Social Play - Take 2 - outside · Play with Purpose

Social Play - Take 2 - outside

your thoughts, observations and advice would be appreciated!

A few insights gained with this session.

I talk too much - trying to initiate engagement instead of waiting for the dog to engage with me.
Active disengagement while I'm talking - no eye contact, moving away, peeing and searching.
Searching for a toy to hold. I'm not sure whether having a (non-tug) toy in his mouth is for him to show me how to play, or whether it's for him to modify his arousal. Or both!!
Watch, observe and copy your dog.
Interestingly, I noticed later there was a toy lying in the bottom of the garden that could have been used as a tug toy. I did notice him looking in that direction, it was easily visible, and he seemed to visibly turn away from that toy and find another more "suitable" toy. Maybe he was trying to teach the silly old human something!

Video - a little over the 2 mins I'm sorry. I sped up and edited out a lot of the first minute which was me "nagging" and Rufus wandering around the yard. He at least didn't leave the yard and find something else to do.

I thought I had put all the toys away but he found this one, which is not one you can tug with. Once he brought that out, it was like, if you want to play do it this way. He has a very good prolonged play bow as an ask for engagement. I tried to copy some of his movement, tried to entice movement too. I physically cannot move fast due to past injuries and age.

He's not a dog that likes in close rough and tumble play, even with other dogs. He will drop a toy if another dog comes near him and move away from them.

2:24

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