The power of play

24-06-2022

This blog article is a bit different than you are used to, it is a combination of a newsletter with new products and a blog. We have expanded our webshop with a collection; retrieving toys. But because playing is much more than just making sure your dog not get bored, in this article we will delve deeper into the benefits of playing. Warning in advance; it is a two in one article, so also twice as long 😅

Playing and moving together! A great way to strengthen the bond between you and your best friend is through playing. Having fun outdoors or even indoors between walks. You are both moving, which is good for your health and condition. In addition, your dog uses its natural instincts during play, such as its sense of smell/sight, hunting/running after something and retrieving (bringing back). It also helps to improve communication between you, because there are certain rules attached to the game.

Dogs and cats learn to communicate at a young age through play behavior. How do you approach another dog with the intention of playing? When does play become too rough and painful? They learn to use and control their motor skills. Rough play behavior can seem very intense to us humans, especially if the dogs are also very verbal. But if you were to record the play as a video and play it in slow motion, it turns out that they hardly touch each other. You can compare it to Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art dance, in which the bodies adapt to each other's movements. Below you can see a video of Loef, Maggy and Stitch, where this is clearly visible.

Time for us
Playtime with its owner is for many dogs the joy of their lives. Not only because of the interaction between you, but also because play is fun. Your best friend will notice immediately when you are having fun, are enthusiastic and positively encourage and praise him. It is all about fooling around, wrestling and having fun. Apart from a few rules of play, which we will come back to later.

Some breeds have it genetically* in them to retrieve (think retrievers). Others to use their nose for tracking (hide and seek with a ball or something else is great for them to do). By playing with your dog, you also get to know their character better and you can adjust the type of game accordingly. When they play a game that they are naturally good at, this is already a reward in itself. Especially when they can show off their skills to their owner. Just imagine how much serotonin is produced in their brains! 🎇

* NB Genetic does not mean that every retriever likes to retrieve. These types of character traits are determined individually and can therefore differ from dog to dog (even if they are of the same breed).

Training method
Toys can also be used for training. Protect your furniture and shoes by giving your pup a toy to chew on. Or use it as the ultimate reward for training. This is especially useful for dogs that are very happy with a toy, even more so than with a reward treat (trainers). Stitch is one of them... He loves trainers, but when there is a ball in play, he only has eyes for that.

When playing outside with toys, your pet also learns to deal with unexpected situations. Bouncing balls that suddenly go in a different direction or other dogs that want to join in.
If your dog is showing anxious/nervous traits, you can use the toy as a distraction. As mentioned before, playing is positive and fun and it produces serotonin which makes your dog feel happy. In situations where you see that your best friend is not feeling comfortable, you could introduce a toy. You use it initially as a distraction from the 'danger' that your dog is focusing on. Then as a positive turn in the situation, by playing together and showing that everything is okay. Of course, this only works if your dog is crazy about toys. If you have a real glutton, you are better off using trainers.
The distraction method also works well for dogs that focus too much on external factors, such as other four-legged friends, cyclists, joggers or skateboards. If you bring a toy into the game (literally), your dog will only pay attention to this. And thus learns to ignore these factors and also slowly (positively) get used to them.

The rules of the game
The most important thing about the game is that it is fun and spontaneous. However, you will want to introduce some rules to keep it safe and fun. In principle, the rules are for the owner, because you set the framework.
- don't force the game on your dog. If your buddy doesn't feel like it, don't push, but try again later;
- make sure you can easily take something away from your dog. You can use the command 'leave it' for this;
- don't play too rough (both of you) or over-enthusiastically. Your dog's energy level can get too high, causing her to lose control over her emotions;
- decide when the game starts. If your dog is too impatient, let her do something else first, such as sitting, lying down or giving a paw;
- be encouraging, praising and positive;
- introduce breaks. Let your dog catch his breath in between, especially when it is warm outside and provide drinking water;
- stop before your dog is too tired. And also before he loses interest. The game should end nicely.

