Your Dog Doesn’t Need Another Walk… They Might Just Need You to PLAY!
Hey there!! Thanks for stopping by for another blog post!
Today we’re talking about something I think gets overlooked WAY too often when it comes to fulfilling our dogs.
PLAY.
And no, I don’t just mean throwing a ball across the backyard 47 times until your dog is physically exhausted. 😂
I’m talking about getting creative. Making your dog THINK. Giving them an opportunity to use the instincts they were quite literally bred to have, and most importantly, making YOU part of the fun.
Especially for our higher-drive dogs, this can be an absolute game changer.
We spend so much time worrying about whether our dogs are getting enough exercise that sometimes we forget there’s an entirely different side of fulfillment.
Their brains.
You don’t need a massive backyard, expensive equipment, or hours of free time to start incorporating some pretty freaking awesome activities into your dog’s day.
Here are a few things we’re getting into today:
The difference between mental and physical stimulation.
Why more exercise isn’t always the answer.
Scent work and letting your dog use their nose.
Playing “find it” and getting creative around the house.
Tug, engagement, and interactive play.
Why YOU should be part of the fun.
Finding the balance between doing things and doing absolutely nothing.
Physical exhaustion and mental fulfillment are NOT the same thing.
Let’s start here because this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions I see with higher-energy dogs.
“My dog has SO much energy. I walk him three miles every morning, we play fetch every afternoon, and he’s STILL bouncing off the walls!”
Okay… but what are we doing for his brain?
Physical exercise is important. Dogs need opportunities to move, run, explore, and use their bodies.
But there’s a difference between a dog who is physically tired and a dog who has been mentally challenged.
Think about it.
You could spend an hour running on a treadmill and be physically exhausted.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything mentally fulfilling that day.
Dogs aren’t all that different!
And with some of our higher-drive breeds, constantly increasing physical exercise can actually create a dog who becomes REALLY good at exercising.
Congratulations! You’ve built yourself a tiny athlete who now needs even more activity to feel physically tired. 😂
The goal shouldn’t always be to exhaust your dog. It should be to fulfill them.
Let them use that NOSE!
One of my absolute favorite ways to add mental enrichment is scent work.
Dogs experience so much of their world through their noses, yet we spend a ridiculous amount of time telling them to stop sniffing everything.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s a time and place for a structured heel and a time and place for exploring.
But intentionally creating opportunities for your dog to use their nose can be incredibly rewarding.
And you don’t have to get into competitive scent detection to enjoy it!
Start simple.
Grab a handful of your dog’s food or some treats.
Have your dog wait in another room or behind a gate.
Scatter a few treats around an easy area.
Release them with a cheerful “FIND IT!”
Let them investigate.
Let them problem-solve.
Let them figure it out without you pointing out every single piece of food.
Once they’re getting the hang of it, make things a little more interesting.
Hide treats behind furniture, around corners, under appropriate objects, or throughout the yard.
You can even start teaching them to search for a particular toy!
The goal is to let their nose do the work while their brain figures out the puzzle.
And for some dogs, ten minutes of thoughtful searching can be more satisfying than another repetitive game of fetch.
“Find it” doesn’t have to involve food!
This is where you can start getting REALLY creative.
Especially with dogs who have a strong desire to hunt, chase, retrieve, or work.
Maybe your dog is obsessed with a particular ball.
AWESOME.
Let’s use it.
Start by showing them the toy.
Have them wait while you place it somewhere easy.
Release them to find it.
The second they locate it?
PARTY TIME!
Praise, excitement, a game of tug, whatever your dog absolutely loves.
As they understand the game, you can make the searches more challenging.
Maybe the toy is behind a tree.
Maybe it’s hidden in a different room.
Maybe they have to search through several safe hiding spots before locating it.
And eventually, you can build a dog who gets genuinely excited when you say:
“GO FIND IT!”
You’re giving them an outlet for natural behaviors while also creating a really fun activity that involves the two of you working together.
Which brings me to my next point…
TUG. TUG. TUG.
I LOVE a good game of tug.
Especially for dogs who have a little more drive behind them.
Tug can be an incredible outlet for dogs who enjoy grabbing, pulling, chasing, and interacting with their handler.
And contrary to what some people believe, playing tug doesn’t automatically make your dog aggressive.
What matters is how we’re playing and what we’re teaching.
A good game of tug is a conversation.
You engage.
Your dog engages.
You move.
They chase.
They grab the toy.
You give a little resistance.
They pull back.
You let them win.
You start again.
It’s a whole little dance!
Sound familiar? 😉
But here’s where I think tug becomes REALLY valuable.
We can start incorporating communication into that play.
Teaching a release cue.
Building engagement.
Creating opportunities for impulse control.
