Playtime

NOTE: I cannot go on walks or have any vigorous play either an hour before or after my main meal of the day. Ridgebacks are prone to bloat and my humans enforce this rule strictly. I on the other hand still want to play after my main meal, even after 4.5 years of being told not too – literally once in early July ’23 I got the memo and chilled out after my food. Ignore me/tell me ‘enough’ or ‘go lie down’ and I might get the memo after a few minutes.

Anytime can be playtime!

I am super gentle, and if toys go in places they shouldnt or I knock into things, I am very spacially aware. Touchwood, I’ve never broken anything and would never do anything to intentially hurt a human. 

That said, I’m big and have big teeth and claws and can make big noises! I get excited when I play, can move quickly and just stepping on a foot or knocking into a little person could be painful for them.

I love playing though 🙂

There are various games. Some of the rules are obvious. Some I like to keep to myself 😉

Let’s play:

Chase me!

I’ll get a toy. I’ll look at you and growl while wagging my tail. Or I migth bring a toy, then stare at you and bark.

The game is, you try and playfully get the toy and chase me round at anything from walking pace to full on running around, anythings good.

Tug

I’ll get a toy. You get the other end. I’ll work my mouth down so you can only hold the tiniest corner of fabric. Now I’ll try and pull the toy free using my 50kg as leverage. You have to try and keep hold. Ready…

Oh you think it sounds unfair. I agree. Let me introduce my big paws to the mix to give me a better chance of winning.

Hide and Seek

This is an add on game to ‘chase me’. During chase me, I get so focussed on running away from you that if you can run and hide I’ll come and find you. A couple of key points to keep in mind before we play:

  • If I see you run I will charge after you growling and chase you down
  • I can get over excited playing this and need to be told ‘enough’ at times to dial it down.
  • It’s all play, but I’m a big lump

Hide the Treats

Whenever I hear “Should we play hide the treats”, then get kicked out of the room and told to “wait!… I get so excited.

The door opens and I have to search out the treats that might be under cussions, behind the table leg, behind curtains, under beanbag, wherever really.

I’ll do what you do

Gardening, wash the car, tidy up, clean the freezer, you want some company while you do that? Let me see what that smells like. In there. Can I squeeze past here, and if I sit on you can I get belly rubs.