The Trouble with Dog-to-dog Play

This topic came up in our My Dog Can Online Training community group and I knew right away it would make a great article. I also knew right away that it would likely to be a controversial one with strong beliefs on both sides of the argument, but I still pose the question: Should you let your dog play with other dogs? As with most posts I write, there is no black and white answer and my goal is to present the arguments, not to decide for you. So, let’s go!

The Problem is Not Really the Play

The problem with dog-to-dog play isn’t the actual play itself, but rather the indiscriminate way we want our dogs to play with every dog — every time one appears…. That is the real problem. The role of dogs in our families has shifted. We’ve become a society that seems to put so much emphasis on dogs playing with other dogs that we’ve completely changed the way dogs interact. We’ve built parks specifically to facilitate dog play. There is a booming industry in Doggie Daycares and Cage-free Boarding facilities. I can’t walk down the street with my dogs anymore without having to address other people wanting their dogs to play with mine. Half the time, the human is so convinced that my dogs will be their dog’s next play thing, that the approaching dog is off-leash and has no semblance of a recall. More and more, I’m met with dirty looks or snotty comments…