Teaching your dog that listening to you doesn’t mean the fun is over.
Sometimes listening to you is exactly what makes the fun START again.
And that is an incredibly powerful thing to teach a dog.
Stop making obedience the end of the fun.
This one is HUGE.
Sometimes we accidentally teach our dogs that interacting with us means all the exciting things disappear.
They’re running around having fun.
We call them.
We leash them.
We go inside.
Fun’s over.
They’re playing with a toy.
We ask them to drop it.
We take it away.
Fun’s over.
And then we wonder why our dogs are more interested in everything around them than they are in us. 😂
What if listening to you actually made the fun BETTER?
Call your dog during play.
They come running.
YES!
Reward them with another chase game.
Ask for a release during tug.
They let go.
YES!
Immediately restart the game.
Ask for a sit before tossing their favorite toy.
They sit.
YES!
Toy goes flying.
Now obedience isn’t something that interrupts the fun.
Obedience becomes part of the game.
And suddenly YOU become a whole lot more interesting.
Your dog doesn’t need to entertain themselves all the time.
This is probably my favorite part of this entire conversation.
We buy our dogs toys.
We give them puzzle feeders.
We put them in the backyard.
We throw a ball while scrolling on our phones.
And those things can absolutely have their place.
But sometimes we’re missing an opportunity to build something really special.
A relationship.
Especially with our drivey dogs.
These dogs often WANT something to do.
They want a job.
They want interaction.
They want to chase, search, problem-solve, and work.
And instead of always giving them something to entertain themselves with, what happens when we become part of that experience?
What happens when your dog starts looking at you and thinking:
“What are we doing together today?!”
THAT is the kind of engagement I love.
Not a dog who only pays attention because you have a treat in your hand.
But a dog who genuinely enjoys participating with you.
Because you’ve become part of the things they love doing.
Get creative with what your individual dog LOVES.
Not every dog is going to enjoy the same games.
And that’s okay!
Some dogs are obsessed with tug.
Some would sell their soul for a tennis ball.
Some could spend an entire afternoon sniffing through the grass.
Some love chasing a flirt pole.
Some enjoy figuring out little obstacles and climbing onto new surfaces.
Some are happiest working through a puzzle with their owner.
Find what makes YOUR dog light up.
For a dog who loves sniffing, maybe we incorporate more scent games.
For a dog who loves chasing, maybe we work on interactive toy play.
For a dog who loves problem-solving, maybe we create little obstacle courses or shaping games.
For a dog who loves retrieving, maybe we start incorporating directional cues and searching for hidden toys.
And for our dogs who are a little unsure?
Maybe we start with something incredibly simple that allows them to experience success, celebrate it, and slowly become more adventurous.
The possibilities are endless.
You just have to be willing to get a little creative.
And PLEASE… teach your dog how to do nothing, too.
I can’t write an entire blog about enrichment without touching on this.
Because while I LOVE finding creative ways to fulfill dogs, I also believe very strongly that a fulfilled dog should be able to settle.
We don’t need to entertain our dogs every waking second.
And we definitely don’t need to turn every moment of their day into some elaborate enrichment activity.
Sometimes we play.
Sometimes we work.
Sometimes we explore.
And sometimes?
We do absolutely nothing.
That’s okay.
Actually, that’s important.
Especially with higher-drive dogs who can easily develop the expectation that something exciting should be happening ALL. THE. TIME.
I want a dog who can go from an awesome game of tug to relaxing on place.
A dog who can spend time searching for a toy and then settle while I make dinner.
A dog who understands that the fun has a beginning AND an end.
We’re not trying to create dogs who constantly demand stimulation.
We’re creating dogs who have appropriate outlets AND the ability to regulate themselves when those outlets aren’t available.
That’s balance.
So… does your dog need more exercise, or do they need more fulfillment?
Maybe it’s both!
But before you add another mile to your walk or another hour of fetch, I want you to think about what your dog is actually getting out of their day.
Are they getting opportunities to use their natural instincts?
Are they being challenged mentally?
Are they learning how to problem-solve?
Are they engaging with YOU?
And are they learning how to settle when the fun is over?
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on enrichment toys.
You don’t need to dedicate three hours every day to entertaining your dog.
Sometimes all you need is ten minutes, a favorite toy, a handful of treats, and a little creativity.
Hide something. Let them find it. Play tug. Let them win. Make them think. Celebrate the heck out of their successes.
And most importantly?
Have FUN with your dog.
Because training doesn’t always have to look like structured obedience, perfectly executed commands, and serious work.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do for your relationship is get on the floor, grab a toy, and be a little ridiculous together. 😂
Your dog gets an outlet.
You get a stronger relationship.
And both of you get to enjoy the process.
Now go play with your dog! 🐾🤎
Emily :)