The Importance of Play

Have you ever been moved to tears by a story of a dog whose heroic abilities saved the day? Me too. With the right training, dogs can do things that no human can do. And they are our most humble heroes.

And what is the secret to this elite training? It’s all a game. Seriously. Dogs love to play so much that they are trained to save people’s lives this way. We call them working dogs, but the training process is all fun and games.

Your dog might not save anyone’s life, but chances are, she loves to play. So do children and many adults. Merging this love of play with training your dog can produce incredible results. And you get to have fun doing it!

This probably seems obvious, but it is rarely put into practice. Many dog guardians see training and playing as separate activities. But ask yourself this: What does your dog love to do? And how can you leverage that with your training intentions?

My dog loves her Frisbee. She also loves the Chuckit and Kong toys and, well, anything she can chase. She especially loves coconuts. With these props in hand, we taught her the basic tenets of 1 Minute Dog Training—all while having fun.

Some dogs will destroy their toys before they even get a chance to play with them. It can feel like a waste of money to purchase toy after toy, especially when they don’t last long. I can assure you that both of the toys I recommend are very durable, but few products are 100% chew proof.

If you’d prefer to make your own dog toys or see what you already have lying around the house, I have a few ideas to get you started. If you are about to chuck out an old towel or ripped, stained clothing–wait! These materials are perfect for making some DIY dog toys. You can cut the fabric into three long strips, braid the strips together, and tie knots at both ends. Not only will this make a great toy, but it will smell just like you. And a toy that smells like you could easily become your dog’s new favorite.

Another very simple DIY toy actually requires no DIY-ing. Do you have a peanut butter jar that’s running low? If so, that’s all you need! Make sure to check the ingredient list and never give your dog peanut butter that contains xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is safe for humans but very toxic for dogs. Give your dog the nearly empty jar and she should stay entertained until it’s been licked completely clean. If you really want to give your dog a challenge, you can freeze the jar for a few hours before giving it to her.

So, how do I use these toys to train my dog? It’s simple. The fundamentals of 1 Minute Dog Training are behaviors you are probably familiar with already. They are:

Sit
Stay
Come

If your dog can reliably sit, stay, and come when called, then all training can be built upon these skills.

When I throw a ball, I use a subtle hand signal or my soft voice to practice stay after my dog retrieves the ball and before she brings it back to me. I count to five or ten then say (in a complete sentence), “Okay, come on, you good girl.” She gleefully bounds back and waits for the next throw.

Other times, I do this session in reverse. I ask her to please sit or lie down next to me and stay while I throw the Frisbee. Then, when it’s high in the air, I say, “Go get it.” She loves the challenge of catching it, which must feel extra rewarding after waiting!

Be sure to incorporate play into your dog’s training routine–you will both enjoy the time you spend together. Better yet, you can work on shaping your dog’s behavior at the same time!

So, how do I use these toys to train my dog? It’s simple. The fundamentals of 1 Minute Dog Training are behaviors you are probably familiar with already. They are:

Sit
Stay
Come

If your dog can reliably sit, stay, and come when called, then all training can be built upon these skills.

Be sure to incorporate play into your dog’s training routine–you will both enjoy the time you spend together. Better yet, you can work on shaping your dog’s behavior at the same time!