Perfect Play

Perfect Play

The players: Mellie and Honey

I once read that play is defined as when both/all parties involved have equal interactions. In dog play it is one dog chases for awhile, and then the other dog is the chaser for a bit. While wrestling one dog is on the bottom for a while then the other takes a turn. Honey is a one year old mixed breed from WAIF Animal shelter here on Whidbey Island and is a service dog in training that has been living with me for 4 months and Mellie is a 6 month old Golden Retriever staying with me for a week while her dad is on vacation. These two young dogs have a compatible play style that has a lot of give and take.

Relaxed equal play. Look at the c-curve on both dogs and
Mellie offering an off-balance posture by lifting her paw.

Honey is more agile than Mellie due to her age and body type so they started out with Honey running in front with a toy in her mouth. Mellie ran after her, Honey then slowed down and played some tug with the stick or other toy. Mellie ended up with the stick and then ran out in front of Honey. When Mellie stopped they both mouthed the stick and then Honey took a turn at racing around the house.

You can see below that the stick is forgotten as they roll in the
 grass some. Honey is about to do some time on her back.
Note the c-curved bodies again from both dogs.

 Watching dogs play gives us the opportunity to practice our canine observation skills. Dogs are much better at reading us than we are at understanding them. Are tails up and tight or relaxed and low? Are the dogs approaching head-on or curving? You might notice that dogs' bodies are often shaped in a c-curve when meeting or playing with other dogs.  You can see the c-curve in these pictures of Honey and Mellie romping, a sign that all is well.

Honey is tired of sharing the stick, her tight and curly tail,
c-curve gone as well as the look in her eye gives the clue to
Mellie to take a break.

To find out more about these subtle signals that dogs use in communication. Check out the web site of Turid Rugaas:
http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1
Turid is an internationally respected trainer and became best known for her description of the 'calming signals' dogs use to communicate with each other. Once we humans begin to learn the language of dogs we can enjoy our companions all the more!

Taking a break for a drink with a friend.
Great way to end a perfect play session with a friend.