When using the positive reinforcement training method to teach dogs, most people use food as a reward. Although treats are a great motivator to train your dog, you can also use other things like games. Games like tug of war and fetch are good rewards for your dog’s good behavior. The games will excite your pet and make it happy. They will also make you physically and mentally fit and active. Although you can teach your dog new commands while playing, it’s best to reinforce the commands your pet already knows during a game. You should introduce new commands to your pet in places with a low level of distraction and noise.
Here are some things to do when using games to train your dog:
Get your dog to work a little before you start playing
Most dogs quickly understand that the games will start soon, when they see a toy to throw or a ball. Before you start the game, show your dog a toy, but keep it out of your pet’s reach. Give him a command like “down” or “sit.” As soon as the dog obeys him, the game begins. However, if the dog doesn’t respond to the command or takes a long time to respond, move away from him for 1-2 minutes. Return to your pet and give the command again. Your dog will learn that the sooner he obeys the command, the sooner the game will start.
Let the game serve as an opportunity to learn
A game offers many opportunities to reinforce your dog’s training. You can practice commands like “drop it” when your pet has the ball or toss in its mouth. When the ball or toy is released, quickly resume play. If he doesn’t, walk away from the dog for a minute. Your dog will soon learn that play continues only if he drops his ball or toy. You can reinforce various commands this way.
stop bad behavior
Games serve as a good opportunity to stop bad and unwanted behaviors like mouthing and jumping. Finish the game when the dog shows bad behavior. For example, if the two of you are playing tug of war and the dog bites your hand to get a better hold on the toy, say things like “bad” or “very bad” and stop the game. Do this when you see your dog jump for snatching the toy from you. Your pet will soon learn that such behavior kills his playtime.
Problem solving
If your dog repeatedly does not respond to your commands, it may be that he does not understand your commands well. Before playing again, he retrains your dog in a distraction-free place for several sessions. Once you understand the commands correctly, you can start the games again.
These are the things you should do when playing with your pet. Schools that train personal protection dogs also use games to reinforce commands. Games can help your pet train in a playful way.
