Photo credit: K Quinn Ferris / Shutterstock.com

As a loving dog mom, I am constantly looking for ways to ensure that my dogs live their happiest, most fulfilled lives. I know I’m not alone! In an effort to care for our best friends, we invest in high-quality nutrition, prioritize annual vet wellness visits, and spend hours working on obedience training. But there may be an even easier step we can take to build a strong bond with our furry family members!

A recent study from Linköping University suggests that if you want to deepen your emotional connection with your pup, you might want to put down the treat bag and pick up a tug toy.

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, set out to investigate the direct connection between play and the emotional bond between people and their dogs. Researchers divided the participating dog parents into three groups. One group increased their daily playtime, one group increased their training time using food rewards, and the final group served as a control, making no changes to their daily routine. The results were really interesting.

After just four weeks of adding only a few minutes of daily play, the dog parents in that group reported a significant improvement in their emotional bond with their pups. Surprisingly, the group that focused on extra training showed no change.

According to Lina Roth, a senior associate professor of ethology at Linköping University, play is important for social interactions with dogs. While training does require communication and connection, it is transactional. Your dog performs a behavior and receives a reward. Play is a special shared experience.

However, not all play is created equal. The goal is to find a play style that involves give-and-take interaction with your dog, not just physical exertion.

Roth explained, “Just throwing a ball isn’t enough. As we were after the social interaction between dog and human, the games we proposed in the study were, for example, tug-of-war, rough and tumble, chasing each other, hide-and-seek, peekaboo, or teasing a dog a little with your fingers. You don’t have to keep at it for long, it’s more about paying attention to your dog’s behavior. A few minutes every now and then seems to make a big difference.”

This finding is particularly hopeful for those who have welcomed a rescue dog into their home. When you adopt a dog as an adult, you unfortunately miss out on the early socialization window that occurs in young puppies. Roth notes that the study shows interactive play can bridge this gap, helping dog parents build a strong relationship regardless of their dog’s age or history.

For busy dog parents, the study also shows that you don’t need hours of free time to see a difference. Just a few extra minutes a day was enough to move the needle for those participating. The secret to success is being observant, paying attention to your dog, and finding out which activities they respond to most positively.

When we share moments of joy, our dogs notice. By prioritizing these positive experiences with our pups, we aren’t just entertaining them; we are building a foundation of mutual trust and affection that lasts a lifetime.

Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.