Interactive Play: Strengthening Bonds Through Fun and Games with your dogs.
- Sarah at Barkshire Dog Training
- Dec 9, 2025
- 4 min read
Summary
Interactive play isn’t just about burning off energy—it’s a powerful, joyful way to build trust, improve focus, and reinforce positive behaviours. In this blog, I’ll share how play can transform your training, deepen your bond, and bring more fun, patience, and connection into everyday life.
When Play Becomes More Than Just a Game
As I round off our 2025 Year of Enrichment, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways we’ve explored how to bring more joy, understanding, and connection into daily life with our dogs. And one of the most powerful—yet often overlooked—tools we have for doing just that? Play.
Whether it’s pouring with rain or you’re having a slower day at home, interactive play isn’t just about filling time—it’s about trust, confidence, communication, and, yes, fun.
One of my favourite go-to activities is planning ahead with a cardboard box. It might sound simple, but popping a few treats or toys into a shoebox—or anything your dog can safely lower their head into—is pure magic. I fill it with different textures like scrunched ink-free cardboard, egg boxes, and toilet rolls, and mix in rewards of different values. It doesn't; have to be a carboard box - look how creative Annie's owners were with a washing basket!
My dogs love it as much as Annie does. It's such an easy way to bring play, scent work, and problem-solving into their day, especially when life is busy. It’s been particularly helpful on these recent wet days!
Using Play to Reinforce Behaviour for your dogs.
Last year, I took part in a fantastic workshop with Craig Ogilvie to deepen my understanding of the power of play in dog training. The course offered a brilliant perspective on using play as a form of positive reinforcement—built around the idea that our dogs should be choosing to engage, using techniques tailored to suit them as individuals.
Craig shared a range of tried-and-tested systems that I now use with clients to help build confidence, improve relationships, boost focus, and make training feel fun and rewarding—for both ends of the lead.
One of the key takeaways? Dogs don’t all play the same way. If your dog loves to chase, try rolling or bouncing a ball against a wall in a small space. This satisfies their natural instincts and lets you work on retrieval without worrying about them disappearing into the distance!
When it comes to tug, dragging the toy along the ground mimics prey behaviour and tends to be far more engaging than waving it in the air. These small changes can make a big difference in how motivated your dog feels—and how much they enjoy working with you.
Play as a Positive Training Tool.
This year, I’ve worked with clients using a range of Tug-E-Nuff toys to build strong, positive associations between play and behaviour.
One client saw a real breakthrough by using tug games as a reward for recall. We started by practising at home in a quiet, distraction-free space, helping their dog understand the game and build confidence around coming back.
That calm, focused energy then carried over into walks. When the toy came out and the recall cue was given, the dog came straight back—eager and engaged. Why? Because the toy had been paired with connection and fun, not overstimulation.
It’s a great reminder that success often comes down to creating the right associations in the right environment first.
Client Favourite: Find It!
If there’s one game I use with almost every dog I work with, it’s Find It. It’s easy to teach, highly adaptable, and incredibly effective.
Whether you’re helping a young dog settle in, supporting a reactive dog through distractions, or just looking for a quick dose of calm focus, Find It ticks all the boxes. It taps into scenting instincts and creates a clear, dopamine-boosting task your dog can succeed at—even when the environment is tricky.
“But My Dog Doesn’t Like Toys…”
This is a common concern. Sometimes dogs just need help understanding how to play, especially with certain toys.
Take the Roolo toy, for example. Before Lee joined Clare and me for a Live in September, I wanted to see how the toy worked for myself. When I introduced it to my dogs, my boy Manu immediately understood how to move it and earn the reward. But my girl Poppy was unsure. So, we used a quiet hallway, added some tasty treats, and kept sessions short. Over time, she gained confidence—and now she loves it.
It would’ve been so easy to assume it “wasn’t her thing,” but sometimes a different approach is all that’s needed.
A Gentle Reminder
Interactive play isn’t just for high-energy moments—it’s a beautiful way to connect, communicate, and offer your dog a safe outlet for expression. Whether it’s tug, chase, sniff, or puzzle-solving, play is a relationship, not just a reward.
You don’t need loads of time or fancy equipment. Just a box, a toy, or your imagination—and a willingness to join in.
Here’s to more fun, kindness, and connection—one game at a time.
Want to get your hands on these amazing toys links below
Tug-E-Nuff - Collections – Tug-E-Nuff
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