Play Is Not Optional

Why Dogs Need It, and Why Trainers Should Embrace It

For too long, play has been relegated to the sidelines of dog training—viewed as a bonus, a treat, or an optional extra to be indulged in once the “serious” work is done. But here’s the truth: play is not optional. 

For a dog, play is hardwired into the nervous system. It’s not just fun. It’s functional. It keeps their brain young, their body sharp, their behaviour balanced, and their bond with us strong. If you’re a dog owner, handler, or trainer, you must shift your thinking: play is training. And not only that—it’s often the most powerful form of training you have in your toolkit. 

The Biology of Play: Hardwired for a Reason 

Dogs don’t just play because they’re bored or trying to burn energy. They play because evolution demands it. In wild canids and domestic dogs alike, play is nature’s classroom. Through games of chase, tug, wrestle, and retrieve, dogs learn social skills, hone their motor control, practise predatory sequences, and develop emotional resilience. Unlike many other animals, dogs continue to play into adulthood. Why? Because it serves a purpose. Adult play maintains cognitive flexibility, relieves stress, and strengthens bonds within a social group—whether that group is a littermate, a pack, or you, the handler. Play stimulates the release of dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. These brain chemicals regulate learning, attention, trust, and pleasure. A five-minute game of tug or chase isn’t just a laugh. It’s a neurological reset. It primes the brain for focus, motivation, and connection.

The Power of Play Within The Power of Four 

Within my Power of Four training framework—Play, Rest, Obedience, Play Again—play is not only present, but foundational. Why? Because it acts as both the ignition and the reward for effective learning. At the start of a session, play engages the dog’s brain, builds anticipation, and says, “This is going to be fun.” At the end of the session, it reinforces the connection, brings the pressure down, and lets the dog express their joy in a safe, structured way. Play is one of the four key motivators in dog training—right up there with food, praise, and physical affection. For many dogs, especially high-drive, working breeds, it’s the most valuable motivator. And unlike food, which can be consumed and gone, or praise, which can fall flat under stress, play is interactive. It’s dynamic. It’s relationship-based. Tug, Chase, Wrestle, Retrieve: It’s All Communication When you play with your dog, you’re not just exercising their body—you’re having a conversation. Every bounce, feint, or tug-back is feedback. You’re building engagement without a single command. And that’s the beauty of it: play is wordless training. 

• Tug teaches impulse control, release cues, grip strength, and confidence. 

• Chase games (like running away with a toy) teach recall, proximity, and fun-based engagement.

• Wrestling or body play builds trust and tolerance for touch.

• Retrieve and search games stimulate scent work, focus, and task persistence. 

The key is to make it collaborative—not competitive. Play with your dog, not at them. You’re not trying to win. You’re trying to connect. 

“But My Dog Doesn’t Like to Play…” Some handlers will say, “My dog just isn’t into play.” More often than not, that’s untrue. It’s not that the dog doesn’t want to play—it’s that they haven’t yet been taught how to play with you. 

Play is a learned behaviour, especially in dogs who were never given safe outlets for it in puppyhood. In these cases, you have to become the play. You need to find what motivates the dog—tug? chasing? sniffing?—and gently build it into your sessions. Sometimes it means using toys with hidden treats. Other times it means acting like a complete fool and letting the dog chase you around the garden for two minutes. Drop your dignity. Pick up a toy. 

The Training Game With No Commands

Let me be clear: a 5-minute game of tug or chase with zero commands is still training. It’s:

• Building your relationship. 

• Reinforcing engagement

• Teaching the dog to enjoy being near you. 

• Creating a pattern of looking to you for the next activity.

You don’t always need to issue commands for it to count. In fact, sometimes silence speaks louder. Let the joy do the work. 

The Role of Play in Behavioural Rehabilitation

Play can be a game-changer for reactive, fearful, or withdrawn dogs. It releases pressure, builds confidence, and restores the dog’s natural curiosity about the world. It can be used as a decompression strategy or as a way to mark progress—e.g., “You couldn’t play around strangers last week, but look at you now.” Just don’t rush it. Play can’t be forced. It must be offered like an invitation. Your role is to be an enthusiastic, safe partner—not a source of overwhelm. 

Structured Play vs Free-for-All 

Not all play is equal. Dog parks and chaotic group play sessions can actually diminish the value of play, making dogs over-aroused, possessive, or disconnected from their owners. What matters is structured, human-guided play—the kind that enhances your bond and teaches the dog to enjoy interaction with you, not just other dogs. 

Final Thoughts: Play Is the Glue In training, we often obsess over the “hard skills”: the sits, downs, stays, and recalls. But play is the glue that holds it all together. It makes you worth listening to. It adds joy to the work. It creates a shared language between dog and handler that no command can replicate. So don’t view play as downtime. View it as the foundation. As the bridge. As the magic in the method. If you’re using The Power of Four, you’ll already know that play begins and ends the session for a reason. It’s the motivator that opens the mind, and the celebration that closes the day. 

Play is not optional. It’s essential.

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