer to help me learn how to teach a non tuggy type dog to tug. Yes, there may be occasions where we have to modify tug play and use it with care, but this is something on which a good trainer or behaviour practitioner will give guidance and will be based on your dog’s individual needs, character and play style.
When working on behavioural issues tug can prove invaluable for a number of reasons. I love it because if we want to give a dog that loves toy play a great reward for doing something well – for example, coping with a dog that was on the other side of the road, or not lunging at a car that passed, then I am usually going to be in a situation where throwing a ball might not be appropriate or safe! Tug is something that we can often play in a more confined space.
Tug can also help dogs latch onto something – redirecting some of their frustration in certain situations and it can be good as a distraction. Personally, I prefer dogs to try to acknowledge something that worries them by teaching them confidence and coping techniques, building their resilience and then working under threshold around whatever concerns them. If I use a toy as a play reward, I want it to be exactly that – a reward, as this is when it has the most power and effect. When used only as distraction, we run the risk that the dog never truly learns to face up to and deal with any fears he may have.
Tug can be a great game for improving recall too – again it is a reward for coming back and is an interactive play date with you, the human. One way of improving the response to a tug, or any recall toy, is to choose one that is easy to transport (fits in your pocket), that is highly motivating to your dog and that is special to you and your dog. This toy is basically yours and you invite your dog to play with it and with you. It also gets played with at special times and is not seen or played with every day. He can have other toys that are his and he can have at any time, but you want one toy that is highly motivating.
Learning how to build this motivation and use toys well is actually quite a skill, especially for those dogs who might not be naturally toy motivated. Attending a class specifically for this is ideal and one of the best and most fun trainers to look out for is Craig Ogilvie. He also has a great YouTube channel where he addresses common problems, shows how to motivate dogs to toys and how help your dog show you which might be a favourite or special toy.
Below are some of my favourites from Craig’s site with links to the videos I most commonly share with people when we are working on toy play and tug.
How to pick a toy that suits your dog the best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEH-sdWfnr0
Common tug problems
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwmeaTTfhHQ&feature=youtu.be
Paws pocket intro – how to get food motivated dogs to tug
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0kdM7NchZgG64hQHmXChJsPwT52iJiHY7Q_Nq6mCfYO1dxqWc0YTDQ3fA&v=25agWE3nj_E&feature=youtu.be
Preventing dog running off with toys
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fAiNoqcPnPU
For those based in Norfolk and East of England, Craig regularly offers workshops at the Paws 4 Training centre at Long Stratton. You can check out workshops on their website below.
https://paws4training.net