During the week, a student asked why we call the training we do games and say “play this game”. Why isn’t it training exercises or drills or something else? Why do we call them games?
The reason is play is the brain’s favorite way of learning. It enhances the learning process.
We want your dog’s education process based on games because scientists have discovered that it takes about 400 repetitions to create a new synopsis in the dog’s brain. The dog having that association of this word means this behavior – 400 repetitions!
The exception is when learning takes place through play. Creating these associations through play can take as few as 10 to 20 repetitions for your dog to learn that new skill.
Wow! Oh my gosh, That’s incredible! The difference is striking!
It is mind-boggling how quickly those connections can take place through play. That’s why we have designed all of our training based on games, play, and getting that carefree aspect of play into your dog’s learning and interactions.
Each training game we play in classes is usually between one and three minutes, although you can play longer.
I recommend people play the most challenging games during their high-energy times of the day. I’m a morning person. That means I would play my most challenging games in the morning when I’m the most energetic. I’m going to save the easy games for the time of day when I’m more tired because those aren’t going to require as much from me. I’m still going to be able to play full out.
The idea of playful out using play and using games is not new to us. We’ve been doing this for a long time.
The Benefits of Using Play To Enhance Training
• Play relieves stress.
• It helps to grow a more robust relationship
• Improves brain function
• And enables you to think more clearly
Training based on game will be stimulating, fun, and invigorating. If you’re feeling drained, you will feel uplifted.
If you have an older dog, it’s going to help keep that older dog young because they’re moving and they’re thinking, and they’re doing. You want to do more with your older dogs; instead of less. Yes, you are to meet their needs. But you are still educating them through the fun of play.
If you have a rescue dog, games will relieve the stress of everything being new.
If you have a young dog, it will tire out your dog and provide the mental stimulation it needs not to push buttons.
If your dog is a teenager helps create some self-control and confidence.
So regardless of your dog’s situation, training that involves games will be beneficial.
One of the things that we come across this time here is people make the mistake of thinking that play is an outdoor activity. People believe they have to take their dog on a walk for exercise. And that’s so wrong. I mean, there are so many ways of exercising your dog that doesn’t involve taking it on a walk going out in the weather. You don’t have to let the winter weather be something that limits your ability to play with your dog.
For this reason, we have a free series called Indoor Games and Activities tire out your dog. These are three-minute, action-packed, fun, but educational games. There is a wide variety so that you can play the most enjoyable games for you and your dog.
If you want to:
• want to be more relaxed, calmer
• teach your dog to respond better to your cues,
• listen better to you,
• improve the relationship you have with your dog
• have more fun with
Then sign up for our FREE Indoor Activities and Games to Tire out your dog. Just click the link, put in your email address, and you will automatically start getting them sent to you. Go ahead and click the link to be taken to that page.
