Dogs Playing With Dogs

[LDR]

We're the only ones in our social / family circle with a dog. So Timmy is very spoilt with human contact (my parents are ridiculous with their "grand-dog" and one of our friends is Timmy's bona fide girlfriend - he adores her and sits guarding her quietly whenever she's around ... the time she brought around a new boyfriend, well Timmy was *not* impressed! ).

So we have one very human focused dog, he's also very little at 4kg and easily overwhelmed at dog parks. We've worked extensively with a great one on one trainer to build his confidence and he's quite happy now to "sniff hello" and be on his way. This was crucial as we walk him daily along a very dog populated route, some of it off lead.

I must say it does make my heart sing though when the leggy Miss Rosie (the sexiest whippet I have ever seen ) comes into the picture. Watching my 15cm at the withers boy desperately try to engage her as she prances her pretty whippet prance is adorable!

eta - I'd love it if friends / family had dogs he could play with at bbqs etc, but sadly only my in-laws have two cavvies both kept very much outside and away from the family, Timmy isn't welcome there. And Pep, OH's parent's late silkie loathed Timmy.

Edited March 16, 2010 by LDR

[megan_]

Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs the don't know and what is the benefit in it?

What right do we have to deny our dogs the companionship and fun of being with their own species??

Dogs should have other dogs in their lives. Simple. They are dogs, and should associate with others.

Guess I see dogs differently.Perhaps I trained and placed too many dogs in almost solitary situations...

I do not enjoy being around dogs who have eyes only for me- I like dogs to be in a 'pack' - to run and roughhouse,and have each other for company

Like a lot of people could not countenance one budgie or canary in a cage- so I cannot be comfortable thinking of a single dog who never gets to race around with others, or lie and play 'footsies' with a friend... or share hole digging....

Play dates and dog parks were not around when I had dogs in the city.... they just ran around parks and attracted playmates that way To my memory, the dogs were never attacked or harassed by other dogs whilst running around in parks/beaches etc...

perhaps it was that dogs were not subject to all the restrictions they are now? perhaps dogs ad more chance to learn to be dogs naturally,and so were more socially adept?

I don't know........... it is something which interests and saddens me- dogs losing so many of their freedoms....

what she said

Even my girl, who spent most of her life in a cage, loves a little sniff and play.

Funny how people assuming that dogs like to play with other dogs is "humanising" - I think it is the other way around. That is, it is humanising to assume that most dogs could be content with human-only company. My dog loves a good rough-and-tumble with Toby the Beagle more than he loves his fancy toys and people fawning over him.

Genuine question: if your dog is a sports dog, do you think it is fair to "deny" it the company of other dogs? You might get better performance, but is it in the dog's best interest (assuming that they are social)? I don't mean that as an attack, I genuinely want to understand.

Edited March 16, 2010 by megan_

[poodlefan]

Megan:

Genuine question: if your dog is a sports dog, do you think it is fair to "deny" it the company of other dogs? You might get better performance, but is it in the dog's best interest (assuming that they are social)? I don't mean that as an attack, I genuinely want to understand.

I think that's arguable anyway.

Edited March 16, 2010 by poodlefan

[Kavik]

The only successful sports dog I have had is Kaos, and he doesn't mind saying hi to other (polite) dogs, and has a couple of doggy friends, but is not interested in playing with other dogs and would not enjoy an off lead dog park with dogs bouncing all over the place wanting to play. He is honestly more interested in 'working' with me in agility. He plays with Diesel at home, but if he thinks a training session might be in the offering, Diesel gets told where to put his playing

Diesel is easily distracted and has a short attention span for training, and enjoys playing with other dogs. I just think they have different personalities more than anything. I have to work much harder with Diesel to keep his attention on me and off other dogs, though that could be training issue too. He is different to my other dogs in many ways.

[megan_]

Megan:

Genuine question: if your dog is a sports dog, do you think it is fair to "deny" it the company of other dogs? You might get better performance, but is it in the dog's best interest (assuming that they are social)? I don't mean that as an attack, I genuinely want to understand.

I think that's arguable anyway.

