This week we are going to look at ways to really make our play with our dogs not just about energy and excitement, but about shaping this for training.

The first thing we need is that when we Give our dogs a toy they WANT to return to us. It’s not about getting the toy back, it’s about getting the dog back! So don’t go straight for the toy, go for engaging with the dog. The following exercise from the Get Engaged Class Module 2 is an exercise to help our dogs return to us with a toy. My general rule of thumb is: if I have a pup that does not yet return to me with a toy, either the dog or the toy is on a leash. I need to be able to shape the action that I want.

Many puppies don’t come to you knowing how to play fetch or chase a ball so we can actually teach a puppy that doesn’t have any interest in playing fetch to love the game, if we love the game and make it fun, puppies are all about action so if we are engaging with them and showing them the games we like to play we can shape in a love for any game. This next exercise you can find more details in the Foundations Class Module 4

For our puppies that have a lot of drive and excitement for play already we want to be sure to be building self control with the games as well. Play is not fun when it ends up sending our puppies into an over aroused crazy state of mind, we need them thinking and playing. So this game is a favorite for dogs that love to play. If you are still trying to build interest in the games don’t play this one quite yet. Instead keep focusing on increasing interest. You can find this game in Get Engaged Module 3

Let’s see if you can use some of our play exercises to reward the behaviors you have been working on so far this month! Let me see you:

• Call your dog and reward with a toy

• Have your dog sit & reward with a toy

• Have your dog stay & reward with a toy.

If you dog does not yet play with a toy then in place of the toy I want you to use something that holds your dogs treats that you can toss that they can run to, that you can then help them get the food out. Keep this item attached to a string or leash so they don’t run away with it. It’s ok that they still don’t tug or fetch this item, just having the food coming from this object instead of you is laying some foundation for play!

You can post your attempts with the above as a comment under the Bark Commanders Group post where I announce this classroom update as there are no specific videos for you to go find and post under.

Troubleshooting: What if you have a dog that likes to play ball but won’t give it back to you, even if you have a second ball?