Playing is both fun and mentally beneficial for your dog. However, what to do if it has no interest in toys? This post will tell you how to train to love toys.
We cannot leave them with no playing
Dogs need to play since they are playful creatures from birth. Thus, lacking playing will cause them stress and even physical issues. Most owners, however, cannot manage time every day to play bonding games with them, also if we want to. Leaving dogs with toys seem a good idea. But, what to do if they show no excitement at the toys?
Indeed, we have to train them. Unlike teaching your dogs tricks, tell them to play with toys is rather easy. With some tips, you could do it after a blink. Keep scrolling down to see how to get your dog interested in toys.
How to Get Your Dog to Play with Toys – Tips to Success
Tip 1: Make the toy animated
How we act around the toy has an immense impact on dogs. If doggo sees you are highly fond of the plaything, it will gradually be interested. Hold the piece of toy you have in one hand, and move it around, wriggle near the hound. Act like you find it funny while making pleasant sounds. This way, you will catch the dog’s attention.
Once our furry friend stops the hesitation and begins to grab the toy with the paw, give it to him. After some minutes, take the plaything back and play with it yourself. The dog will actively reach out for his turn, and we are successful. The measure not only ensures your dog’s excitement at the toy but also enhance the pet-owner bond between you two.
Tip 2: For stubborn dogs, play with the toy alone.
In some exceptional cases, if you are eager to give the dog the toy, it won’t get excited at the plaything for so long. The hyperactive dogs need more psychological stimulation to get ready to play.
Pick a piece of toy, play with it along in front of your dog, but don’t let him have it. Even when the dog shows interest and tries to reach the toy, put it away. Playing the game for about 3 minutes, then stop. Repeat the steps from 5 to 10 times per day.
The key to success is you have to enjoy playing with the toy “honestly.” Wriggle the toy around, toss it in the air, make happy sounds, laugh out loud, etc. By doing that, you could spark the dog’s curiosity. After you are sure that the furry companion of yours knows the toy means fun time, give him an opportunity to touch the toy. If the dog is engaged in the game, reward him with a delicious treat.
Tip 3: Replace your dog’s usual toys
After a long time playing with some toys, again and again, dogs will lose their interest. We cannot manage to buy a new toy every time the situation takes place. However, we could get rid of the problem before it happens.
Divide your dog’s toy into two boxes. Give him access to one box, and keep the other somewhere he cannot find. After some days, move some toys from one container to another. This way, the games are always fresh for your furry companion. He will never find playing with toys boring, and you can save an amount that’s supposed to be spent on dog play stuff.
Tip 4: Serve your dog treats in hollow toys
Some dogs need another kind of motivation to pick up the toy and enjoy playing. You could smear some peanut butter on the outer side of the toy to make it more luring. The delicious aroma will seduce the dogs into picking toys up. The measure works well for shy dogs. Notably, dogs who are left at shelters for a long time and tend to get nervous around new stuff. Turning playthings into treats can boost their confidence.
Another way to raise the dogs’ interest in toys is to stuff the hollow toys with treats. They will eagerly bite the toy and manage to get the treat out. In the process, dogs learn how to have fun with the plaything.
Things to keep in mind when getting your dogs to play with toys
1. Watch your finger while wriggling toys in front of dogs
If you plan to use tip 1 or 2, you should keep an eye on the dog’s teeth. He could try to jump up and get the plaything with his mouth and nip your hand unintentionally. Don’t yell at him, even when you are hurt. Just leave the toy and walk away. Getting yelled at will make the hound scared. And, in his small mind, he will associate the toy with punishment. You may have to start the training all over again. And this time, it’s much more challenging.
2. Use durable toys only
Before buying any toy for your dog, make sure to read the reviews from other customers. They will tell you if the plaything is durable under the dog’s teeth. Since most of the playing involves dogs’ mouth, they may swallow broken pieces by accident. Or worse, the tiny bits can get into your hound’s bronchial, blocking his breathing and endanger his life. If you find any toys with lost pieces in your dog’s toybox, get rid of it right away.
The Last Verdict
Naturally, dogs are easy to get excited. Thus, you could utilize their instincts and get them to play with toys easily. However, if your dog is particularly difficult to raise interest, you should be more patient. Try all the tips above with passion and love for your furry friend.
Getting dogs to play with toys, just like any other types of training, needs consistency and enthusiasm. To tell your dog to play, you must be as excited to spark his curiosity. Good luck with your training!