Barks Blog

Want to know the secret to happier clients, better-trained dogs, and a thriving dog training business? Or how to encourage your owners to actually do the work and put your training into practice?

The answer is simpler than you might think—it’s play! 

Science shows that play doesn’t just make training more enjoyable. It actively enhances learning, strengthens bonds, and builds confidence in both dogs and their owners.

At Tug-E-Nuff, we’ve seen firsthand how incorporating interactive play into training supercharges results and makes people and dogs happy! Let’s explore five compelling ways you can use play to set yourself apart as a pawsome dog trainer. 

1. Play Your Way to Happier Clients

No one wants their training sessions to feel like a chore or a bore—for dogs, owners, or yourself as a trainer! 

Incorporating play into your training sessions creates an energy boost that keeps everyone engaged, motivated, and keen as a bean to train.

How to Do It 

• Show clients how play can motivate their dog, grow focus, and encourage their dogs to want to do as they’re asked when the reward’s worth working for.  
• Use play to reinforce cues like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” rewarding and encouraging successful behavior with a powerful play session.
• Pick skills that are important to owners like recall or teaching an emergency stop to showcase that play isn’t just fun, it’s a fast route to teaching important life skills. 
• Show how a tug toy can be used for impulse control by practicing “drop it” or “leave it” cues in a fun way.

2. Overcome Treat Resistance

Have you ever heard a client say, “When do we stop using treats? Aren’t we just bribing the dog?” 

Play offers a powerful alternative reinforcement that’s equally effective as treats (if not more so) and owners love it. And for foodie dogs, you can combine the two using interactive food toys like our Clam and Power Clam. 

Why It Works

Play taps into a dog’s prey drive and natural instincts, making it intrinsically rewarding. Over time, you can use toys like Tug-E-Nuff chaser toys or PowerBall tuggys as the ultimate reward, reducing reliance on treats while maintaining enthusiasm and focus.

How to Do It

• Show clients how to use play to reward good choices so they learn how to build value in toys. 
• Educate owners on the concept of intrinsic rewards like play, explaining how they can phase out treats over time while maintaining strong behavior cues.
• Offer examples of how to pair toys with verbal praise or environmental rewards as alternative reinforcements.
• Show a progression: Start with treats, gradually replace the treats with toys, and then combine toys with praise and environmental rewards to build lasting habits.

3. Dogs Learn Faster with Play

Interactive play isn’t just fun—it’s a proven way to accelerate learning. Whether you’re teaching recall, loose-lead walking, or focus, play creates a positive emotional state that enhances memory retention.

How to Do It

• Use high-value training toys to teach recall, ensuring the dog sees the toy as the ultimate reward.
• Introduce short, high-energy play sessions at the beginning of training to “warm up” the dog’s focus and enthusiasm.
• Experiment with different toy types (e.g., squeaky, tug, and fetch toys) to help owners play detective and find what resonates best with each dog.
• Incorporate short play breaks during training exercises to reset focus and reduce frustration for reactive or distracted dogs.

4. Play Builds Confidence in Dogs and Owners

For nervous or reactive dogs, play provides a safe and enjoyable way to explore new skills. For dog owners, it’s an opportunity to experience success and bond with their dog in a meaningful way, minus the pressure. 

How to Do It 

• Teach owners to engage in regular, dedicated play sessions that include interactive games like tug or fetch, focusing on the dog’s favorite activities.
• Encourage owners to use play as a way to decompress after stressful situations or as a bonding activity at the end of the day.
• Educate owners on recognizing their dog’s play preferences to ensure sessions are enjoyable for each individual partnership. 
• Put together a simple handout for your clients with tips on identifying their dog’s play style and suggested activities. Or point them to Tug-E-Nuff’s Toy Quest Quiz for personalized play recommendations. 

5. Make Your Dog Training Business More Profitable

When your clients experience the power of play firsthand, they’ll want the tools to replicate it at home—and that’s where you can boost your income! When you join Tug-E-Nuff’s partner program, you can recommend our toys and earn a commission on every sale.

Why It Works

Trainers who demo Tug-E-Nuff toys in sessions sell more because clients trust their recommendations. It’s a win-win—better-trained dogs and a growing revenue stream for your business.

Join the Tug-E-Nuff Partner Program

When you join the Tug-E-Nuff Partner Program, you qualify for:

• Generous commission for every referral
• Bonus discounts for new customer referrals
• Promo materials to make referrals easy 
• Annual bundle of toys worth £120/$160+ (Partner Pro level benefit)

Tips for Earning with the Partner Program

• Demonstrate toys during classes and let clients see their dog’s excitement and engagement surge.
• Use our personalized toy recommendation leaflets with custom QR codes to help your clients pick their best fit toys (and get rewarded for your help).
• Access special partner-only promotions for your clients, such as discount codes or exclusive deals on Tug-E-Nuff products and boost your sales.

Play Is Your Secret Weapon for Business Growth

Play isn’t just a game—it’s a game-changer for professional dog trainers like you. 

By making your classes and one-to-one sessions more fun and engaging, you’ll be the most memorable trainer in town, delivering results that wow clients and set your business apart.

Stand out in a competitive market by offering an approach that goes beyond treats and creates lasting results through play.