Play is one of the most important needs in every dog’s and cat’s life. As well as improving your relationship and building a stronger bond with your pet, it allows you to increase physical fitness and relieve stress. Importantly, play can keep your pet occupied for hours – so it’s worth providing them with the right toys so they don’t get bored and develop their physical and mental abilities. Remember – a properly exuberant pet will thank you doubly with its obedience and love! 🙂
Why play with your dog and cat?
Every dog and cat, regardless of their age, loves to play, and even more so, the one with their beloved owner. Have you ever wondered why all four-legged animals, even those that are much older, have the need to play all the time? Surely you have heard that today’s dogs are descended from wolves. In the process of domestication, some characteristics of wolves were eliminated and changed for others. One effect of this was to delay the maturation process in dogs, so that they have certain childlike traits retained throughout their lives. One of these traits is precisely the desire to play. Good quality dog toys are great for this.
If every pet, whether small or much older, often shows a desire to play, it is worth considering the importance of this for both the four-legged dog and the human. It is worth mentioning that play for dogs and cats is not only a whim, but above all – a need. And as we all know, needs are there to be fulfilled.
Playing with your dog – why is it important?
If you are a dog owner, you certainly want your dog to be happy. And your pet really needs very little to be happy. It’s worth considering what really makes your dog happy. Surely it’s food – because what dog, at the sight of a delicious dog treat, doesn’t come running straight away and show a pleading look? I don’t think there are any such dogs… Bones, dog treats and a piece of sausage – oh yes, that’s it! What else makes any dog start smiling and wagging his tail happily? A walk, especially a long walk in the woods or in a park, where he can run around and search for interesting smells in the grass. Your pet is also happy to meet other dogs when it has a companion to play tag with or a worthy rival in tug-of-war. You could find quite a few reasons why your dog is happy, but remember that the first and most important reason is yourself – i.e. his master! You are his greatest friend and the meaning of his life, no one else but you. So you should find out why you should make your dog happy and spend even more time playing together!
The situation is a little different with a cat. Play is very important in his development and he usually shows much more desire for it when he is younger. Every cat is driven by an instinct to watch, attack or paw. It is therefore worth getting some interesting toys for your cat. Playing not only helps him to learn appropriate behaviour, but also allows him to relieve stress or build a bond with you.
The role of play in your pet’s life
Playing together with your dog or cat can bring a great many benefits, both for it and for you. One of the most important benefits is the development of physical fitness and the exercise of various skills, such as fighting or hunting. Through play, your pet has the opportunity to ‘test’ different situations that may come in handy in the future. In addition, during play he exercises his mental faculties, so he learns more easily. A very important reason why you should play with your dog or cat is also to relieve its emotions and stress. Your pet experiences a lot of emotions throughout the day – playing will certainly help to relieve them, resulting in a calmer and more obedient pet. Playing also helps your pet to satisfy the need for close human contact and, importantly, will greatly help to strengthen the bond between you. Make a plan today to spend at least a few minutes each day playing with your dog or cat. We promise you that this will have a positive effect on both you and your pet!
How do you play with your dog?
There are three types of play that your dog can experience. The first is one-on-one play, that is, when you are busy or not at home (although this is usually when your dog is not thinking about play, but is just waiting longingly for his master). It is well known that the dog is a social creature and prefers to play with other dogs or with his master, but when he is left to play with himself, a soft squeaker toy will work well. Apart from the fact that your dog will be able to carry it around thanks to its plush tail, the squeaker inside will provide him with more stimulation and he will be more likely to reach for it. Chewing is also a natural need for every dog – a dog chew made of durable rubber will keep your pet occupied for hours and allow him to satisfy his need.
The last and most important type of play for your dog is to play with you, i.e. his master! Of course, there are a whole range of games you can play with your dog. One of the games dogs enjoy is certainly fetch. A disc-shaped toy is great for this, as its shape will fly really far and allow your dog to run a longer distance to catch it. Your dog is also sure to enjoy playing tug-of-war, trying to pick up the toy, but also following commands, which can bring him just as much joy and, most importantly, he gets a delicious treat in return.
How to play with your cat?
Your cat has a strong hunting instinct by nature, so a plush dragonfly with a bell and catnip, for example, will be great fun. As well as attracting attention with its catnip scent, which cats love, the toy will also create extra interest by making a noise with the bell inside. All cats also love playing with balls, preferably those with a bell inside or soft feathers on the outside. A great idea for interesting play for your cat is to cut holes in a cardboard box and drop a toy inside. This will allow your cat to put its paw inside and try to pull the toy out.
The role of play in the lives of dogs and cats – summary
Play is one of the most important needs in every dog and cat’s life. As well as helping to improve your relationship together and build a strong bond, it will also help to improve physical fitness and relieve stress. Importantly, play can keep your pet occupied for hours – so it’s worth providing them with the right toys so they don’t get bored and develop their physical and mental abilities. Remember – a properly exuberant pet will repay you doubly with its obedience and love!