Dogs Playing With Dogs

[Guest Clover]

Mine get to play with others dogs (mostly friends dogs, and very rarely dogs we meet out at the park or walking). They get to play because they enjoy it (except Grampa Elvis/ Mr Anti social). They also play with one another a lot & i often watch them playing their own silly games. I would never deny an animal companionship and playtime with their own kind for sporting/ performance reasons.

Persephone what a great post .

[Kavik]

Guide dogs , in training when I was doing it had one or two free run days a week- down at the park- several at a time together- racing around, swimming, whatever. I used to thoroughly enjoy those days .... :cheer:

Owners also take their dogs to the beach, to parks, to visit friends with dogs....

Guide dogs are mostly Labradors though. IME Labradors DO enjoy exuberant, rough play with other strange dogs. Not all breeds do. I only let Kaos mix off lead with dogs that

1) I know and so know their temperament and play style or

2) Are another working type such as Kelpie or BC - they tend to have the same play style and generally it is more like running in the same direction together rather than playing/roughhousing (one example that comes to mind is a herding seminar I went to - we let all the dogs off for a run - the dogs ran together but did not play)

I DO NOT let him mix with breeds such as Labs and Staffies who tend to have a much more full on physical roughhousing style of play, as Kaos does not like it and will react to a dog like that coming up to him to play. I hope I have learnt from my previous experience not to get my dog involved in something he is not comfortable with and is likely to make him react.

[sas]

I DO NOT let him mix with breeds such as Labs and Staffies who tend to have a much more full on physical roughhousing style of play, as Kaos does not like it and will react to a dog like that coming up to him to play. I hope I have learnt from my previous experience not to get my dog involved in something he is not comfortable with and is likely to make him react.

Same here, my dog immediately reacts to super high energy dogs like Staffies. We are working with him to ignore them as they aren't being aggressive just way over the top.

We do work once a week in an offlead park, we work on lead and use the other dogs as part of our training.

[bluecollie]

Just to play devils advocate, there are lots of things our dogs enjoy doing that we don't always permit them to do. There are plenty of instances I can think of where my dogs would have or are having an enjoyable experience that ive had to stop them from experiencing... Ie raiding the bin, chasing a small animal, scenting when I need to grab them and put them on leash. So I can understand AD asking the question what do we think our dogs get from playing with others - noting that he referrd to dogs your dogs don't know. I'm not keen on dog parks etc and I very rarely let my dogs run with strange dogs.

Yeah but they are examples of bad behaviour and I dont see how playing with your own kind is in the same category? Whether you are human or canine there has to be rules, boundaries & limitations to your actions...

[huski]

Just to play devils advocate, there are lots of things our dogs enjoy doing that we don't always permit them to do. There are plenty of instances I can think of where my dogs would have or are having an enjoyable experience that ive had to stop them from experiencing... Ie raiding the bin, chasing a small animal, scenting when I need to grab them and put them on leash. So I can understand AD asking the question what do we think our dogs get from playing with others - noting that he referrd to dogs your dogs don't know. I'm not keen on dog parks etc and I very rarely let my dogs run with strange dogs.

Yeah but they are examples of bad behaviour and I dont see how playing with your own kind is in the same category? Whether you are human or canine there has to be rules, boundaries & limitations to your actions...

But the dogs don't see them as examples of bad behaviour. We consider it bad behaviour because it's inconvenient to us, just as there are times when having your dog play with another dog can be inconvenient or inappropriate. You also get dogs whose exhibit 'bad behaviour' because their desire to play with other dogs is so strong (i.e. pulling on the leash to get to another dog, ignoring you, failing to recall, barking/whining when unable to greet another dog etc).

Don't get me wrong - I strongly believe in having a dog who has a stable view of other dogs. I don't have much interest in going out of my way to let my adult dog, who has a very stable view of other dogs and has no problems interacting with them, play with other dogs.

[bluecollie]

But considering the question was 'Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs they don't know and what is the benefit in it? ' I'm still confused on the connection...

Again like kids if the friend they have made & are playing with at the local park exhibits bad behaviour then you remove them from the situation so as to protect them but if all is well and they are all enjoying the interaction how can that be inappropriate or inconvenient to you??

[Diva]

I don't care whether or not they play but I want my dogs to recognise, and to be able to respond appropriately to, the range of normal dog behaviours and the range of ways dogs can look - small, big, tail, no tail, fluffy or not, alone or in a group.

I value having dogs that can calm a fear agressive dog that we may come across on a walk with their body language, that know to lie down to play with little dogs, that don't bother the oldies, but that can recognise serious agression when we encounter that too. I think good exposure helps them get to that point and I don't know how to help them get there without providing opportunity for controlled exposure to other dogs.

