Toy Play: Cooperation without Conflict

Toys can serve many purposes, from daily enrichment to high-value rewards. Equally important to the method shown in this video is the concept that we should generally be reliable borrowers, not takers. When our dogs drop a medium-value toy to take a high-value treat, we also resume toy play after the treat! Soon enough, our dog will be spitting out high-value toys for low-value kibble, and then for nothing at all, knowing that toy play will probably resume in a moment. Similarly, if you generally take a dog's food bowl only to sprinkle cheese and return it, then she will have a vastly different emotional response to you approaching her food than a dog whose owner routinely removes his food while he's eating!