Diana Myers
In the eyes of the dog, a toy is only worth a lot of effort if it is not always within reach. You can use this to train your dog.
The most important lessons at a glance
When training dogs, toys can have a great educational effect if you use them correctly and train your acting talents. Envy is not a purely human quality, but innate in all social creatures. And it’s very pronounced in dogs, because “ownership” creates privileges, which in turn increase the prestige among their own kind. Snatching prey from a superior is literally an “uplifting” feeling among dogs.So it’s only natural for your dog to find their toys interesting only until they truly own them. Then he either eats it (if that is possible) or he leaves it. For example, if you throw a ball at your dog and then stop looking after it, the ball game will quickly become boring for it and, in the worst case, it will soon only react with a tired look. On the other hand, he will prefer to chase the ball that you “snatch” again and again.
The most desirable toy is yours
But if the ball is yours, if you want to defend it and want to keep it, then suddenly it becomes the only target, desirable prey, something that really interests you. And in order to get that – and only that – ball, a dog is willing to oblige, fully focused on you (or your ball). to concentrate. An ideal educational tool, if you start correctly. Find an object that feels good in your hand and is easy to throw. Ball, rope, ring, the bag…
Only a good dog gets to the goal
And you love this toy, first of all, you play with it, are happy about it, throw it and catch it. Whenever your dog is watching you. But you don’t give it away. Let him get nervous and play his tricks, spin that thing, sit on it, show him. Then make a simple request, e.g. sit. And then throw your toy away as a reward. If he catches it, try to take it away from him. Give him a few minutes of pleasure before retrieving the loot. From now on you will only use this toy when you are giving “lessons”. Your dog notices and understands this quickly. And if he gets to shake, tear, bag, and fling that “thing” he’s so keen on every now and then to his heart’s content, you’ll soon have an eager student. You can even use your toy in emergencies to lure him to your side when danger is imminent.
Safety first
When choosing a toy, make sure that it is made of non-toxic material (including the inside), that there are no sharp corners that can injure the dog’s sensitive mouth, and that the consistency corresponds to the strength of the bit. The toy must be large enough that the dog cannot swallow it and small enough that it can be easily picked up and carried. It must not be too heavy, otherwise, there is a risk of injury when catching it. And it has to withstand the strong canine teeth so they don’t swallow pieces. Specially treated hard rubber parts (as below), which are available in a large selection in pet shops and at dog shows, are very well suited, including floating rings for “water rats”.