Is It Play? Understanding How Dogs Play Together

Dog play doesn't always look polite to us humans. Dogs may chase, wrestle, mouth each other's faces, growl, bark, body slam, or even take turns pinning each other. Looking at these behaviors alone doesn't necessarily tell us whether both dogs are enjoying the interaction.

Instead, we want to watch the "conversation" happening between the dogs.

Play Can Look Rough

Dog play can often be noisy, and even slightly alarming to watch! Behaviors that we may have been taught as aggression are often involved, such as growling, snarling, and showing teeth. But what really communicates the situation is overall body language and how they're responding to one another.

Generally-accepted guidance on dog body language, such as this from the ASPCA, describes playful dogs as loose, wiggly, and bouncy, with exaggerated movements and brief pauses.

Watch for Give and Take

This is the most valuable part.

Do you see:

• Both dogs participating?

• Breaks or pauses?

• Does the dog doing the chasing also get chased?

• If one dog disengages, does the other give them space?

• After a pause, do both dogs choose to engage again?

Another behavior many of us are aware of: play bows. Research on adult dogs and puppies found that play bows frequently occur after a brief pause and help reinitiate play.

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  Wrestling, rolling, and physical contact can all be part of dog play.

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  Comfortable pauses give dogs a chance to disengage, reset, and choose whether they're ready for more

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  A play bow is a classic invitation to play and often appears during pauses in an interaction.

When One Dog Isn't Having Fun

Sometimes the most important dog to watch isn't the one doing the initiating. Is there one dog that seems like they're trying to get away? Hiding behind their person? Becoming stiff rather than loose?

If one dog isn't participating voluntarily, this is the moment to recognize that someone isn't interested. We don't have to wait until someone is fed up and snaps, or even worse a fight breaks out, to decide that a dog needs a break.

Not Every Dog Has the Same Play Style

Some dogs love wrestling. Some love a good game of chase. Still others prefer toys. Some are very selective about their playmates. Age, size, personality, and individual preferences all come into play in how dogs interact.

And most importantly:

A dog doesn't need to enjoy playing with every dog they meet.

Our Approach to Safe and Healthy Play

At Buckaroo Buddies, playtime isn't just about getting the zoomies out. We're paying attention to the whole dog - their body language, comfort

level, and what they're communicating about the interaction.

That's the kind of individualized attention we bring to every Ranch Round and Trail Walk.

Because good play isn't just about whether one dog wants to keep going. Everyone should be having fun.