Collaborative Play

Words: Danny Nelis-Rouse, Managing Director at Tug-E-Nuff

Dogs are naturally curious and playful creatures, but they can also get bored easily. And, when a dog gets bored, they may start to engage in destructive or problem behaviours.

The good news is that boredom is easily solved when you have interactive dog toys at hand that will perk your dog’s spirits up and give them something fun to do.

Interactive toys are designed to satisfy your dog’s natural instincts and desire for connection, and to keep their mind stimulated. Some are designed to be played with alone, but in our expert opinion, the very best are created to be played with together.

Some of the most popular interactive dog toys include puzzle toys, chew toys and fetch toys. Not forgetting, scentwork toys such as dog treat balls, and tug toys, which can really help to improve your bond with your dog, supercharge their recall and build up stamina. 

The benefits of interactive dog toys

Interactive dog toys can help with a myriad of things. Aside from providing heaps of fun, they keep your dog’s mind active and engaged, preventing boredom, low mood and problem behaviours.

What’s more, interactive dog toys can help improve your dog’s cognitive skills, enhance their problem solving abilities and boost their confidence.

They also help strengthen the bond between you and your dog, and a strong human-dog bond is the foundation of good behaviours, solid engagement and a desire to listen to you.

Choosing the right toy for your dog

All dogs are different and what one dog can’t get enough of, another isn’t that fussed about. Playing interactively with your dog is a learning curve and it’s all about discovering what they enjoy, and find motivating and rewarding.

To find this out, think about the things your dog naturally finds rewarding. If your dog likes to chase and run around, a chaser toy will be a natural hit. If they prefer to put their powerful jaws to the test, however, a tough tug toy with a bungee handle will be a better option.

Getting the best from your toy

So you’re the proud owner of an interactive toy. Now what? My biggest tips for getting started with interactive toys with your dog are as follows:

• Start with simple toys that are easy to figure out and gradually increase the difficulty level as your dog gets more confident.
• Some dogs need to ‘learn’ how to play with interactive toys, so don’t get discouraged if your dog doesn’t get it right away. Help them get to grips with their new toy by playing in a familiar environment free from other distractions.
• Interactive toys should be fun for both you and your dog. Be playful and show as much genuine enthusiasm as you can - your dog will mirror it!
• Finally, remember to praise your dog when they play with an interactive toy correctly. Positive reinforcement is the number one way to help your dog learn that playing with interactive toys is a good thing.

For more information or toy recommendations to enjoy collaborative play with your dog, visit https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/, email hello@tug-e-nuff.co.uk or call the Tug-E-Nuff team on 01395 642 065. 

Photo credit: Images by Rowan from Pooch & Pineapple www.poochandpineapple