The Role of Play in Training: Using Games to Teach Skills and Strengthen Bonds with Your German Shepherd

Training your German shepherd takes work but it can also be fun. German shepherds love to please and are willing to work for praise and rewards. But one of the best rewards is a stronger bond between you and your dog.

Building a strong bond with your German shepherd increases their trust in you, improves communication between you, and grows their confidence. That bond helps set the stage for every experience you’ll share during their lifetime.

There’s no easier way to develop a deep relationship with your dog than through play. It's immediately rewarding, and fun for both of you. Play is something your dog will always look forward to and will always have a positive association with.

Dogs are social animals and sharing play time is a very social behavior. It allows them to act out some of their natural instincts, such as chasing a ball (prey drive) and running around doing the zoomies (stalking and evading). So, what better way to train than by incorporating play?

In your dog’s mind, playtime is the ultimate form of quality time and it can never start too soon. Not only is your dog getting your undivided attention, but they’re also having a lot of fun while they get to burn off some of their energy.

But, sharing playtime is not only fun and games. It’s also a valuable asset in your training arsenal. When your dog is engaged with you during play, they are also learning to focus their attention on you.

Another way that play overflows into training is that when you play, your dog learns to anticipate your next move, to let go of the toy (out), impulse control (leave it), retrieve the toy (fetch), and learn to share their possessions (helps prevent unwanted guarding behaviors).

Play can also be more rewarding than treats for many dogs. Play is stimulating, enjoyable, motivating, and fun for both of you. Play can be simple or complex, fast-paced or leisurely, and can always be mixed up to keep it interesting.

In short, using play in training can make it seem less like work (even though German shepherds love to work) and more exciting. It allows you to train in a fun way that is instantly rewarding for your dog.

Some of the skills that can be reinforced using play include:

• Impulse control
• Recall
• Stay
• Down
• Release
• Out
• Drop it
• Retrieve
• Focus
• Searching
• Sniffing
• And more!

For example, using play as a reward after some obedience training will reinforce what you just taught. This might look like you having your dog sit and wait until you throw the ball or have them in a down until you release them to grab a tug.

Or, you could also reinforce impulse control by having your dog wait to be released before they chase the ball after you throw it. Or, you could practice recall by recalling your dog back to you while they are chasing an exercise ring by throwing a second one.

Time spent invested in play is never wasted and will pay huge dividends. Not only will it strengthen the bond you share with your dog, but it will also provide physical exercise for both of you while reinforcing all the obedience skills you’re working on.

Another reason why play in training is so great is that it’s the perfect way to reinforce wanted behavior. That’s because, when you use it, it will help you teach your dog that their behavior and responses need to be quick. Their excitement over playing will naturally increase their reaction time to your commands.

Some of the games you can play that will help improve training and strengthen your bond with your dog include:

• Fetch
• Tug
• Chase
• Hide and seek
• Find it
• Flirt pole
• Exercise rings
• Agility course

The games you can play with your dog are only limited by what your dog enjoys and your imagination. A simple game of fetch can be very rewarding for some dogs while others love nothing more than a rousing round of tug.

The best way to start is with something simple that your dog already loves. Once they connect that play is their reward for obedience, you can easily begin building on their skills and add more rewarding games.

We hope you enjoyed this article and don’t forget to make time to play just for fun’s sake. Please feel free to share it with your friends.

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