How 5 Minutes of Play a Day Can Help Reactive Dogs and Strengthen Your Bond
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Science now backs up something many reactive dog parents have always felt instinctively: playful moments with your dog help you feel more connected to each other.
A fun game of tug or hide-and-seek doesn’t just entertain your dog. It can actually deepen trust, improve emotional connection, and strengthen your bond.
A fascinating new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science found that spending just 5 extra minutes a day playing with your dog can significantly improve your emotional bond — even more than training alone.
As a positive trainer, I consider many of the practices I do with dogs to be a form of play because they’re enjoyable for the dogs. Feeling good about training is especially important for the fearful, anxious, and reactive dogs I work with. This type of training is important for building your dog’s skill set.
However, the type of play I'm talking about here is one-to-one play between you and your dog, the only purpose of which is to have fun together. This type of play is important because it releases endorphins, reduces stress, and, most importantly, deepens your relationship with your dog.
For reactive dogs especially, a deep trusting relationship with their human is the foundation that makes training actually work.
The Study: Can Play Improve the Human-Dog Bond?
Researchers surveyed nearly 3,000 dog guardians about how often they played with and trained their dogs. Participants also completed a standardized relationship questionnaire measuring emotional closeness, interaction, and the perceived challenges of dog ownership.
Then, a smaller group participated in a 4-week experiment. One group added:
5 minutes of daily play
Another group added:
5 minutes of positive reinforcement training
And a control group:
changed nothing
The results were incredibly interesting.
The people who added intentional play sessions reported greater emotional closeness with their dogs than the training group. Many also noted their dogs seemed more engaged with them and initiated play more often.
Perhaps most importantly, the study focused on social play — not simply throwing a ball. There are distinct types of play. Social play like tug, is interaction-focused, whereas object-focused play like fetch, is classified as instinctual or predatory motor pattern play (aka: chasing or retrieving).
The games used included:
tug
chase (with you not an object or other dogs)
hide-and-seek
peek-a-boo
rough-and-tumble play
gentle “teasing” or stalking games
In other words, the activities that strengthened the relationship were the ones built around interaction, connection, and shared enjoyment.
Why Play Matters So Much for Reactive Dogs
When you live with a reactive dog, it’s easy for your relationship to become overly focused on management, training, and problem-solving.
➡️You’re scanning the environment.
➡️Watching triggers.
➡️Practicing training plans.
➡️Trying to avoid barking or lunging episodes.
And while those things matter, reactive dogs also desperately need opportunities to simply feel safe, joyful, and connected with their person.
That’s where play becomes powerful.
Play helps your dog:
reduce stress
build confidence
increase optimism
create positive emotional associations
strengthen communication
Most importantly, play changes the emotional tone of the relationship. Your dog stops seeing you as only the person who manages difficult situations and starts seeing you as a source of fun, safety, and predictability.
The Best Types of Play for Reactive Dogs
Not all dogs enjoy the same kinds of play — and that’s okay.
The goal isn’t to force a game. It’s to discover what helps your dog feel engaged, relaxed, and connected.
Here are some of my favorite ways to play with your reactive dog:
Tug (with structure)🪢
Tug is one of my favorite games for reactive dogs. Done thoughtfully, it helps your dog:
release stress
build confidence
practice impulse control
engage socially with their person
Use clear start and stop cues to keep the game predictable and safe. Let your dog win sometimes, and keep the energy playful rather than competitive.
Tug works especially well for dogs:
who feel frustrated on walks
have high-energy dogs
who lack confidence
Find It Games🔍
Scatter treats in the grass, around the house, or behind furniture and encourage your dog to sniff them out. Sniffing naturally helps lower arousal and engages the seeking part of the brain in a calming way.
This is wonderful for dogs who:
are anxious
shut down easily
become overstimulated outdoors
You can also use “Find It” before or after walks to help regulate your reactive dog’s nervous system and calm their anxious energy.
Hide-and-Seek👀
Hide behind a doorway, tree, or piece of furniture and let your dog come find you.
This game builds:
engagement
recall skills
optimism
emotional connection
Hide-and-seek is especially helpful for dogs who tend to disconnect from their humans in distracting environments.
