Why Play Is Important in Dogs

Play is a great indicator of your dog's physical and mental health

. When a dog plays it usually means he is a healthy and happy dog, play is a fun activity after all. Play helps young animals develop their social skills and helps them explore their environment. There are different types of play that teach the dog different skills.

Social Play: When puppies play with each other and older dogs, they learn what is socially acceptable and what is not. Dogs that play together test various boundaries of canine etiquette such as play biting and dominance. Puppies learn to inhibit their bite in play and this teaches them self-control.

Sexual Play: Puppies will sometimes mount one another while playing and this is all part of the playing experience. Both genders participate in sexual play and if a canine playmate is not available puppies will sometimes hump humans. This sort of behavior is related to dominance as the pups are figuring out their roles in life. As dogs live in clearly defined social hierarchies, play can sometimes help a dog figure out his place in the pack.

Oral Play: Puppies love to chew; they love to explore their environment using their mouths. Chewing is a very soothing and pleasurable experience for most dogs and this is especially so in growing puppies. Chewing is a necessary activity which aids the teething process and provides comfort.

Predatory Play: Chasing objects and other dogs develops a dog's agility and predatory skills. In their wild state dogs hunt in packs and they must be finely attuned to one another if the hunt is to be successful. Our domestic dogs have play hard-wired into their genes and exhibit the same predatory play behavior that their wild counterparts engage in. Playing hide and seek, ball and stick chasing and catch, all help fine tune a dog's agility and physical strength as well as releasing excess energy.

Dogs of all ages enjoy playing and if a dog doesn't play this could be a sign that something is not well with the dog. Dogs that play are happy, healthy dogs and play is a great indicator of mental and physical well-being. If your dog loves to play then you are probably doing a good job with him. A healthy dog that is well fed and in good health is more likely to play than one that is not because sick or unhappy dogs rarely engage in play.

Why Play Is Important in Dogs

By: Kenny Stewart

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