But just because something is childlike and joyful doesn’t mean that it is trivial, because how you play with your dog has serious implications. The safest way to play with your dog is to play fetch together, to play mental games like “hide-and-seek” (a great way to keep your adolescent dog busy while you make dinner), to play discrimination games (“Go get your big chewy”), and to teach your dog silly, lighthearted tricks. Leave the play fighting for well-matched individuals of the same species, so your play sessions with your dog always end in joy and laughter rather than tears and
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