Pto strengthen the relationship between a dog and its human being no need for long and tiring training sessionsjust a few minutes of play is enough. New research suggests that this is the real ingredient for developing complicity and harmony. Naturally, not all games work the same way and the correct attitude also makes a difference. So no, throwing Fido a ball while he scrolls through news and videos on his phone won’t make a difference.
To re-establish theimportance of play in the dog-owner relationship is a study conducted by Linköping University, Sweden, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Researchers analyzed the behavior of over 400 owners and their four-legged friends, trying to understand which activity really fosters a deeper emotional connection. The result? The game wins over everything.
A stronger bond with the dog? It is built by playing the right games, and it only takes a few minutes
We already know how important it is to dedicate time to your dog, but what emerges in this case is that not all activities have the same impact. While training helps teach new skills, it doesn’t seem to strengthen the emotional bond as much as shared play.
Over the course of the study, participants were divided into three groups: those who increased their time playing, those who focused on training with food rewards, and those who maintained their daily habits. After just four weeks, the results were clear: only the “play” group recorded a significant improvement in their relationship with their dog.
10 minutes a day is enough. And the games to prefer are…
And the good news is that you don’t need to upset your routine. Approximately enough 10 minutes a day to make a difference. It’s not so much about the quantity, but about the quality of the time shared.
But which games really work? We were saying, throwing the ball, especially if distracted, is of little use. The most effective activities are the interactive ones, which involve a mutual exchange: tug of war, chases, small “fighting” games, hide and seek or even simple gestures of contact and complicity. Therefore, everything that stimulates attention, reaction and connection works.
Not just puppies: the importance of playing with the adult dog
An interesting aspect also concerns adult or adopted dogs. It is often thought that the strongest bond is built only in the first months of life, but the study shows the opposite: through play, it is possible to create a deep relationship even later in time.
In a world where we are always in a rush, this is an invitation to slow down and carve out authentic moments. Because, sometimes, a few minutes of lightheartedness are enough to build a relationship made of trust, affection and complicity. And perhaps, between laughter and a tug of war, teaTime spent together could do just as much good: both for the dog and for the human.