It’s Playtime!

One of the most fun aspects of pet ownership is experiencing the blissful joy of play. Batting a toy around or endless rounds of fetch can benefit both you and your pet.

Play is an essential part of a healthy daily life for a pet. It can develop essential social skills and build self-confidence when pets are young, so they can learn how to better interact with people and other pets for the rest of their lives.

Play is also one of the best ways to grow the bond between pets and owners. Carving snippets of time out of your morning and evening routines to play with your pet will establish a pattern that builds trust and love over the years.

Play can be active or involve interactive engagement: talking with any pet is an important step to connect continually. The more you play with your pet, the more you will learn their likes and dislikes and be able to find toys that will match their interests and the games they love. One pet might love a feisty tug of war match, while another might grow attached to a plush toy and carry it around like another family member. Still others might prefer a toy that involves problem solving like puzzles. Playtime doesn’t have to be overly expensive. Get a few quality toys and grow your collection on holidays.

Play is a great family activity and a beginning lesson in the responsibilities of pet ownership for children. Young children must always be supervised when playing with pets to avoid any unintended consequences.

A key benefit of active play, such as fetching or trying to catch a laser image, is that it can help prevent obesity, a serious issue for pet parents, as 59 percent of dogs and 61 percent of cats were considered overweight in 2022, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

Keeping your pet engaged via play can avoid boredom and help prevent bad behaviors such as destroying property through chewing or clawing when they search for their own kind of “fun.” Interactive play also helps sharpen a pet’s cognitive abilities, which can aid them in their senior years. Another way to prevent boredom is to offer variety by taking some toys out of the rotation and reintroducing them some time later.

How much play is the right amount? Of course, that will depend on your individual pet. Let them guide you. For some, a few minutes might be enough, while others could go on for as much as half an hour. On long play sessions, take breaks to avoid over stimulation. If you notice your pet not spending as much time playing as usual or is losing interest in play, a conversation with your veterinarian is in order because it could signal a medical issue. Note subtle personality changes as pets often hide signs of illness.

Additionally, play can benefit pet parents as well by decreasing stress and anxiety levels and serving as a mood booster. It can help alleviate loneliness and improve the overall quality of life. Always keep in mind that play is positive. The happier the experience is for your pet, the more likely they will want to do it again.