Tips:
- always keep the toy at the level of your lower body (below your hip), so as not to encourage your dog to jump up;
- provide variety in toys. Don't leave all sorts of things lying around the house all the time, but keep them separate. This keeps the toys interesting and provides a surprise every time;
- choose the right size for the size of your dog. A (too) small toy can be swallowed by a large dog, resulting in a risk of choking;
- no toy is indestructible! Always supervise and never leave your pet alone while playing. Check toys regularly and remove them if they are damaged;
- if you have any questions about playing with your buddy, are there any points of attention you want to work on or are you looking for advice? Then contact us. We are happy to help you!

Types of games
Retrieving:
This involves your dog chasing something and bringing it back. A game with a lot of movement, so a good way to get rid of energy. The toys can vary; from balls, sticks and frisbees to special shapes such as tumbles that bounce in all directions.

Tug of war game:
This involves pulling the same toy at the same time. Use a toy with a loop attached to it, with your dog holding the toy (a ball or stick) and you holding the loop (rope). It is a game with physical and mental challenges, which gives self-confidence, teaches self-control and builds strength.
Please note: this game is not suitable for puppies under 8 months (due to the change of teeth), seniors with bad teeth and dogs with joint problems. We also strongly advise against children playing this game with the dog. Do not make upward movements (from top to bottom), but only from left to right.

Hide and Seek:
Here you hide the toy so that your dog has to use his senses to find it. You can hide all kinds of toys, but don't make it too easy for your buddy by seeing where you put it.

The toys
The new collection will consist of retrieving toys . Later, other toys will be added*. Some of these toys can also be used for tug-of-war and hiding.
We chose the brand Chuckit!. We have been using the balls for years and are very satisfied with the durability and fun. The rubber they use is very robust, but soft and the most important thing for us is that the toys do not damage the teeth. When Stitch was about 2 years old, we noticed that the tennis balls that he always enjoyed nibbling on had slightly filed away his teeth. The vet told us that this was due to the fabric of the tennis balls, often in combination with sand and stones that get stuck in between. The products of Chuckit! are safe for the teeth and gums.

Another reason we chose Chuckit! is that they offer different sizes. It is very important that you choose the right size toy for the size of your dog. A (too) small toy can be swallowed by a large dog, with the risk of choking.

We also offer two products from Tough toys, which are made of soft rubber.

*Update: We have now expanded the collection with toys from Kong! From sturdy chew toys , to a soft teddy bear , plus stuffed toys and food balls to let your dog eat a little slower.

To give an overview of the collection, I have divided the toys into categories:

For the hunters
So much fun to chase and back to the owner and then again! Tongue out and tail wagging...

Of course, first the balls!:
- ultraball : the well-known orange/blue rubber ball
- breathe : with special air holes for better breathing, can also be used as a chew toy by inserting trainers
- throwing ball : with a long loop on it, so you can throw it very far without a throwing stick

Does your best friend prefer a stick? Then choose a rubber stick . It does not splinter, is lightweight and lasts a long time.

The tumble has a funny shape, something like an inflated bone. Because of the shape it bounces in all directions. Especially when you throw it against the ground, it flies back up.

The ring is also great for retrieving. The hole in the middle makes it easy to pick up and carry.

For the high jumper
The frisbee is a super fun toy to use with your dog, with multiple dogs and/or with multiple people. Light in weight, so that it goes high and far into the air. The soft materials ensure that your dog can easily grab it without causing damage to the teeth.

Available in:
- zipflight : with a double layer of fabric for durability and a raised edge of soft rubber
- paraflight : extra light so that it is even easier to throw and in bright colours so that you can still see it well in the distance

For the late hours
What if you can't get enough of the game, but the sun has already disappeared? Or in the winter, when it gets dark way too early? Toys that light up! The 'glow in the dark' works via photoluminescent material that absorbs light and thus glows in the dark. To do this, place the toy in bright light during the day for 5-10 minutes, such as sunlight or daylight or even a flashlight works well, so that it can be seen well in the dark for up to 20-30 minutes.

