Advice on play: top questions answered

When it comes to playing games with your greyhound, the best approach is to consider your dog's temperament, personality, and preferences. Some greyhounds enjoy chasing balls, while others prefer squeaky toys or food-based enrichment games.

When you adopt a greyhound from Greyhounds as Pets, the staff will provide insight into the types of games your dog enjoys. By tailoring the games to your greyhound's interests, you can ensure that they have a fun and engaging experience while playing with you.

When it comes to playing games with your greyhound, it's important to keep their safety and temperament in mind.

While games involving chasing are fine for greyhounds, it's crucial to choose a suitable area with no hidden obstacles. It's also best to avoid playing tug of war with your greyhound as they tend to be sensitive and passive stress copers. This kind of game can be confrontational to your dog, and it's easy to miss the subtle signs of overwhelm. If you believe your greyhound enjoys playing tug of war, make sure to take plenty of breaks and not try to overpower your dog, this keeps things safe and fun for both parties!

Instead, focus on games that your greyhound enjoys and feels comfortable with, such as playing with a cardboard box, fetching treats from the grass, or bobbing for kibble in a play pool.

By playing games that your greyhound loves, you'll be able to bond with your furry friend and create a positive and joyful experience for both of you.

It's always a good idea to end training or playtime on a positive note with your dog. It's important to ensure that your dog remains engaged throughout the game, rather than always trying to keep their attention, which can lead to stress and overwhelm.

Play should include regular breaks, and you should be aware of your dog's body language to ensure that they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. Look for signs of enjoyment such as loose body language and a gently wagging tail.

Avoid play if your dog is showing signs of stiffness or discomfort. It's also encouraging if your dog initiates play by using playful body language such as a play bow or a wiggly body.

When it comes to playtime with your greyhound, it's important to choose activities that you both enjoy.

Running and foraging games are great options but keep in mind that greyhounds are sprinters, not endurance athletes, so intense play should be brief.

The key to reinforcing positive behavior is to play when your dog is in a positive emotional state and not overwhelmed. Look for signs of loose body language, a wagging tail with a loose amplitude, and playful solicitations like a play bow or wiggly body language.

However, if your dog is showing signs of being too emotionally activated, such as mouthing and jumping up, it's important to take a break and allow everyone to calm down before resuming play later.

Remember, playtime should be enjoyable and relaxing for both you and your furry friend.

As mentioned earlier, playtime should be short, around 10 to 15 minutes per session. However, each dog is different and some may prefer longer or shorter sessions. Additionally, breaks in between play bouts are quite normal.

Your dog might take a break to sniff around the backyard for a bit before wanting to resume play again.

Yes, it can be especially useful for dogs who may not be suited for daily walks. Play, enrichment, and training activities can help expend your dog's mental and physical energy. When it comes to choosing games, chasing games are fine, but using food enrichment games is usually better as it engages your dog's seeking emotional system and prevents them from becoming over-activated, which can lead to undesirable behaviours such as mouthing and jumping up.

It's important to consider the risks of repetitive running games, which can put a strain on your dog's joints. Constantly launching and stopping suddenly can take a toll on their wrists, elbows, and other joints.

To prevent this, take appropriate breaks and mix up the games. Instead of constantly throwing a ball, try asking your dog to do a trick or behavior in between, or start hiding the ball for your dog to find. This way, the activity is not high-impact and repetitive.

If your dog loses interest in playing, it's not productive to force them to continue or to play in a specific way. Instead, pay attention to your dog's behavior and take it as an indication of their current mood.

If you really want your dog to enjoy a specific game or activity, it's important to start reinforcing the behavior gradually. For example, if you want your dog to catch a Frisbee, start by rewarding them for getting close to it on the ground, then sniffing it, then gently biting it - slowly progress to holding it in your hands and rewarding them for taking it from you.

Over time, you can gradually increase the difficulty until they're able to catch it in the air - of course this will also depend on your own Frisbee skill!

Sound like fun? Adopt a greyhound from GAPNSW and start playing with your new best mate!