"In dogs’ play, researchers see honesty and deceit, perhaps something like morality" - New Washington Post Article

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

In dogs' play, researchers see honesty and deceit, perhaps ...

This article appeared in Monday's Washington Post, and describes some interesting new findings about the way dogs play. As dog owners, we all see much of what the author describes in our own dogs' play behaviors. After reading David Grimm's report, I am going to try to observe Wally and Charlotte's interactions with an eye to catching some of the play actions that I haven't noticed or even known to look for when they're romping as a twosome and when they're playing with doggie friends.  

Which of these behaviors have you witnessed already, which have you seen that aren't included in the article, and which are you curious to spot in the future?  

Time for a play date!

[Julie and Max]

I love watching dogs play, and it's easy to see that they have a certain "code" of play. Like giving a handicap to smaller dogs, I see Max do that all the time. I could watch them play for hours.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Polly is our youngest and she constantly steals and hoards all the toys, doesn't matter that there are two green balls, if Meg picks one up she wants it too.  Two antlers?  Polly will lay on one and chew the opposite end of the one Meg has.  Meg has learned to pick up another toy and drop it in front of Polly, when Polly goes for that Meg grabs the original and takes off until Polly comes for it, then she drops it.  Outside it is the opposite, Meg dominates and if Polly grabs the Jolly ball, Meg will drag her across the yard with it.  The Frisbee is another, Meg will catch for awhile and if Polly beats her to it Meg grabs hold and drags Polly and the Frisbee back for another toss.  Last week in Georgia with my granddog, Meg always bows, tail wagging and then pounces on Stevie, outside Stevie owns the deck and NEVER EVER plays with toys until Meg picks one up, then he owns it...it is his house, right?

[Cynthia Pierce]

Thanks for sharing this - I read and saved the article and I know I will read it again some day when I'm sitting at the dog park watching all the joyful intricacies of doggie play!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When we were out walking and we would meet a toy breed dog, JD would always lie down and allow the little dog to come up to him, as if he knew how much bigger and intimidating he might seem and was trying to level the playing field & reassure the toy dog that he was friendly. I didn't teach him this, and it amazed me. 

Then a bad-tempered shih tzu bit him in the face while he was doing this, not once but twice. That was pretty much it for JD. He has never assumed a submissive position for another dog again, no matter how small they are. 

[Christy&Riley]

Unfortunately Riley sees all dogs as equal. Full on play with no limits. Always concerned she will crush the little ones. I was amazed the first time we took her to a dog park and she immediately sat when she got scared by the big dogs. Was fun chasing them until the roles were reversed. Even more interesting was that she would run to and sit under our friend's labradoodle...a dog she had just met a half hour earlier. It was like instinctively she knew the LD was with us and a safe zone. I'm even amazed just watching her play with her own toys. Chew the ball, drop it, stare at it, paw at it, pick it up, walk around and start all over. How is that fun?

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Wally has one very special friend, Curtis the black lab, whom he humps from the front -- weird, I know. Wally seems very happy when he's on top of Curtis, and Curtis doesn't seem to mind one bit. Actually, he seems to stand still and allow Wally to mount him, and then he waits quietly until Wally is finished. Other than this strange frontal humping, they play as equals. I can't figure out what's going on in either of their minds. 

Charlotte is most definitely a bower. She creeps toward Wally and bows to engage him in play. If he doesn't respond right away, she creeps even closer. If that doesn't get him up, she paws his face very gently. What's funny is that they both understand that eventually he will get up and the two of them will play. Charlotte decides when to engage him, and he decides when the playing begins.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

thanks for sharing the article.  I once watched a grown boxer show a puppy how to play at the dog park.  It was fascinating.  There was no mistaking what was happening.  It took the boxer about twenty minutes to encourage the puppy out from his owners legs into a chase game, then reverse the order of chasing, then the boxer rolled on his back when the puppy "caught " him.

So fun

[Pat and Traveler]

I'm fascinated by the interactions between Trav and my daughter's big dog, whenever they're together for a while.  Trav is usually slow and careful around Grendel, unless they get to running outside.  Inside, Trav will walk very slowly around Gren, no sudden moves.   If Gren has a toy, then Trav always wants it, but knows he can't just take it.  He also knows that Gren doesn't spend much time with toys, so he stands by and waits.  When Gren lets go of the toy, Trav very carefully approaches and slowly pulls the toy away.  He behaves very differently around my other daughter's little dog.  Mostly, he just tries to avoid her, as she loves to jump on him and nip at his ears, etc.  But if he wants her to play with him, he'll toss a toy to her. 

[DJ & Chance]

Wow, this is really an interesting article.  I think I've seen all of these behaviors in one or more of the dogs I've owned over the year.

[Jennifer and Lily]

I love watching dogs play and seeing how they communicate with each other. As Lily gets into adulthood, she only plays with older dogs and prefers to sniff around or watch others play. However, if she is ignoring a dog that really wants her to play, bowing to her, wiggling their butts, all of her dog friends know that if they gently pull on her tail hair she will chase them a little bit. Not in a mean way, but a gentle "hey i'm talking to you!". Then if they go too far, she gives one warning bark and that's that. Also, one of her favorite doggy friends a 120+lb Great Dane/ St. Bernard mix always lays down to play with her, because he knows how big he is.