Structured play

Structured Play in Dog Training: Why It’s a Game Changer for You and Your Dog

Implementing structured play into your dog’s life will improve their obedience, impulse control, help them stay fit and deepen your relationship with them. It’ll even help your crazy teenage dog learn to keep their ears “on” in exciting, high energy situations!

Welcome to structured play—a fun, effective, and often underutilised approach to dog training.

What is Structured Play?

Structured play goes beyond simply throwing a ball or letting your dog tug at a rope until they get bored. It’s a deliberate way of using play as a reward system, turning high-energy moments into learning opportunities.

At its core, structured play involves:

1. Engaging your dog in play using a toy they find highly motivating (like a tug toy or ball).

2. Asking them to drop the toy on cue.

3. Rewarding them for dropping the toy—usually by offering food of equal or greater value after you give the drop command.

4. Asking for one or more obedience behaviors (like “sit,” “down,” or “touch”).

5. Rewarding the obedience by returning the toy and continuing the play.

How to Teach the Drop and Build Obedience Through Play

Step 1: Teach “Drop It” the Smart Way

Start by holding the toy still—a toy that's no longer moving is often less interesting. Then, after giving your “Drop it” cue, offer a piece of food that matches the toy in value. Timing is crucial: wait until you've given the cue before reaching for the food. Most dogs will choose the food, and in doing so, release the toy. Praise and reward them immediately at first, then add some duration- but be careful not to snatch the toy away when they drop it. The aim is for them to choose to drop and wait, not for you to “steal” the toy away.

Repeat this consistently, and your dog will quickly learn that dropping the toy doesn’t mean the end of fun—it means they get both a treat and more play.

Step 2: Add in Obedience

Once your dog reliably drops the toy on command, start asking for simple behaviors before you return the toy as a reward. Ask for a sit, down, spin, or even a short heel position—whatever suits your dog’s level and energy. I always teach new behaviours using food first, then use them in structured play sessions once the dog understands the command well.

Over time, your dog will begin to see that obedience earns play, and you’ll see their responsiveness skyrocket—even in high-excitement environments.

Step 3: Build Impulse Control

This is where things get fun—and challenging. Once your dog is comfortable with structured play, start upping the difficulty. Once they’ve dropped the toy and gone into a “sit”, “down” or “bed”:

• Drop the toy and make them wait before they’re allowed to pick it up. Use a break cue (I use “ok!”) to tell them when they can grab it. This should be the same cue that you use in threshold training. You may need to drop it from fairly low down at first then gradually raise the toy higher as their impulse control improves.

• Once they can do this reliably, you’re ready to start throwing the toy a short distance- again, they must wait for the release cue before breaking position and you should gradually increase the distance over time.

• If they break position before you give the release cue, just ask them to return to it and make things a little easier next time.

• Once they can do all of this in a quiet environment like the garden, try taking it somewhere a bit more distracting- like a local park. Bear in mind that you’ll need to go back a few steps and make it easier at first while they adjust to being in a new environment!

This is gold for teaching impulse control—the ability to resist immediate urges (like bolting after a toy) and stay tuned into you.

The Benefits of Structured Play

Structured play isn’t just about better manners—it’s about building a stronger, healthier bond with your dog. Here's what makes it so powerful:

• Improved Obedience
  Play becomes a reward, reinforcing commands in a high-arousal context where obedience often breaks down. This translates to better performance in real-life scenarios.

• Stronger Relationship
  When your dog learns that fun comes through you, their focus and trust in you deepen. You become the gateway to all the good stuff.

• Better Impulse Control
  Instead of being ruled by instinct (chase, tug, grab), your dog learns to pause, think, and listen—even when excited.

• Enhanced Physical and Mental Fitness
  Play isn’t just fun—it’s a workout. Structured play keeps your dog physically active while also challenging their brain, making it perfect for high-energy breeds and clever dogs who need more than just a walk around the block.

Final Thoughts

Structured play blends fun and function in a way that few training techniques can. It takes a bit of patience and consistency, but the payoff is huge: a dog who listens better, thinks more, and sees you not just as their owner, but as their favorite teammate.

So next time you pick up that toy, don’t just play—train through play. Your dog will thank you for it.