NEW DOG TOY …

NEW DOG TOY ON THE MARKET…

www.funwithfido.co.uk – dog toys to grab your dog’s attention!

I was recently introduced to these toys by a friend of mine and I think they are a wonderful idea.

You can buy balls or tug toys which have an area in them (opened with velcro) which you or your dog are able to access.

This means that if you have a dog which is quite difficult to get to play with you, but a dog which is food-focused, you can put some of your dog’s favourite treats into the toy to help get your dog’s attention.

Meanwhile, just remember that no matter how good a toy you buy, it is how you play with it that is important:-

• Firstly, before using a toy which involves food, please ensure that your dog is not possessive or aggressive over food items. If this is the case then please get in touch so that we can work together on improving your dog’s behaviour (and possibly your own behaviour – people can have very bad manners around a dog’s food!).
• Ensure good manners are learned by your dog (you need to be polite too!) – eg teach your dog to ‘leave’ and ask him quietly and in a non-challenging way to let you have the toy.
• When your dog does leave the toy, that is the time to open the toy and give him a treat from it.
• To encourage your dog to play with you, you need to move around and talk excitedly to your dog to get him or her interested in the toy and, more importantly, to be more interested in you.
• If your dog gets over-excited then well done for getting your dog to play! However you will need to calm things down a bit to ensure you still have a dog very happy to play with you but not so aroused and excited that games get out of control.
• As well as you giving the dog the treat from the toy, you can also sometimes let your dog open the toy himself.
• AS WITH ANY NEW TOY, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG ALONE WITH IT IN CASE YOUR DOG DESTROYS IT AND ALSO TO ENSURE YOUR DOG DOES NOT ACTUALLY EAT THE TOY
• IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A PUPPY TRAINING LINE ON YOUR DOG AND START TRAINING IN AN ENCLOSED AREA SO THAT IF YOUR DOG DECIDES TO RUN OFF WITH THE TOY AND TRIES TO BREAK INTO IT HIMSELF THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GENTLY RESTRAIN HIM WITH THE LINE – PLAN AHEAD…
• IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A SEPARATE BAG OF TREATS WITH YOU TO ENCOURAGE YOUR DOG BACK IF HE DOES DO A RUNNER WITH THE TOY – AS ABOVE, ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD!
• REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO TRAIN OUR DOGS THROUGH PLAY IT MUST ALWAYS BE FUN FOR THEM – AND YOU MUST ALWAYS BE FUN TO PLAY WITH AND NEVER BE GRUMPY IF THINGS DON’T GO EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
• ANOTHER REASON NOT TO LEAVE THE TOY WITH YOUR DOG UNSUPERVISED IS THAT YOU WANT YOUR DOG TO LOVE THIS TOY AND TO LOVE PLAYING WITH YOU, SO KEEP THE TOY ONLY FOR PLAY TIME WITH YOU AND THE NOVELTY SHOULD NOT WEAR OFF.

This is just a brief article but you may want to also look at my other blog on ‘Dog Training Tips’.

If you would like to learn more about how to have fun playing correctly with your dog then please get in touch.

Meanwhile, have fun with your dogs ….

© Sally Bartlett
www.co-operativecanines.co.uk