Drowning in Dog Toys? The Surprising Link Between Squeaky Chaos and Bad Behavior

Many times when I go visit a client in their home, I immediately notice the massive amount of toys strewn all over the house. After the client and I get to talking, I ask them about the over the top toy situation. Nine times out of ten, the response is something akin to ‘I just don’t want my dog to get bored!’ Lavishing our pups with plushy goodness is not a bad thing. However, there should be an objective behind giving a toy. Allowing a dog to have all its toys at their disposal is directly connected to pushy, oftentimes possessive behavior. In addition, it does not give the right tone that your home should have. The overall tone of your home should be one of peace and structure. If you want to initiate toy playtime with your dog, that’s fine. Have them earn that toy. Make sure that they release it every time you command an out. And then when play time is over, the toy goes away.

Easier said than done, right? I mean, how does a dog earn a toy? They go out, get a job, and then pay for a subscription to BarkBox? Not quite. Everyday tasks can be turned into mini modes of work! The more you challenge your dog mentally, the more grateful they will be to get the reward. I call this, burning brain calories. For example, you walk your dog every day, right? Well, every day, you could ask your dog to sit at the door and stay seated while you open the door. Then, walk out the door first, and invite your dog to follow you. This exercise allows your dog to practice the all-important skill of impulse control. Then while you’re on your walk, practice allowing your dog to sniff sometimes, and then asking them to walk on a loose leash by your side the other half of the time. This exercise hones in on your dog’s ability to focus and pay attention in high levels of distraction. As you stroll around your neighborhood, don’t allow your dog to say hi to every person or every dog they meet. A truly social dog knows when to socialize and when to mind their own business. When you encourage this level of doggie etiquette, you are emphasizing boundaries and helping your dog to think before they act. So, in one little walk, you have incorporated about four different mental and physical challenges that your dog will benefit from. Ever heard of the phrase ‘a tired dog is a happy dog’? Well, the only way to truly tire your dog out, is to make sure their brain is allowed to think and figure things out!

Now that your dog has ‘worked’, it’s time for them to play! But first, don’t throw all their toys at them at once. Pick a couple. This is called toy rotation. By limiting your dog’s access to all their toys, and rotating them on a regular basis, value will be added to the toys thus prolonging your dog’s interest in them. What makes toy time even better is when you engage in the toy, with your dog! Fetch, tug, hide and seek. Find out what mode of play your dog loves the most and build on it. Finally, just as toy time has a beginning, it should have an end. After your dog has played a rousing game of whatever they like to play, make sure they give you the toy (s), and then you put them away. What this helps your dog to understand is that crazy, fun time is over and now then need to calm down. Giving you the toy and allowing you to put it away shows respect over the object, and the game. Every game, has rules. Playtime with our dog included! After all, dogs love rules!

By allowing our dogs to be inundated in a 24/7 world of squeaky chaos, how does that make us look? It is our job to create the proper environment for our pups. By keeping an orderly home where there is a time and place for everything, you are helping your dog remain in a calm and focused state of mind. Concerned about boredom? Then make sure every part of your day involves an inclusion exercise based on structure. Whether it’s a structured walk, a Place exercise, or a down stay on the porch while you go and get the paper in the morning, by inviting your dog to participate properly in every possible part of your day, they will never be bored. In fact, they will love you even more because you are projecting yourself as a good and trustworthy leader and companion.