Don't This Up

This is how I play with Dhali. I have been reading Denise Fenzi's blog about raising/training her puppy Lyra for almost a year.  I'm trying really hard to play with Dhali.  I only have 2 goals for Dhali's training : have him love playing with me and have him want to be near me. 

I feel like I failed in both of those goals when I was raising Tibby.  Although to be fair to both of us - I didn't know anything about playing with a puppy when I got her.  I didn't know anything about anything!  The only advice I did get was all about dominance and control.  Dhali is being raised hippie-style!  Have fun!

I have a hard time balancing keeping Dhali engaged with the toy and not being to rough.
 I keep re-reading the info on Denise Fenzi's blog, "It is critically important to put the right amount of pressure and motion on the toy. Too little pressure, and the puppy will try to lie down and chew the toy, or munch and shift the grip to create action since you aren’t providing it, or even just walk away out of boredom.
If you use too much pressure and the puppy will give up and stop trying to play. The right amount of pressure allows you to constantly “feel” your dog’s mouth as you continuously move the toy. Most of the time the motion of the toy should be relatively smooth and side to side (not a backwards/forwards tug; side to side).
 The occasional careful “jerk” will keep the puppy awake and prevent lazy bites or letting the toy hang loosely in the mouth. If the dog lets go of the toy, you must make the toy instantly spring back to life like a rabbit determined to escape for good this time. Make sure the puppy is fully engaged again before allowing her to have another chance.
The easiest motion is a figure eight with your toy hand on the floor. That motion allows the toy to constantly change direction and keeps it in front of you, but also allows you to get the toy fairly far in front so the puppy doesn’t worry about being in close under or near your body.
 To avoid getting your hands bitten, keep the back of your wrist towards the dog and keep up the figure eight motion (like twirling a baton).
With this motion, the dog will be moved around by it’s whole body."

I hope I'm doing it right!  The 2nd video is the last half of the first video - I meant to cut the video in half, but ended up loading the whole thing.  The 2nd video shows 'personal play' .  Playing without any toys.  I also added in some rewards with kibble for coming in next to me. 

At one point he nails me REALLY hard in the back of the arm.  OUCH! 

It seems like the more activity/playing I give Dhali, the more he wants, but I can tell when he needs a nap.....even though he doesn't always agree with me!



Playing with Dhali - tugging, ect.




This one is only 3 mins.  - Cut from the 2nd half of the 1st video.