The importance of playtime

Playtime for your dog is essential for a number of reasons, including:

Provides some of his/her exercise requirements
Provides some of his/her social needs
Interaction between the owner and dog reinforces a positive relationship
Interaction with other dogs improves social skills
Alleviates boredom (which can lead to problematic behavior)

“Taking your dog for a walk is a good basic way to accomplish a limited amount of exercise” (“Play,” 2010). Another method is to find a dog park where your pup can interact with other canines. This is especially important for the one-dog owner. “Every dog needs to have some weekly playtime with other canines so they remain friendly to their own species” (“Play,” 2010).

Determining the type and amount of playtime depends upon your dog’s breed and age (“Play,” 2010). Puppies and adult dogs have different stamina and exercise requirements. “As a general rule of thumb, any dog one year of age, should not be asked to do rigorous heavy exercise, such as jogging, as it may cause skeletal problems since your dog is still growing” (“Play, 2010). All dog should have a minimum of two play or exercise sessions daily, with the time ranging from 15 (for puppies and elderly dogs) up to 60 minutes for healthy adults (“Play,” 2010). “For purebred dogs, consider their traditional work when deciding the type and amount of play to provide” (“Play,” 2010). Retrievers are likely to enjoy fetching, for example, while sledding dogs may prefer jogging beside their owner (“Play,” 2010).

Not all types of play is good for your dog. Puppies, for example, should not be encouraged to play tug-of-war, because “some puppies get very excited, overly stimulated and become far too aggressive during tug-of-war games” (“Play,” 2010). Children especially should never play such games to avoid potential injury. Young children should always be supervised when playing with any dog. When playing with an adult dog, “teaching the dog to “drop” on command can help to ensure that you remain in control of object play sessions such as fetch and tug-of-war” (“Play,” 2010). Teaching your dog to play “hide and seek” can be fun for both you and your best friend too. Try showing your dog a treat or toy, hiding it and then encourage him to search it out. Reward him with a pat on the head and “good boy” as he enjoys his treat or toy.

Whether you’re spending time playing with your pup or watching him play with others at a dog park, playtime will help him stay healthy, fit and happy.

~Eva Marie
OP Staff Contributor

Reference:

Anonymous. (2010). Playtime and Exercise in Dogs. Humane Society Silicon Valley. Retrieved January 16, 2010 from http://www.hssv.org/docs/behavior/dog_playandexercise.pdf.

- OP Staff

Note: This article only serves as a guide and is based on research from various sources, both online and in print, including article(s) written by DVMs, dog trainers, groomers, and/or other qualified experts. Please check with your DVM for any questions regarding the information provided in this article. Thank you.