Sometimes my sister and I go over to a German Shepherd breeder's house and just play with and help socialize her dogs. She raises 4 dogs a year for the police dog program, after they leave her kennel they go on for training to become police dogs.

One of the most essential things for potential police dogs is that they HAVE to love to play. That is the dog's whole reason for working, to get their toy.

Some of these dogs we have to teach to play.

One thing we usually start with is first, put them on a leash so they can't run away and just start kicking a tennis ball along the ground with your foot. Most of the dogs will want to chase it.