Making Fun!!

*Frax picture courtesy Canine Assistant's professional photographer*

Hello!

Now that the weather is wonderful, it's time to play! Canines are the uncontested top contender in the animal world for loving to play! Here again is a approach to life by our companions that we can use in our daily lives. Play is how we learn what being a human being is as a child...it's hard work...but fun too! When adult, hopefully we never lose that ability to play as we raise our own children. Unfortunately it's easy in this industrialized world to lose the sense of wonder and innocent play that our own dogs have never lost. Play is important. It exercises the body~ yes, but the mind as well! Everyone can do it, from the able to the disabled. No need to feel odd about it~ remember, your dog thinks the world of you and knows intuitively that you can play and have fun just like the next person!

What if it's raining? Or snowing? Or you are not feeling so hot? Or you are traveling and staying in a hotel? You can still play! Dogs know this. But we've discussed that before. Dogs know. Follow the dog. Simple.

The scientific community is puffed up and rightly proud of itself these days~ dogs are sentient! Scientific proof! They understand our language! They can communicate! WOW! Duh! Any eight year old kid with his favorite dog could have told them that ages ago! And yes, they know how to play...much better than we do. Frax would give us all the 'what the heck' look if we proposed going for a run on a treadmill. Yuk. Boring. OK, how 'bout a stimulating game of golf? Dog yaaaaaaawn. Fine...lets have a ton of fun...and...yeah!...lets take a spin class! (Frax is asleep and snoring at this point!)

All those discussed are exercise, no doubt. Maybe in a very adult and sedate way mentally engaging...whatever floats your boat. However, fun and exercise for mind and body really don't have to be boring, a chore or technical. Dogs know this. They have fun wherever they are. If you pay attention, they'll teach you too!

There are the usual dog games we are aware of (Frax calls them 'The Ol' Standbys') Oldies but goodies. You can't beat a walk, or a roll if you are in a wheelchair. No telling what or who you'll see or find. You can take pictures too if you are the multitasking sort. Rain is no issue. Frax is a retriever, hey, water...pffft!...it rolls right off! They make those weird fur coats that shed rain for humans too...called...yah, rain coats! Yup! Work great.

You really can't beat a standard game of 'Ball'! Some of the canine crew get a bit OCD about this, particularly Frax's cousins, retrievers...I mean...the name says it all. Uncle Jet was into 'Ball' in a BIG way! He would play it at 12 midnight if he could, in the snow, rain, sun, wind, in water...on a mountain, boat, train, plane...and nearly in church once, but that's a story for another day! Frax likes it just fine, but he can walk away from it. Jet not so much. Anyway, a perennial favorite...'ball' will always be in the top 10 canine games.

'Tag' is another traditional canine game. It has a few rules. Either human or dog can start it. First, if you are a yoga fan, you know this move. Yoga aficionados call it 'downward facing dog' for obvious reasons. Frax's family calls it a 'play bow'. Humans might describe it as 'the dog is stretching'. Well, yes, but it serves other purposes Captain Obvious. By play bowing, and flashing a big doggie grin you are inviting the other person to PLAY! Yes! And tag...well, we've played that as kids too...tag you're IT! Adult humans are pretty awful at this game, which makes it even more fun. Onlookers can have a blast watching the elders skid and fall, and dogs can use these opportunities to dance on the human's heads while they are trying to get up! Fun is had by all! This is a bit difficult to engage in if you are not able to get up, but egging your dog on is mighty fun as well! Especially when it's Mom or Dad getting danced upon by your dog~ am I right?!

There are a few more mundane 'traditional games': “Roll Around On The Floor And Lick Your Person's Face Off!” is an old favorite, and can be started anywhere...in bed, sitting in a chair, on the floor...it's even portable and doable in the car, although adult humans usually frown on this because it's distracting.

“Keep Away” is good too...take any item of clothing your person is wearing...snatch it and run! Let the games begin! To crank it up a notch, wait till the humans have company! It's really good if it's a dinner party, or maybe if 'the boss' is coming...use creativity with this! Once everyone is good and relaxed, get the biggest piece of underwear from the hamper, or bras are also good, and start 'Keep Away' in front of the company. You can't get much more fun than that!

A version of 'Keep Away' is “Tug”. We do not play tug, because in the service dog community it is a work related cue. It's best not to mix things up. Tug also must be monitored closely. It's easy to get accidentally bit when your dog 'readjusts' his grip, and all excited. Frax concedes that with all the other fun games to be had, 'Tug' may need retiring for safety reasons.

A game Frax's cousins, our Dalmatians enjoyed was “Sniff And Make Dad Nearly Run Off The Road While Driving!” It starts with the Dalmatian looking between the seats. Not moving a muscle...just staring at the drivers ear. The driver (Bill) can sense the stare. “Stop staring at my ear!” mutters Bill. Don't stop...inch a bit closer. This part of 'the game' can last quite awhile, and make for tons of fun as you make Dad more jittery as he drives. Mom usually will try to intervene and distract you...don't let her...there may be dog treat bribes the longer you draw it out. Pretend you've been distracted...yawn...that's usually good. When everyone least expects it (really great if Dad is coming to a stop sign with a cop car parked at the intersection!)...when everyone is good and confident you aren't staring at Dad's ear~ jam your slimy nose in it just as deep as it can go! Drool if you can and pant! Dad loves it! Screams like a girl and makes the car do really fun things! Mom is no help and can't breathe because she is laughing so hard she is crying! Fun is had by all! Frax is bummed because this 'game' is strictly prohibited in the Vaught household for safety and mental health reasons. He loves to hear of the times his cousins disobeyed and played the 'game' however....ah the good 'ol days!

These of course are just the basics. In our next instruction by Frax we will go through some more games that he and his cousins have played with their humans that get four paws up! The thing is, life is grim enough...make time for play in your life and your family's. Billions of dogs can't be wrong about it!

Later...! Huugh! Hungggh! Hungggh! (puppy laughing!)

LV, FX and JT!:):):)

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