So I want them to get lots of dog experiences while young enough to get the most out them, and for them to learn dog social skills which I am not sure they can learn just in on-leash interactions. Once they are adult I tend to rely just on the dog sports we do and the friends we have to maintain the familiarity and stop making the effort to set up encounters.

I also think off-lead running with another dog is the best form of exercise for them, but as I have 2 dogs who do that with each other (a lot!) I don't look for that with other dogs. If they want to play, fine, but if they just want to indulge in some mutual sniffing of the same piece of dirt - well that has social meaning for them too even though I don't really understand it.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Diva

[Mas1981]

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.

I always find this topic makes interesting discussion, ever since I read this thread here:

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...t=0&start=0

I think a lot of people allow their dogs to develop a higher value for other dogs than the dogs have for them, the owners.

I don't think you need to deny your dog the company of other dogs, for them to see spending time with you as more valuable and exciting.

I'm not interested in having a dog who falls over itself to play with other dogs. Daisy tends to have a relatively neutral value for other dogs, even when off leash with them she doesn't often have much interest in playing with them. She does play with Micha every day and I don't mind that at all. That's not to say that she can't cope with other dogs, any DOLers who have met her can attest that she is so easy going around other dogs and can be totally nonplussed dogs getting in her face.

I like having a dog that would rather train or play with me than play with other dogs.

For any future dogs I have, I will always socialise them with other dogs from puppy hood BUT I will do so in a way that encourages them not to seek other dogs out as The Best Thing Ever. I do believe we can shape our dogs values for things like other dogs depending on how we socialise them in their critical development phase.

I think weather or not your dog prefers human contact or to play with other dogs is somewhat determined by what breed they are. I had ridgebacks before and they preferred attention from people to other dogs but now my lab is just nuts about other dogs. IMO dogs who are from a 1 dog household will usually be more interested in other dogs but like i said thats just my opinion. I have tried numerous things to get my dog to want to be with me more than another dog but so far I have failed sadly...

[Guest Tess32]

I DO NOT let him mix with breeds such as Labs and Staffies who tend to have a much more full on physical roughhousing style of play, as Kaos does not like it and will react to a dog like that coming up to him to play. I hope I have learnt from my previous experience not to get my dog involved in something he is not comfortable with and is likely to make him react.

Same here, my dog immediately reacts to super high energy dogs like Staffies. We are working with him to ignore them as they aren't being aggressive just way over the top.

We do work once a week in an offlead park, we work on lead and use the other dogs as part of our training.

I feel the same. Collies do not enjoy the more 'physical' play and tend to just play chasey.

[Nic oh lah]

My girl just loves to play, sniff, and be a dog. We've started obediance and i'm working on her focus, but I think she should have her focused working times, and her free be-an-idiot and do zoomies with other dogs times, i'm happy when she's having a ball playing with other dogs. Also she had not been well socialised when we got her and was fearful and agro, so i'm pleased with how far she's come, and keen to maintain her sense of balance with other dogs.

[Diva]

I feel the same. Collies do not enjoy the more 'physical' play and tend to just play chasey.

Same here. I've learnt to avoid some of the gun dog breeds that like to body slam.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Diva

[Cosmolo]

Great post Diva- i feel that way too.

[dee lee]

Honey is very antisocial at the park, its quite rare that she will play with another dog. Im constantly explaining that she thinks she is too much of a lady.

She gets ample opportunity, I just know now that she just doesnt like playing with other dogs .

Deelee, my DOugal is just the same - I always used to think he prefers humans to other dogs but when Duncan came along, they were always playing, both at home and at the park.

I think you will find that when you get your second Goldie ( ;)) you will see a change in Honey's oblivious behaviour

OI!!! Do not encourage me!!

At least its reassuring that Dougal was the same.

[juice]

i think it depends on the dog and the breed, we have a few bc's round here, and they never seek out other dogs ,they are always looking at their owners.

i have 3, my dally is not really interested in other dogs, spends his whole walk head dowm in the long grass waiting to spring a hare ( or fox as he did last week) he may say a quick 'hello' if a dog approach's .but normally he looks up ,and then just carry's on.

my cattle loves to play with his friends, but he is rough, he herds them, stalking and rushing, so i only let him play with dogs we know, as its a bit offputting

my bt loves to say hello to new dogs, but is scared if they get too keen, and full on, and he avoids them.

they do play at home, wrestling, but i think its a good social thing for them to meet new dogs.

[WoofnHoof]

Play serves many purposes in other species as well as humans, whether or not someone thinks it's frivolous doesn't change the fact that it is a valuable social behaviour that has evolved for a reason.

I agree play is important but I also think that as owners we often fail to engage our dogs in play. I see many owners who have no idea how to play with their dogs or engage them. Play is not just about playing with other dogs but also with us, their pack leaders.

