Choosing Playmates for Your Dog
Just like us, dogs are social animals. It’s a great idea to give them regular opportunities to romp with their dog buddies. Play with other dogs keeps dog communication skills polished, wears them out mentally, tires them physically—and it’s a lot of fun!
Factor One: Age and Sex
If you have a puppy, it’s crucial for her to have plenty of play time with other puppies, and to learn how to interact with older dogs. Enrolling in a puppy class with off leash play time might be a good option. If you have a dog between six months and two years of age, she’ll probably most enjoy playing with other energetic, young friends. If your dog’s over two years old, she may become more choosy about who she wants to play with, and not enjoy the same rough-and-tumble games she played as a youngster. Another mature dog might make the best companion for her. It’s a good idea to pair opposite-sexed dogs as playmates. Some female dogs don’t get along well with other adult females. Likewise, male dogs are more likely to squabble with other males. However, there are certainly exceptions to this rule.
Factor Two: Size Matters
Many dogs learn to play gently with smaller or more delicate friends. However, it’s best to seek similar-sized, similarly built playmates for your dog. Dogs often enjoy throwing themselves on the ground, mouthing on each others’ limbs, necks and heads, crashing together like bumper cars, ambushing each other, and zooming around at breakneck speeds. During all this enthusiastic and highly physical play, smaller or less athletic dogs can accidentally get stepped on, injured or simply overwhelmed. Although it’s rare, larger dogs—especially when in groups—can even treat much smaller dogs like prey. To ensure everyone’s safety, try to find dogs who seem physically compatible with yours.
Factor Three: About-Face
Dogs, like people, have unique personalities and enjoy doing different things. Dog play often includes stalking, chasing, wrestling and mouthing. Border collies and Australian shepherds, prefer activities that tap into their natural instincts to herd—like stalking and chasing. Labradors, pit bulls and boxers, often enjoy play that involves body contact, wrestling and mouthing. Some dogs prefer playing tug and keep-away with toys. Some dogs like to wrestle but don’t like other dogs mouthing on them during play. As you introduce your dog to potential playmates, notice which games she likes and dislikes. Then you can choose buddies for her who enjoy the same kinds of activities.
Factor Four: Let Your Dog Have a Vote
Above all, pay attention to what your dog wants. When you introduce her to potential pals, note which ones she seems most excited to see and which ones she plays with the longest. If she consistently ignores another dog or tries to stop play—by leaving the area, hiding, or growling, showing her teeth or snapping at the other dog—listen to what she’s saying. She might prefer another playmate.
Additional Suggestions
If possible, plan to introduce your dog to potential new buddies on neutral territory, like during a short walk through your neighborhood, in a nearby park or in a friend’s yard. To minimize tension, try to keep the two dogs’ leashes loose so that they’re not choking or feeling pressure on their necks. Don’t force the dogs to interact. If they try to avoid each other, or if they sniff and then try to go their separate ways, let them. Let them investigate each other on their own time. If they show no interest, try again on another day. If the dogs avoid interacting you’re you try again, they probably aren’t the best match.
Make greetings positive and light-hearted. As the dogs sniff and get acquainted, encourage them in a happy tone of voice. At first, allow just a few seconds of sniffing, and then gently pull them away for a minute. Lead the dogs back together and allow another several seconds of sniffing. These brief sessions will help keep the dogs’ interactions calm and prevent escalation to threats or aggression. You can also break up interactions by asking your dog to do some simple obedience, like sit and down, and give her treats for her good behaviors.
Closely observe the dogs’ body language. Their postures can help you understand what they’re feeling and whether things are going well or heading south. Loose body movement and muscles, relaxed open mouths and play bows are all good signs that the two dogs are feeling comfortable. Stiff, slow body movement, stiff mouths or teeth-baring, growls and prolonged staring are all signs that a dog is feeling threatened or aggressive. If you see this type of body language, quickly lead the dogs apart to give them more distance from each other. They probably don’t want to be playmates
Excepts from ASPCA Virtual Pet Behaviorist