How to Play with a Puppy

Play is an important part of a puppy's socialization process. How you handle this with a puppy is a determining factor in what kind of grown dog he'll become. Play is an important role for the puppies because they have a natural urge for this and playtime is the highlight of their day. By learning how to effectively play with a puppy, you can make it fun and productive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Play tug of war with the puppy, but establish yourself as the one in charge. Tug of war can trigger aggressive tendancies in puppies, but it can also allow you to establish a dominant role in your relationship with your dog. Initiate play, let the dog tug, but keep a hand on the toy. When play is over, put the toy away where the dog cannot get it.
2. Initiate fetch with the dog. Fetch is a great interactive game between you and your dog allowing you to bond and use up some of the dog's excess energy. As long as you initiate fetch and teach the dog to promptly return the ball to you, fetch will make your dog more obedient.
3. Be gentle when playing. Pet the dog nicely and softly. Wrestling encourages aggression, because it is a competitive activity.
4. Stop play if the puppy begins to bite. The puppy's favorite thing to do is play, and if you stop when she bites or growls she'll learn to stop the inappropriate behavior so she can continue to play.
5. Use obedience training and tricks as part of your regular play. In addition to games such as fetch and tug of war, teach the puppy tricks during playtime. The puppy enjoys spending time with you, pleasing you and being rewarded with treats and affection.