Q&A for How to Play with Your Dog

For playing, tennis balls and rope toys are good. Just make sure you put these toys away after playtime so your dog doesn't chew them up. If you're busy and you can't play with your dog, a Kong toy filled with peanut butter is a safe, alternative option.

There are brands of toys designed to be extra-tough for dogs who are destructive; check your local pet store.

Your dog's ears will be flat and tilted back against his skull, and he might be baring his teeth. He might also be backing away from you, whining, crying, looking away from you, or cowering.

It depends on your dog and his personality. If your dog is very active, you could get him a ball for him to play fetch with. If your dog likes noise, you could get him a squeaky toy instead. If your dog likes to play by himself, you could get him one of those dog treat puzzle toys; he will have lots of fun trying to figure out how to get the treat out of the toy.

Play with your dog for a minimum twice a day. Each session should be at least 15 minutes.

Give your dog a toy that can't be chewed through. Instead get him a toy like a hard ball that can't be chewed through easily. And give him something to chew on that is meant for chewing, so that you're less stressed about it happening.

That's called play biting. He's probably teething. As for the barking, it's natural for dogs to do that when excited. You want to discourage biting of any kind, though (and probably barking, too, when it's at friendly people), so work on training your dog to sit when he greets people and deal with the nipping sternly.

He/she probably just likes the sound. Domesticated animals still have predatory instincts, the squeaky toys are designed to sound like prey when your dog is "attacking" it.

He needs or wants to go out. It could mean that it needs to use the bathroom (if it uses the bathroom outdoors). It could also mean that it wants to go outside for a walk. Dogs like to be outside in nature every now and then. If you don't have time to take it for a walk, you could take it outside and play a game of fetch.

When he chews up a wrong item, say a sharp "No!" until he drops the item. You must teach your pet that there are some things he shouldn't be doing. Speak with a dog trainer for additional advice.

Try looking at what kind of toys she's usually drawn to, and be sure to look for the appropriate size toys for your dog.

Soft toys are a better choice, because they are gentle on your dog and wont hurt him.

Teach your dog the command "leave it" and say that every time he bites. You can Google that command for instructions. You can also say "ouch!" to interrupt his biting. Puppies in litters yip in pain when the playing gets too rough. That tells the offender to stand down. You can use the "ouch!" command, then redirect the puppy's behavior by giving him a toy with praise and a treat. Find out what kind of toy your dog likes best and have several of them in different rooms so they are handy during your behavior modification training.

Look into more durable toys, such as a Kong. Puppies chew very often, but it's better for her to chew toys than furniture, clothing, and carpets!

Don't reward undesirable behavior such as begging or nibbling. Give your dog a toy he can use on his own, such as a bone or chew toy. Make sure your dog has plenty of time to be active, and play with him every day.

Make sure the dog is hydrated (dehydration makes them lethargic) and not eating too much. Find a favorite toy and play fetch/play with the dog. When the dog has some activity that it enjoys, that can help reduce inactivity. Also, make sure the dog is walked regularly. If nothing works, consult a vet and make sure there is not a medical issue causing your dog to be inactive.

You can play fetch with him/her. Remember, you cannot always change your dog's personality.

When they start showing signs of aggression (like snarling, growling, etc.), then immediately drop the toy and walk away. Do this every time. Eventually your dog will learn that getting aggressive means play time is over.

It seems like this is just a difference in schedules. If your dog is up most of the night, then it's probably going to want to sleep during the day when you're awake and ready to play. You should work on making sure your dog lays down and sleeps with you at night so they'll have more energy and alertness during the day.

You could call your dog's name and wave one of their favorite toys in the air. That should do a good enough job of letting them know you want to play!

Yes, but it might take a bit longer. Any dog is capable of learning commands and tricks at any age. I just taught my 5-year-old dog how to fist bump.

If your dog is getting plenty of exercise and is not obese, it's okay to give them one or two treats every day. Try to opt for healthier treats if you can.

Follow the methods in Make a Dog Love You .

Yes, as long as it doesn't get too aggressive. If it bites you with aggression, then stop playing.

You don't need commercially made toys. You could have an old towel or a toy that you don't use anymore and teach him to play with that. Also, toys from charity stores work well and don't cost much.