Chase Games🏃♀️
For this one, I’m talking about your dog chasing you, not other dogs or a toy. Run a few playful steps away, pause, then see if your dog asks for more. Keep it light and consensual.
This is great for:
dogs who love movement
dogs who need confidence-building
strengthening engagement outdoors
For some easily over-aroused dogs, chase games can become too stimulating, so pay attention to your dog’s emotional state.
“Teasing” or Stalking Games😉
Slowly drag a toy along the ground or wiggle your fingers under a blanket and let your dog stalk and pounce. This is great prey play without the overwhelm.
These games are especially satisfying for:
terriers
herding breeds
dogs who enjoy problem-solving and movement
Gentle Rough-and-Tumble Play🤼
Some dogs absolutely love gentle wrestling, body play, or playful physical interaction. If that sounds like your pup, make sure this type of play stays:
loose
wiggly
consensual
easy to pause
If your dog becomes stiff, over-aroused, mouthy, or frantic, it’s time to stop and switch to something calmer.
Play for Different Types of Reactive Dogs
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make with play is assuming it must be high-energy. In reality, the best play is the kind that supports your individual dog’s personality and needs.
For Easily Overstimulated Dogs💥
Choose:
sniffing games
hide-and-seek
slower stalking games
food puzzles
Avoid:
frantic chase games
nonstop high-arousal tug
intense wrestling
For Shut Down or Fearful Dogs😱
Choose:
low-pressure interactive games
gentle tug
playful movement
confidence-building exploration games
The goal is to help your dog feel safe enough to initiate interaction and express curiosity.
For Easily Frustrated or High-Energy Dogs🧨
Choose:
structured tug
chase games
movement-based play
scent games combined with impulse control
These dogs often benefit from outlets that feel both interactive and empowering.
Using Play Before and After Walks With Reactive Dogs
This is one of my favorite practical applications of play.
Before Walks
Engage in play to:
help your dog feel connected to you
reduce tension
improve engagement
create a more optimistic emotional state
For many reactive dogs, a quick game before heading out can dramatically improve focus and responsiveness.
After Walks
Play can also help your dog decompress after outings. Sniffing games or a few minutes of gentle tug after a walk help your dog decompress, transition out of “environment scanning mode” and settle back into feeling safe at home.
Caution: There Are a Few Situations in Which Play Can Accidentally Make Reactivity Worse
Play is powerful — but more intensity is not always better.
If your dog:
becomes frantic
can’t disengage
gets mouthy
struggles to settle after play sessions
starts redirecting onto you
…the game is likely too arousing for their nervous system.
This does NOT mean play is bad or that you can’t play with your dog. It simply means your dog may need:
shorter sessions
calmer games
more structure
more recovery time
The best play sessions leave your dog feeling connected and successful — not emotionally flooded.
Five Minutes Really Can Matter
What I love most about this research is how achievable it is for reactive dog parents.
Parenting a reactive dog is exhausting. There’s more management, more emotional energy, and more day-to-day stress involved. That’s exactly why simple moments of play matter so much.
➡️You don’t need an hour.
➡️You don’t need expensive equipment.
➡️You don’t need perfect training skills.
You simply need a few intentional minutes of shared joy and connection. For reactive dogs especially, those moments of safety, fun, and playfulness become the glue that holds the rest of your training together.
At the end of the day, behavior change happens faster when you and your dog have a close, trusting bond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Play and Reactive Dogs
Can play help reactive dogs?
Yes. Appropriate play helps reduce stress, build confidence, strengthen your relationship, and improve emotional regulation in reactive dogs.
What type of play is best for reactive dogs?
That depends on your dog’s personality, anxiety levels and play style. Many reactive dogs benefit from sniffing games, structured tug, hide-and-seek, and low-pressure interactive play.
Can play make reactivity worse?
Sometimes. Highly arousing play can overwhelm certain dogs, especially if they already struggle with impulse control or overstimulation. Watching your dog’s body language and emotional state is important. If your dog is easily overexcited, focus on calmer, more low-key games.
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