Not Just For Fun

If you think that playing is only for fun you would be wrong.  Play is a very serious thing.  Play is exercise and exercise is really important for dogs because it helps us get rid of energy.  If we don’t get rid of energy by playing we find some other way to get rid of it.   I’m not pointing paws or anything, but some dogs, like a certain sister I have, get rid of extra energy by misbehaving. 

By encouraging play, your human could save a nice pair of shoes or an end table or even Mom’s reading glasses.  (Not pointing paws.  Just saying it wasn’t me.)

Anyway, play can be lots of things.  Play can be gentle or extreme.  Taking a walk can be a kind of play.  Nice walks are good for older dogs or dogs that don’t have lots of energy like Basset Hounds or Bulldogs.  Breeds like Border Collies or Australian Shepherds are very high energy and need lots more exercise.  Lots of high energy dogs love agility training because they get to use up all that energy.

Beagles can do well in the agility part.  It’s the training part that gets in the way.  DixieLee is a beagle mix which might explain a lot.

I like to play catch and our toy box is filled with lots of different balls.  Balls are good for playing other games too.

When it’s too cold or rainy outside Mom likes to play Up and Down the Stairs.  Mom makes the ball go down the stairs and I have to go down the stairs, get the ball and bring it back up to her.

Up and Down the Stairs uses different muscles and gets rid of energy fast.

Fetch is another good game and you can use lots of different toys.  A ball makes a good fetch toy but so does a Frisbee or even a soft toy.  DixieLee’s favorite toy is a funny snowman.  She loves when Mom throws it and she can fetch it back. 

Chase games are fun.  DixieLee and I play chase all the time.  Mom and Dad aren’t very good at this game so they just watch and cheer.  Bubbles are pretty to chase but are not good for playing fetch.  No matter how quick you are they disappear as soon as you think you’ve got them.

The soft snowman is also good for another good game.  Tug of War.  This is lots of fun.  We play Tug of War with Mom and Dad and with each other.  Braided rope toys are good Tug of War toys.

We have lots of toys to play with and after a day of playing our toy box is empty and our toys are all over the house.  Some dogs, like our cousin Sophie, put all their toys back in the box when they are done playing.   Putting away toys takes energy and by the time I’m done playing I’m out of energy and ready for a nap.

I bet you have a favorite game and toy.  Let me know so that we can make sure that we have the most popular toys in all of our gift basket.

Your playful friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out our huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com or on our Facebook page.

Dogs At Play

Playing is so much fun I didn't realize it is actually very good for dogs.  You've heard the expression "a tired dog is a good dog", well, it's true.  I can see it with my sister DixieLee.  I'm a pretty laid back dog but DixieLee is hyper.  If we don't do a lot of play she manages to find some way to get into trouble.

Neither one of us is a puppy any more be we still love to wrestle and fight like puppies do.  Some people think we are vicious because we play rough but we know the rules and never hurt one another.  When we go to day care we have  to remember that not all dogs like to play as hard as we do.  If I am playing too hard the other dog will let me know.  He will nip me or just not want to pay any more.  If this happens I know I need to say I am sorry and then most of the time they will want to play some more.

Chasing around the pen is another of our favorite games.  DixieLee can run really, really fast.  We love to chase each other around the house too but Mom gets all grumpy we we race down the hall to see who can jump on the bed first then race back down the hall to see who can get the best seat on the couch.

We like to play with our humans too.  It's great fun to steal socks and have them pay tug of war with us.   Mom doesn't like that game so much but she will play if we use one of our tug toys instead.  Games that make me think are lots of fun. Dad does good hide and go seek and I love when I have to figure out how to get the kibble out from inside the Kong.

Play is good exercise too.  We like to take Mom and Dad on hikes because they are getting old and exercise helps to keep them young.  Walking also keeps everyone's weight down.  Being a lab, I love to eat and if I don't get enough exercise, I get a buffalo butt.  Going on hikes is fun and going on hikes at Dog Park is the BEST.  It's so much fun I never want to leave so sometimes I don't get in the car when I am supposed.  Not getting the care makes it so everyone has to stay longer.

Some dogs like to chase balls or Frisbees but DixieLee and I would rather chase squirrels.  We never catch them cuz they can climb trees but one of these days...

I hear that we re going to go to day care tomorrow.  The weather has been cold and rainy and I hate to get wet so we have been staying inside.  The day care people have a big covered outside area where we can play and we can run all we want in the big inside room.  It's lots of fun to run inside and not have anyone tell you to stop!  The bestest part is that there are so many other dogs to play with.  I can't wait. Maybe I'll see you there.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  We now have our very own website with the BESTEST dog gift baskets in the whole Universe.  Check it out at pawpalsboutique.com