03/13/2026
K9 Relationship Building 101.
Be the dog.
When I’m playing with dogs, I am genuinely looking for my opportunity to overtake my opponent through fair competition.
My dogs want to play with me because I truly want to play with them. Not leveraging motivation vs. compulsion. Building a true relationship through engagement.
I’m not trying to steal the toy so I can ask for some fancy trick. I’m stealing the toy simply because it is part of the game. Then giving the dog his opportunity to steal it back! 💪
It’s only up from here.
