Play is Necessary for Your Dog!

At Rascal Training, we talk a lot about obedience, structure, and accountability and a well-rounded dog needs more than rules and commands. They need outlets. They need engagement. They need opportunities to move their body, use their brain, and interact with the world in ways that actually feel good to them.

That’s where play comes in.

Play is not optional. It’s not a bonus. It’s not something you add only if your dog is already “easy.” Play is a foundational piece of mental health, emotional regulation, and overall balance. One of the biggest mistakes I see owners make is viewing play as separate from training, or worse, as something that undermines structure. In reality, when play is done thoughtfully, it supports everything else you’re working on.

Physical Exercise and Mental Stimulation

When most people think about play, they think about burning off energy. And yes, that matters. Dogs need to move. They need to run, pull, chase, and engage their bodies in ways that feel natural to them. Games like fetch, tug, flirt pole work, and agility-style movement give dogs a healthy outlet for physical energy. When dogs don’t have that outlet, that energy doesn’t just disappear. It comes out sideways - pacing, barking, chewing, reactivity, or general restlessness but physical exercise is only half the equation.

Mental stimulation is just as important, and in some cases, even more important. Dogs are problem solvers by nature. When their brains don’t get used, they go looking for jobs on their own. Those jobs are rarely the ones we’d choose for them. Puzzle toys, food dispensers, snuffle mats, and interactive feeding activities like shaping games challenge your dog to think, experiment, and persist. That process builds frustration tolerance and confidence, and it leaves dogs feeling genuinely satisfied. A dog who is mentally fulfilled is calmer, more focused, and easier to live with. Not because they’re tired, but because their needs are being met.

Strengthening the Relationship

Play is also one of the clearest ways we build relationship with our dogs. When you play with your dog, you’re not just entertaining them. You’re communicating. You’re teaching them how to engage with you, how to take turns, how to regulate excitement, and how to stay connected even in high-energy moments. This is especially important for dogs who struggle with arousal, impulse control, or engagement. Structured play gives them a place to practice those skills in a way that feels fun instead of restrictive. Play builds trust. It builds clarity. It teaches dogs that you are relevant, predictable, and worth paying attention to. That bond carries over into training, handling, and everyday life.

Stress Reduction and Emotional Health

Dogs experience stress just like we do. New environments, busy households, changes in routine, and social pressure can all add up. Play is one of the most natural stress relievers we have access to. Physical movement helps regulate the nervous system. Engagement releases feel-good hormones. Play gives dogs a safe place to discharge nervous or excess energy. For anxious dogs especially, the right kind of play can be grounding. It redirects focus outward instead of inward. It gives them something productive to do with their body and brain instead of spinning.

Preventing Behavioral Issues

A lot of behavior problems are not training problems. They’re fulfillment problems. Dogs who are under-stimulated often create their own entertainment. That can look like excessive barking, digging, chewing, counter surfing, or getting into trouble whenever they’re left alone. Regular, intentional play gives dogs a constructive outlet for their needs. It reduces boredom. It reduces frustration. And it dramatically lowers the likelihood that those needs will come out in destructive ways. This is especially important for young dogs, working breeds, and dogs with high drive. These dogs don’t need constant correction. They need appropriate outlets.

Confidence and Independence

Play also builds confidence. When dogs figure things out on their own, solve problems, and master new challenges, it changes how they see themselves. That confidence carries over into new environments, new experiences. Dogs who are encouraged to explore, try, and succeed through play tend to be more resilient. They recover faster from mistakes. They’re less likely to shut down. They’re more willing to engage with the world.

Types of Toys and How to Use Them

Not all toys serve the same purpose, and variety matters.

Chew Toys
Benefits include satisfying the natural urge to chew, supporting dental health, and providing a calming outlet.
Examples include Kong, Yak Chews, and Ziwi Chews.

Interactive and Food Toys
These stimulate the brain, slow down feeding, and encourage problem-solving.
Examples include Snuffle Mats, LickiMats, food puzzles, and Toppl.

Tug Toys
Tug builds strength, engagement, and relationship when done with clear rules.
Examples include the Starmark Swing and Fling, standard tug toys, and flirt poles.

Fetch Toys
Fetch supports cardiovascular health and provides a high-output energy release when used appropriately.
Examples include the Starmark Swing and Fling and Chuckit toys.

The goal isn’t constant stimulation. The goal is intentional use. Rotate toys. Use them with purpose. Don’t allow your dog to have free access to the toys so they bring higher value to your dog.

Bringing It All Together

In the middle of busy schedules and long days, play can feel like the easiest thing to skip. But it’s often the thing that makes everything else work better. At Rascal Training, we don’t see play as separate from training. We see it as part of the whole picture. Play supports emotional health, strengthens relationships, and helps dogs show up more balanced in every other area of life. Whether it’s a short tug session, a food puzzle, or a game of fetch in the yard, or a simple little shaping game, those moments matter. They add up. And they make a real difference in your dog’s happiness and well-being.