It is interesting that you say that PF. My boy isn't a sports dog, but he doesn't just run up to other dogs - I give him permission to play. I can call him away when I want. We also train at the local park with other dogs running around and he focuses on me. I think people often assume that if you let your dog play with others it is an uncontrolled free-for-all.

[Cosmolo]

I think with some dogs it can improve performance- i have one dog who would need to get everything she needs from me to reach her potential as a sports dog if i chose to go that way. I have another dog who could reach his potential as well as playing with other dogs, other people etc. Pity his joints are stuffed..

I don't have my dogs play with many strange dogs BUT they have 4 other dogs at home to interact with. They LOVE to engage with each other and i LOVE to watch it- its why i could never do pure neutralisation with a puppy. In saying that, i don't want or allow my dog to play with strange dogs who are rude and don't behave appropriately. If i had a single dog- i would want to ensure the dog had some regular dog to dog interaction- with the 5 i have, i don't seek it because i don't need to.

[pie]

Kyzer only really plays with our family dogs of which there are 4, most of them a lot bigger than him.

Trixie comes to DOL meets with me, I know most of the people and dogs, she loves to zoom around, also enjoys a nice game of bitey-face-while-rolling-on-the-ground (usually with the biggest dog she can find ) I enjoy watching her having fun and playing and it keeps her entertained while I am gas bagging I think it's good for her because she's very playful and doesn't really have an outlet for it because Kyzer rarely plays with her and when he does it's not really proper play as far as she's concerned It's also great exercise for her.

Both are not allowed to play with any dogs while we are training, and neither of them have off lead play before or after training. I will usually let Trixie have a little bit of on lead play with dogs I already know well that belong to friends after Kyzer's agility class.

As RubyStar said they are my pets first and foremost and that comes before any amateur agility or obedience training I do anyway. They get a lot of enjoyment from playing so I let them have that.

[ness]

I would occasionally love for my two to play with other dogs as I get entirely fed up with being their sole entertainment provider.

It gets beyond a joke sometimes when I let them off at the park and the youngest just starts bouncing at me wanting to interaction/train/play rather than go and do anything with anybody else. Its demanding having to always have planned interactions and sometimes I'd appreciate the down time - yep selfish me .

Do you want to trade Agility Dog .

[Agility Dogs]

Genuine question: if your dog is a sports dog, do you think it is fair to "deny" it the company of other dogs? You might get better performance, but is it in the dog's best interest (assuming that they are social)? I don't mean that as an attack, I genuinely want to understand.

Fair question.

In my dogs case I don't think I am denying them anything. It's horses for courses and may be a result of their upbringing/circumstances, but neither of them enjoy the company of other dogs and certainly don't miss it if they don't have it.

It has taken me 3 years to get CK to the point where he will easily tolerate and ignore other dogs. That said, if another dog interrupts us when we are working (Like the dobe did 5 times at agility the other week) he is FAR from impressed and will look to me to ask if he can tell them off. He loves to say hello to his 'friends' at flyball and agility, but is not interested in playing and gets stressed if we let him free run with the other dogs.

Xena too just has no interest in playing with other dogs. She will go and find a tennis ball or another toy and drop it incessantly at my feet. She will not run and play with other dogs if given the choice.

I don't think that 'performance' dogs need to be kept away from other dogs to be successful sports dogs, but I certainly don't think they should be allowed to play with other dogs until they have a bomb proof recall and can work under distraction.

All that said, when I get our next pup I won't be encouraging her to play with other dogs, other than the two I have now. I guess I've just had a couple of bad experiences and don't see the need for them to do it.

[Cosmolo]

Agility dogs- do you think you would feel differently if you only had one dog?

[pie]

I've noticed most Border Collies are usually more focused on their handler anyway and don't really care for playing, would you say this is true AgilityDogs / Ness? I always wondered if it was because they were trained to be like that or if it was their nature.

[ness]

I know some BCs are into playing in a big way but Ness went from playing as a pup to not interested in playing with other dogs. I am not sure how much of Kenz's focus on me I encouraged from the time she was small though. She likes to play with other dogs but given the choice of play or work then she is usually more keen on work. Ness has never played with Kenz.

