Something I’m learning pretty quickly is that pup play is hard work as well as fun! Here I am, pupped out after this playtime with Daddy.
Things I need to remember :
- place a water dish out to keep hydrated – there’s a lot of running around, being on all fours is no joke. I was thirsty afterwards.
- make sure my puptoys are easily available for Daddy to use – I get bored quickly and having a choice of different toys in the moment is great fun. Perhaps I should just scatter them on the floor first and then attack!
- have a “yes/no” system before play – my pupside reacts on instinct in the moment. I also stop speaking the longer I play, which means using words brings me out of the play. I prefer to disconnect from the human thinking to make it easier to stay in the moment. But sometimes there’s questions, so I can still reply to yes and no questions, perhaps with lifting a paw or barking (something for me to think about and discuss with Daddy)
- Daddy takes good care of me during play. He knows my body language well, when I become excited, frustrated or tired – he checks in and gently leads the play so that everyone is still having fun. Something I need to think about is the ending of the pupplay. He signals the end by having me sit or lay quietly to remove my hood (this works well for me). I prefer not to remove my own hood if there’s no need. Being pup is so much fun and comfortable.