What Does Appropriate Dog Play Look Like?
   
Every day I have watched dogs having a wonderful game and along comes the owner who stops the game.

Owners often have difficulty distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate play. Some may think that perfectly acceptable play behavior is bullying because it involves growling, biting, and apparently pinning the playmate to the ground. Appropriate play can, in fact, look and sound quite ferocious.

The difference is in the response of the playmate. If both dogs appear to be having a good time and no one's getting hurt, it's usually fine to allow the play to continue. Putting a stop to your dog's need to play every time he engages with another dog, even if it's rough play, can lead to other behavioural problems. You frustrate their need for some gambolling and the dog gets bored and starts eating grass, sticks and anything else it can find to chew to curb their exuberance.  Its a bit like stopping children play.

With a bully, the playmate clearly does not enjoy the interaction. The softer dog may offer multiple appeasement and deference signals that are largely or totally ignored by the canine bully. The harassment continues, or escalates.

Any time one play partner is obviously not having a good time and that means showing fear, squawking or submission, it's wise to intervene. Put your dog on the lead and walk away. A traumatic play experience can damage the softer dog's confidence and potentially induce a life-long fear of aggression or "Reactive Rover" response - definitely not a good thing!

Some bullies seem to spring from the box full blown, meaning there could be a genetic element behind this type of personality. However, there can certainly be a learned component of any bullying behavior. the act of harassing a "non-consenting dog" is in and of itself reinforcing for bullies.

So the next time your dog engages in play with lots of teeth gnashing, "aaargurghrr" noises and rough and tumble, let them. That's a good game. The time to stop a game is when your dog looks away, stays still and crouches down. This is submission and a sign that it doesn't want to play. That's the time to walk away and your dog will follow.

Trivia...............................        

THINGS THAT CAUSE STRESS AND ANXIETY
1. No internet service
2.  Cancelled public transport
3. "We're out of "aioli" because no one can spell it
4. Cold calls from India
5. Low battery
6. Pigeons with no sense of personal space
7. “There’s a £5 minimum on card”
8. Shopping centres on a Saturday
9. “I’ll just put you on hold”accompanied by tinkly sounds of Four Seasons.
10. Anything with more than 4 legs
11. When your boss says “Can I have a word?”
12. Manspreading on public transport
13. Baking Shows on tv
14. Joining the slowest queue anywhere.
 15. “Unexpected item in bagging area”
16.  The robotic thuggery of a self pay machine at supermarkets
17. Only 49 days to Christmas
18, Shouting "WHAT" many times a day from different rooms to your partner
19. His response "You keep mumbling"!
20. Operatives who say "I'll call you back in 10 minutes" and still no word 2 days later

 
                                           Compilation of smiling dogs to cheer up your days!

                                                       Next blog will be in December

                                                              Dawn ("")