[Agility Dogs]

I would occasionally love for my two to play with other dogs as I get entirely fed up with being their sole entertainment provider.

It gets beyond a joke sometimes when I let them off at the park and the youngest just starts bouncing at me wanting to interaction/train/play rather than go and do anything with anybody else. Its demanding having to always have planned interactions and sometimes I'd appreciate the down time - yep selfish me .

Do you want to trade Agility Dog .

LOL. I guess that's why I love BC's - I'm about as obsessive as they are!!

Kenzie and Xena could ignore each other while they play with me. There is another dog at flyball exactly like Xena - it is funny as a play. The two of them are so TOTALLY focussed that they can be playing the same game and not even know it. They will both chase a ball and then shy away from it when they realise the other is chasing it too - VERY funny to watch.

Any time your little girl wants a holidy you can have the big boofy sook as a replacement. (Although that is changing too. )

[Vickie]

I never go looking for dogs for mine to play with. Having 5 in the yard gives them more than enough opportunity to play & they all play in various configurations regularly.

I also have plenty of other dogs at my house coming & going. I never allow dogs to play with each other when they are training (and mine don't seem to want to anyway), but they regularly play with other dogs we know, both here and when we are out & about.

[Agility Dogs]

Agility dogs- do you think you would feel differently if you only had one dog?

No. The two of them don't really play that much together any way. They either sleep or play with me.

I've said it a lot recently though. If I had my time over I would still only have one dog with another to come in 12 or 18 months from now.

[ness]

OT. I saw about the change in CK think Kenz could use a boot camp holiday she is a bit to soft sometimes .

[Agility Dogs]

I've noticed most Border Collies are usually more focused on their handler anyway and don't really care for playing, would you say this is true AgilityDogs / Ness? I always wondered if it was because they were trained to be like that or if it was their nature.

To be honest I probably don't have enough experience to answer that one!

I only know that I have spent a LOT of time working to curb Mr CK's chase/herding instinct and that Xena has never been interested in other dogs from the time she was six weeks old. again.

[RubyStar]

I don't think that 'performance' dogs need to be kept away from other dogs to be successful sports dogs, but I certainly don't think they should be allowed to play with other dogs until they have a bomb proof recall and can work under distraction.

If that's the case, then not many dogs will get the opportunity to socialise with other dogs until much older, and by then, they won't care as much for playing. Which is all well and good if that's what you want. My next dog will be a "performance" dog, but I will also be allowing it to socialise in a controlled environment right from the get go. Not much will change from how I've raised Ruby except for the fact that I will be training focus on me from an earlier age in conjunction with socialising. I won't sacrifice one for the other. I get enjoyment from my dogs socialising with known dogs, and so do they Helped along by the fact that yes I own Labradors, they love to socialise, but if your BC's don't like socialising then that's another story. If you have a dog that does like to socialise, then I'm all for it.

[JulesP]

I've had 5 border collies and they have all been snobby little gits! But I have always had more than 1 at a time so they have had their own friends. Even at puppy preschool they have been more interested in the people then the other pups.

If I have Brock and Poppy offlead at the end of agility they just run around getting pats, whilst the other dogs have fun playing.

They do have a super time playing with each other though! I haven't found this to effect them wanting to be with me either. The minute I go outside they then focus on me.

[Kavik]

I am sure my attitudes towards this subject are influenced by having a dog aggressive dog, where I think that off lead play at the dog park contributed to her becoming aggressive . I sometimes think about what I would do differently if I had my time over again with Zoe (apart from the times I think I would not have chosen her at all if I had known better how to pick a future performance dog) and I would definitely change the way I socialised her.

Having met and seen lots of working dogs like other Kelpies and BCs at training, competing, dog parks and at the dog daycare I worked at, I have noticed many of them are not comfortable in a setting with lots of other dogs running around trying to play with them. If I had known that, I would not have taken Zoe to the busy off lead park that I used to go to with her as a pup. Of course there is no way to tell how much of a difference that would have made to her temperament, but anything would be an improvement on her attitude to dogs.