Although I think play is important I don't think that translates to letting your dog play with every dog they come across nor do I see the benefit in teaching them that playing with other dogs is the best thing in the world.

I agree my comment is more in general terms so that people don't think that allowing their dog to play is some kind of anthropomorphic projection of our own enjoyment of it, and so people can see that play is a part of dog behaviour just as much as any other behaviour.

[newfsie]

My dogs love to play with other dogs, but i pick the dogs and the dogs they get free run with are obedient dogs and friendly.

We have been to several newfie days in NSW and all the dogs have been off lead, with even some other breeds in amongst and they have all been social and happy. My dogs follow me as soon as I turn around and head the other way or call.

We also know some friendly labs and curly coated retrievers that are great play buddies.

[geo]

I don't care whether or not they play but I want my dogs to recognise, and to be able to respond appropriately to, the range of normal dog behaviours and the range of ways dogs can look - small, big, tail, no tail, fluffy or not, alone or in a group.

I value having dogs that can calm a fear agressive dog that we may come across on a walk with their body language, that know to lie down to play with little dogs, that don't bother the oldies, but that can recognise serious agression when we encounter that too. I think good exposure helps them get to that point and I don't know how to help them get there without providing opportunity for controlled exposure to other dogs.

So I want them to get lots of dog experiences while young enough to get the most out them, and for them to learn dog social skills which I am not sure they can learn just in on-leash interactions. Once they are adult I tend to rely just on the dog sports we do and the friends we have to maintain the familiarity and stop making the effort to set up encounters.

I also think off-lead running with another dog is the best form of exercise for them, but as I have 2 dogs who do that with each other (a lot!) I don't look for that with other dogs. If they want to play, fine, but if they just want to indulge in some mutual sniffing of the same piece of dirt - well that has social meaning for them too even though I don't really understand it.

Good post, and a good topic......

i only want my dogs to learn acceptable behavior around other dogs. "play dates", are soley arranged for traning behavior and on lead until they' are used to each other, and then it's off the lead for a run around. Our older bitch couldn't care less about other dogs, that is after she has met them and let them know she is boss, even when other dogs then try to be dominant she just walks off, if there was a dog and a person in a big field she would run past the dog briefly on her way wagging her tail to the person for pats.

The puppy at 9 months is loving other dogs but we have to stop hom being overbearing as he is quite big. He is a little scared of bigger dogs, ideally we'd like him to not chase little dogs (because they're interesting) and not attack big dogs because he is scared of them.

We try not to put human emotions on our dogs, sometimes it's hard not too. Some breeds of dogs just love to play with others, and with some breeds it's constant power struggle to see who is on top, it may look like they're playing but generally they're figuring out who is top dog. So it really depends on each individual dog.

[huski]

But considering the question was 'Why do you want your dog to play with other dogs they don't know and what is the benefit in it? ' I'm still confused on the connection...

Again like kids if the friend they have made & are playing with at the local park exhibits bad behaviour then you remove them from the situation so as to protect them but if all is well and they are all enjoying the interaction how can that be inappropriate or inconvenient to you??

For me it depends on how my dogs value other dogs. It would be inconvenient to me to have a dog that has a higher desire to play with other dogs than it has for playing with me. It would be inconvenient for me to raise a dog to have a high value of other dogs and then have to train it to ignore them down the track when we are doing (for example) competition obedience - why not teach my dog from the start that other dogs are nothing special? If my dogs are well socialised and have a stabilised view of other dogs, then what is the benefit in going out of my way to let them play with strange dogs? I won't go to dog parks except for the odd DOL meet, and often my youngest dog won't play with dogs there much anyway. She gets to engage with other dogs every day as we own three, so I fail to see the benefit in going out of my way to let her meet greet and play with strange dogs.

I think weather or not your dog prefers human contact or to play with other dogs is somewhat determined by what breed they are. I had ridgebacks before and they preferred attention from people to other dogs but now my lab is just nuts about other dogs. IMO dogs who are from a 1 dog household will usually be more interested in other dogs but like i said thats just my opinion. I have tried numerous things to get my dog to want to be with me more than another dog but so far I have failed sadly...

I think it is largely dependent on how they are raised, socialised and trained to view other dogs.

I think a lot of that is determined by how the dog is exposed to other dogs in their early development stages - once a dog has learned that other dogs are highly rewarding it can be hard to change that value they have for other dogs. If you start out teaching them that other dogs aren't that exciting then you won't have that problem.

[Pointees]

I like to have play dates with my dogs.

Although with 3 Pointers they do all run around and play together during the day, I still think it is good for them to get out once every month to Kepala and play with the dogs that go to the mets, and play with friends/family members dogs.

I put it down to a happy and healthy dog mentally and physically.

[huski]

A dog can be happy and healthy mentally and physically without having to regularly greet or play with strange dogs.