But what if this assumption is mistaken? Our research shows that for many dogs, play fighting is the primary method used to negotiate new relationships and develop lasting friendships. Although play is fun, it also offers serious opportunities to communicate with another dog. In this sense, play is a kind of language.
Most importantly, how can we tell the difference? First, we need to determine whether both dogs are enjoying themselves and want to continue playing. Look at their postures and facial expressions. Watch for play signals, which can often be quite subtle — a quick dip or bounce rather than a full-blown play bow. If she pulls against your grip in an attempt to interact with the other dog, release her. If she runs toward the other dog or directs a play signal in his direction, then she is saying that she wants to keep playing.
An interaction like the one just described is straightforward and easy to read. However, what about instances that may not be so clear-cut? We encourage you to discard any preconceived notions about what dog play should and should not look like — at least for the time being. Appropriate dog play fighting all depends on the individual dogs and the kind of relationship they have with one another.
Consider an example of a close canine friendship founded on unorthodox play. He would pin Sam with a neck bite every few seconds. No sooner would Sam stand up than Sage would neckbite him and flip him on his back again. At first, we thought that Sage might be too rough for Sam, so we would intervene by holding one or both of them back.
However, each time, Sam would try his hardest to get to Sage, despite the inevitable pinning. As Sam grew larger, eventually matching Sage in weight, Sage added body slams and mounting to their play. With the exception of frequent rear-ups in which they adopted identical roles, facing one another and boxing with their front paws , Sage usually maintained the more assertive role neck biting, pinning, slamming and so forth. Yet, because Sam was always an enthusiastic partner, we let them continue to play together.
With Sage and Sam, allowing play to continue was the right decision. Their early play interactions burgeoned into a lifelong friendship. Even today, the two middle-aged boys will sometimes play together for five hours at a stretch, stopping only occasionally for brief rests. When they are finally done, they often lie together, completely relaxed, with their bodies touching.
Their faces are loose and smiling, and they seem almost drunk in an endorphin-induced haze. This relationship shows that play does not necessarily have to be fair or balanced in order for two dogs to want to play with one another. Scientists thought that if one dog was too rough or forceful e. Until our research, this proposition was never empirically tested. Over a year period, we studied pair-wise play between adult dogs, between adult dogs and adolescents , and between puppy littermates.
Dogs do not need to take turns being assertive in order for play to take place. Safi, a female German Shepherd, and Osa, a male Golden Retriever mix, were best friends for many years. When they played, they snarled a lot, lips curled and teeth exposed. The snarls looked fierce, but they often preceded silly behaviors, like flopping on the ground. Play growling and snarling are prolonged and extra loud, often punctuated by medium to high-pitched barking. You'll also notice that good playmates switch roles throughout play — at first one is on the bottom during wrestling, and then the other takes a turn underneath.
A dog might start as the one being chased, and then turn around and start chasing the other. Similar to role reversals is when a larger dog self-handicaps during play. This means they make themselves smaller size-wise and lessen the intensity of play to better match a smaller dog playmate. Polite dog play includes lots of brief pauses to prevent play from escalating into a fight. Some dogs do a great job of managing their own escalation of energy during play by taking pauses during wrestle and chase.
These breaks might be so fast that humans will miss them altogether, and sometimes they're longer if the play was getting too rambunctious. You might also see some calming signals during these quick pauses, which is when one dog says they are getting too worked up and need a moment to "reset", or is telling the other dog that they are being a tad bit overwhelming.
Check out this great moment of two puppies taking a quick break and resetting with a clear "shake off" behavior:. A play bow is when the dog "bows" at the other dog with their front elbows on the floor and their rear in the air a lot like the downward dog pose in yoga.
This is a signal that is inviting another dog to play, or something that happens during play that says "I'm still playing, you're still playing, right?
Dogs use their teeth a lot during play with each other, and bite inhibition is imperative for everyone to have a good time. Bite inhibition is when a dog knows how to keep their mouth soft enough to not hurt the other dog while playing, and is something they learn from their littermates, parents, other non-related dogs, and even us!
If a dog bites too hard during play, the other dog will usually communicate by yelping and stopping play. You can see in this video that there is a lot of "biting" and toothy behavior happening, but bite inhibition is excellent and play continues:. There is nothing wrong with interrupting dog play if you feel it's getting too crazy. Follow your gut instinct! If it's getting too loud or the wrestling seems too rough, call the dogs away from each other or create a break by taking hold of the dog on top and guiding them away.
If the dog that was on the bottom of the wrestling match comes back for more play, then you know they were still comfortable and the play was appropriate. They might take a moment to catch their breath, shake off and reset before coming back for more, which means the play was on the edge of becoming overwhelming. If they walk away and don't want to engage in more play, then it's time for a longer break between the two or they need a better match for their play style.
You might notice that they keep trying to get away from the other dog — that's your cue to step in and allow them time to relax or remove them from the play area.
A tucked tail paired with ears flat against the head is a sign a dog isn't enjoying themselves. You might notice a dog like this will act more defensively and lash out preemptively with baring their teeth or air snapping when another dog approaches. If you notice a sudden change in your dog's willingness to play and they are more reactive than usual around other dogs, it might be an indication of pain or an underlying injury. Bring them to your veterinarian for an evaluation to make sure that the reason they no longer want to engage in play isn't a medical issue.
If you notice a dog who is very tense and overly focused on one dog, they might be too over-stimulated to play politely. While their intentions might be rooted in play behavior, these dogs tend to overwhelm and annoy the other dog, setting them up for a confrontation. Some signs that a dog is too tense include quick body movements, closed mouth, tall and high body posture, high and tight tail wag, and standing still over another dog. While loud play vocalizations are normal, listen for any change in the pitch, tone, or volume of the vocalizations.
It may take only the slightest issue to set one of the dogs off. Also, two dogs may fight over attention from their owner or in an effort to protect an owner. Be aware that fights are more common when more than two dogs are present. Finally, any dog that is poorly socialized is more likely to start a fight. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
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