Dog Play Techniques Dog Body Language featuring Jessie & her buddies

[Rosanna6250]

Hi, I just got a 8 week GSD and it's nice to see that what she does with my 7 year old Corgi is normal. I've never had more than one dog before. Thankfully the corgi is very tolerant. I was afraid someone would get hurt in the roughhousing.

[mihakeeper1]

Nice video. I'm just wondering if Jessie is a mixed Beauceron. I have one and she favors the same playing technique (still working on her "attitude" though, cause she can be a bully sometimes...)

[mircha69]

my dog never grabs another dog with his mouth during play like your dogs do ( the jowl grab and other grabs i saw there ) I don't think that many ppl would let their dogs play with a dog that's so mouthy in play. I don't really agree with some stuff you say there , but i appreciate your work and I think you give good advice.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@mircha69 There are individual tendencies in dog play. The whole point of the video is for people to be aware of them and know they are 'normal' for your dog. Different breeds play differently. For example, some dogs love the full on chest butts, while others prefer to share a toy with no physical contact. When you have a good match, you have a good match. When you don't, find other buddies with the same techniques.

[karete357]

hi i got a question my 10yrd old male tzu is kinda grumpy playing with my 4 month old male bull terrier. the puppy always wants to play with the tzu but when i take the puppy off the leash he lunges at the tzu and tries the "chest butting" but the tzu just retreats and "snarls and growls" but the puppy doesn't. Do i stop the play when the puppy starts to growl and seems to show its power to the tzu? What should be my q to stop the play before it escalates into fight?

[supernaturalbc2009]

@karete357 You need to read you dogs. Even before the adult starts growling, he likely will be doing other behaviours like hard stare, standing stiffly etc. All these indicate he is at his limit. If the puppy ignores him, given that he is and soon will be larger than the adult, I would intervene before the adult feels necessary to snap or lunge at pup. I use "enough" and separate the puppy to calm down. Your adult dog may need a place where he can get away from puppy.

[karete357]

@supernaturalbc2009 well even before the puppy comes near the adult does the stiff stair,growls and when the puppy (while wagging tail even with playful bow) jumps to play with the adult snarling snapping and more growling from the adult. It seems like the adult has no patience at all at playing. This dog grew up not very sociable with other dogs. Is that the main issue? Should i just separate them 2? The adult is free roam in the house while the puppy is tied near his crate we have small house.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@karete357 It does sound like fear/lack of socialization. Might be better to have your puppy interact with sociable adults and curtail his interaction with your adult. To be sure, I recommend finding a positive trainer in your area for some help. This will be hard on your adult as the pup will be getting bigger and bigger and will need to develop his self control around adult dogs. Make sure he space that is his own to retire from pup.

[RockBottomAgility14]

I just got a new puppy who LOVES to play, but my 1 year old Boxer mix, who also loves to play, is always hovering over him and mouthing his head, neck, or back. He doesn't actually bite or try to hurt the puppy, but they haven't really played together. Is this normal, or should I be stopping it? If so, how? We also have a 6 year old Lab mix who is very 'grumpy' around some dogs, she'll snap if a dog just walks in front of her, and isn't fond of playing unless she feels like it.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@RockBottomAgility14 I'd talk to a local positive trainer and get their take on it. It depends on the size of the puppy, the puppy's response, the intensity of the behaviour , history of your dog etc.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@supernaturalbc2009 In the meantime, I'd intervene so the dog can't practice it and your pup won't get hurt.

[suesbj]

Thank you for posting this! We recently became a multi dog family and I've been nervous that they were being too rough. I now know that they are doing everything you have said and are very happy to do so! I definitely separate them anytime they go over the top (labs seem to do that!), but it seems as if they are normal happy dogs!

[supernaturalbc2008]

@suesbj Glad it was helpful. It can be scary if you've never seen dogs play. As long as its even and they are both having fun, that's the key! I've heard some pretty hard thumps from dog's chests as they throw themselves to the ground in play, yet they get right back up to play some more! LOL! Donna

[plumwoodposse]

what a fun video! I LOVE seeing dogs/animals playing with one another! I have 5 dogs and they keep me smiling with their play antics :-) thanks for sharing!

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

Interesting to watch. Thankyou. My dog inca plays with all her friends differently. She particularly loves pulling her best bud Barney our big black lab about with his collar. It isnt an accidental move it is an intentional action. I think Inca is actually the only dog Barney really plays with...hw was never a big player when out and about, though he enjoys a good run around the field with the collie crosses chasing him:))

[AaseLange]

This is wonderful, Donna!! I really like your narration - simple and clear, easy to understand for novices, and you point out all the most important features that tell us it's appropriate play. I would love to see a full-length DVD like this, showing longer sequences, multiple dog play etc. Oh, btw, could you share the various dogs' ages and reproductive status?

[supernaturalbc2009]

Thanks! Here goes: All spayed/neutered except the cocker pup who was just going into heat Jessie b/t mix: 2-3 yrs f Sadie Am Cocker 6.5 mo f Temba Shih Tzu mix 2.5 yrs m Sage beagle 3 yo f Chloe Boxer mix 4.5yo f Cedar GR 11.5 yrs f Simba BC 13.5 yrs f What is interesting, that for a reactive dog, Jessie is also able to get 5-6 year old dogs to play who normally don't like playing with other dogs! A couple of these can also be reactive dogs with other dogs.

[pacificprospector]

Very interesting video of dog interaction. I suspect anyone with knowledge of emotional intelligence and human/animal behaviour would agree with your interpretations.

[peregoyb]

I would take the subjective assumptions out of the description - "uses her shoulder to get her to move over", "a brief break to calm things down" "plays gently so Jesse adjusts her enthusiasm" - there's no way to know why the dogs do specific moves, we can only comment on what happens before and after, topographically, and use that as predictions of possible future behaviors. Making assumptions can lead to bad science. And often lead to anthropomorphizing and inappropriate human response.

[supernaturalbc2009]

This is not a science study. This is a video introducing people to learning to read their dog- a very emotional topic! I believe that adding commentary like this helps people to understand and relate to behaviors. Not "anthropomorphizing" is unemotional and bad human relations.

Life is emotion. I wouldn't want to live without it- and that from a person with a zoology degree!

[supernaturalbc2009]

In addition, science is subjective any way you look at it. Studies have shown that the outcome of a study is affected by the expectations of the person/people who are doing the study.

[dianaallensworth]

@supernaturalbc2009

i agree about the anthropomorphizing -- it's not always a bad thing. i used to think it was, but have since come to understand that, like most things in life, it's all about context and agenda/motive of the one doing the anthropomorphizing. we know that dogs share all of our primary emotions (yes, scientifically! - whatever that happens to mean ;-) and many of our 'lesser' emotions.

[dianaallensworth]

@supernaturalbc2009

we also know that the vast majority of dog-dog interactions are in fact for the purpose of calming. that's based on observations of what does happen before and after specific interactions. anthropomorphizing is sometimes necessary in order to humanize the humans :-)

[DaCrystalPup]

Good Vid

:D

[Whatsername1389able]

Wonderful display of dog play behavior :)

[cgazmommyof3]

Thanks for putting this together!

[dianaallensworth]

i love this video.

thanks so much for sharing, donna!

[maryvw]

Great video! Excellent play examples and commentary. Thanks for sharing !

[redcuprar13]

I really loved this video - great advice and so good for people to be able to "see" what dogs do when they play - I know a great deal of people that think that this behaviour is not good (I know as you said you have to make sure that one is not being bullied) but so many people won't let their dogs - well - be dogs!

All of these behaviours in the video is what my Tillie does when playing - excellent to watch - many thanks