How to Play With Dogs

Steps

Part 1

Getting to Know a Dog

1. 1

   Talk to the owner. If you meet a dog on the street or at a dog park, ask the owner for permission to play with the dog. Do not approach a dog without an owner.

2. 2

   Let the dog sniff your hand.

   If the dog doesn't know you, approach it slowly. Put your fist out in front of the dog's nose. Do not bend over the dog, as this may intimidate him.

   • Back off if the dog growls, barks, or stiffens.
   • If a small dog seems nervous, squat down closer to his level.

3. 3

   Scratch the dog's ears. If the dog is done sniffing your hand and doesn't seem hostile, reach out from the side of her head and scratch behind her ears. This is a good place to start petting a dog who doesn't know you.

4. 4

   Learn where the dog likes being touched.

   The dog may let you pet his neck, shoulders, and upper back as well. Many dogs do not like strangers petting their legs, belly, or lower back, but there are exceptions.

   • If the dog is not yours, ask the dog's owner if there are any injuries or sensitive spots you should avoid.

5. 5

   Learn the dog's body language.

   Stop petting or playing if you see any of the following signs of discomfort:

   • Raised hairs on the scruff or down the back
   • Stiffened posture and deliberate movements
   • Mouth closed accompanied with wide pupils or a sideways look
   • Excessive mouthing to the point of red marks, bruising, or teeth marks
   • Shying away with tail tucked down
   • Crouching down

6. 6

   Get to know the dog.

   Just like people, different dogs enjoy playing in different ways. Some dogs love their toys, and others prefer to play by wrestling or running. If this is a new dog in your household, you can guess what it might enjoy by researching its breed online. Over time, you'll get to know the dog's individual personality and exactly what it enjoys.

   • Smaller dogs and dogs with poor upbringings tend to be more skittish and nervous.

Part 2

Playing Games

1. 1

   Talk to the dog in an excited voice.

   A cheerful, high-pitched voice will get the dog in "play mode." These are all signs that the dog is feeling playful:

   • Stretching with his rear in the air and front legs on the ground
   • Wagging his tail or acting "wiggly"
   • Pricking his ears up or forward

2. 2

   Play fetch. Throwing a ball or stick is a good way to start, although not all dogs love fetch. Wave the object to get the dog's attention, then throw it so she can see where it goes.

3. 3

   Use caution when retrieving toys.

   If an unfamiliar dog doesn't drop the ball at your feet, don't try to pry it out of its mouth. Until you know the dog won't nip you, it's best to wait until the dog drops the toy on its own.

   • To protect your fingers, keep your hand clenched in a fist when near an unfamiliar dog's mouth.

4. 4

   Chase after a toy together. If the dog isn't great at fetch or if you find it boring, try holding up the toy and running with it. Make sure the dog sees the toy and gets excited by it. Many dogs have a natural instinct to chase running people anyway, but it's best not to encourage it outside of playtime.

5. 5

   Roughhouse carefully.

   Many dogs love play-wrestling, tug-of-war, and other rough games. This can be great fun, but it can be unsafe with an unfamiliar dog. Get to know the dog first, or ask the owner if light roughhousing is okay. Even if the dog is friendly, one of you could hurt the other by accident.

   • Never hit a dog, pretend to bite it, pin it down, or provoke a dog for a reaction.
   • Some dog trainers believe that letting a dog win rough games could encourage negative behavior, but animal behavior scientists disagree.^[1]

6. 6

   Make walks more fun.

   Your dog enjoys the attention it gets from daily walks. If you don't have time to play today, go for an on-leash run with the dog instead. The occasional

   trip to the dog park

   gives the dog a chance to socialize with other dogs.

   • Bring water for the dog, especially in warm weather.
   • City dogs love to get a taste of nature. Most state parks allow dogs on the hiking trails, and sometimes even in the cabins.

7. 7

   Watch out for fear reactions. Some dogs are scared of water, squeaky toys, or toys shaped a certain way. Don't push a dog to play when it seems uncomfortable. If it goes into full-blown "fight or flight" mode, back off until it calms down.

8. 8

   Stop when the dog gets too tired or hyper.

   If the dog loses interest and walks away, let it go. Bothering it to keep on playing could make it grumpy. Also stop if the dog starts getting rougher or play-biting more aggressively than he should, even if it doesn't hurt.

   • It may seem cute when a puppy gnaws your hand or jumps on your head, but these are behaviors it will learn and continue doing as it grows up. Teach it appropriate limits now to save yourself effort later.
   • Do not punish them or scare the dog. Just walk away and stop engaging with the dog. Even bad attention ("stop") may encourage the dog to keep trying.

Part 3

Playing with Toys

1. 1

   Play with rope toys.

   To play tug of war, show the dog the rope and let him take it in his mouth. Hold onto the other end and pull the rope a little, but not so much it hurts his teeth. Let him pull it back and forth, then let him take it, while you smile and look happy.

   • Growling is normal in this context, not hostile.
   • Some dogs might interpret tug-of-war as a game of dominance.

2. 2

   Give the dog chew toys. Most dogs love raw hides, bully sticks, and other natural chew toys. Durable, nontoxic rubber chew toys are a longer-lasting option. Either way, supervise the dog to make sure she doesn't injure her gums from over-chewing or from splintered pieces of bone.

3. 3

   Buy the dog puzzle toys. These toys usually have a hidden container that you stock with treats. This could be a good choice to entertain your dog while he's home alone.

4. 4

   Explore other options.

   There are all kinds of other toys for different kinds of dogs. Here are a few to consider:

   • If your dog loves to run, get a supply of balls for him to chase. Some dogs prefer soft fabric balls, but these quickly become dirty and worn.
   • Many dogs grow attached to animal toys. Get stuffing-free toys from a pet store, since stuffing can be messy and could injure the dog if eaten.
   • If you have cats, see if the dog likes cat toys. Some dogs enjoy laser pointers and string.

5. 5

   Do not forcefully remove a toy.

   This can upset or alarm the dog. If your dog acts violent or overprotective around toys, food, or other objects, learn about

   resource guarding

   and how to change the behavior.

Community Q&A

Add New Question

• I got a dog, but it hides in its kennel when I get closer to it. How do I get my dog to play?

  Anonymous

  Avoid loud noises and eye contact, as shy dogs can view this as aggressive. Try playing a calm game of hide-and-seek with treats. Put them under the kitchen table, by your favorite chair, etc. or leave a trail of treats around the house to create a positive association with humans. Have patience and do not force the dog to interact. Resist trying to pet the dog if it sniffs you as this can scare timid dogs.

  0% of people said this answer helped them. Did it help you? Thanks!

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Tips

• You can give food incentives to encourage healthy play, but do this in moderation with healthy treats.
• If your dog likes chasing balls but doesn't give them back, go to a tennis court and find a wall that no one is using. Hit the ball against the wall for about 10–15 minutes and let the dog tire himself out chasing it.
• Smile! Dogs like to approach figures that look happy and friendly. Try not to show your teeth, as dogs might see this as a sign of aggression.

Warnings

• Running too long on hard surfaces can injure the pads of the dogs' feet.
• Unless you are training the dog to hunt, do not let your dog kill animals or play with dead animals. This encourages the dog to attack other pets, and can spread diseases to your dog.

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