Available in:
- Glow balls in 4 different sizes
- tumble Glow : the convex sides of this fun toy are clearly visible in the dark
- frisbee Glow : this zipflight version has illuminated areas on both sides. This way the frisbee is always easy to see

For the wrestling
Toys that you can use to fetch and also for a tug of war. Fun, using strength and super tiring. This toy is super robust, so also suitable for the strongest.

Available in:
- pull ball : rubber ball with a short sturdy loop on it. The loop ensures that you do not have to grab the dirty/slimy ball with your hand
- pull stick : this bumper has the shape of a thick stick with a thick rope with a knot. It is a soft toy to bite, so also nice for small or young dogs with not much bite force
- pull ring : a multifunctional toy. You can throw it, roll it and if you remove the rope, you can also wrestle with it
- tug ring Floppy tug : a twisted ring especially for big and strong dogs, because it weighs no less than 860 grams! Also fun for two big friends to pull together

For the water rats
Great in warm weather and if your buddy loves to swim. Never worry about the toy sinking to the bottom again, because this toy floats on the water.

Balls:
- ultra ball : robust, bounces well and floats
- water ball : super light and soft ball that floats on the water surface
- breathe ball and football: besides the ball, we also offer a football with the same air holes. Due to its shape, it bounces in all directions
- throwing ball : ball with a long loop on it, this version is especially for use in the water

Frisbee:
All three versions of the Frisbee can be used on and near water.

Do you want to play while cooling off in the water? The tug ball and tug stick for tug games are well suited for this.

For the juggler
Keeping multiple balls in the air? Or simply because you like variety, we also have two different combination sets of balls. Each package contains three different balls to vary during the game.

- combi set 1 : has the classic Fetch ball with good bouncing power, the popular Ultra ball and the Rugged ball with grooves that simultaneously lightly brushes the teeth
- combi set 2 : has the Whistler that whistles while throwing, the Glow ball that lights up in the dark and the Rebounce which is made of recycled rubber

For clean hands
Your best friend obediently brings the ball back and looks at you with questioning eyes to throw it away again. You pick it up and your entire hand is covered in slime, mud, grass or sand. Great! No? Then use a tool to throw the toy far away and keep your hands clean.

Throwing stick:
The best tool to throw the ball super far, without your arm almost shooting out of its socket. With the throwing stick you can easily pick up the ball from the ground, so you hardly have to bend down.

Available in:
- sports : in Small, Medium and Large format. Includes 1 tennis ball
- pro : extra long with a soft rubber handle for an even better grip. Including 1 tennis ball

Strings and loops:
Use the strings or loops of the pull ball -/ ring and - stick to throw the toy without getting your hands dirty. Handy when toys are multifunctional, right?!

Throwing ball:
The throwing balls from Tough Toys have an extra long rope with a loop at the end. Lightweight, so you can easily throw them far and keep your hands clean. Available in a rubber ball with pimples and in a floating version.

For home
The weather is bad and you don't feel like throwing that ball in the rain or cold. Or if your buddy is still in a playing mood after the walk. Then an indoor toy is a good solution. Specially for indoor use, because this toy is soft for your furniture and silent.

Available in:
- ball Indoor : made of soft foam and chenille fabric. Still bounces well but won't knock over the vase
- ring Indoor : a soft donut shape, making this tumbler easy to pick up

Remark:
The tennis balls from Chuckit! are provided with a felt and plastic material. This combination ensures that it does not damage the teeth and is soft enough for the gums and enamel. However, we have decided not to include the tennis balls separately in our collection, because we are not completely convinced of the durability (robustness). The throwing sticks that we offer do come standard with 1 tennis ball. Incidentally, all other balls in our collection can also be used in combination with the throwing stick. Make sure that you choose the right size ball for the throwing stick.

Source:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/how-to-play-with-your-dog
https://hsnaples.org/why-do-dogs-like-to-play-fetch/
https://atlantahumane.org/blog/playing-tug-with-your-dog/
https://ontariospca.ca/spca-professional/shelter-health-pro/environmental-needs-and-behavioural-health/enrichment-and-socialization-dog/play/toy-play/

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