Playtime: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

In recent years, playtime has been considered a form of therapy, a popular way to exercise your dog, and an essential part of a healthy dog’s education and routine.

Day care programs and dog parks are common, exposing dogs to a variety of playmates. Puppies are playing in class and dogs go on play dates, but is playtime all it is cracked up to be or are there hidden risks and dangers?

So what is play and how is it communicated? Dogs communicate by giving very clear signals of a desire to play, to continue to play, and to stop play. Most signals are done through visual cues, but we can’t ignore olfactory, tactile and auditory cues.

Why do some dogs seem to play so well, while others appear to be frightened by an invitation to play or, sadly, have not had an opportunity to play and the interaction with another dog is quite frightening.

We will look into why dogs play and the benefits and risks from early puppyhood through adult. Are play and aggression closely related? Some dogs enjoy social play, while others enjoy object play. Where does dominance come into "play?" Or, does it? We’ll take a look at some popular theories and common myths as well as developing some rules for owners to follow when playing with their dogs or permitting their dogs to play with other canine friends.

Through videos, we will look at a variety of play situations and evaluate what play is healthy and when it is potentially harmful. We will go over the early warning signs from puppyhood as well as give you ideas on what to look for when evaluating shelter dogs or selecting playmates in your puppy classes or when attempting to find friends for your best friend.

This four-hour add-on program is included in the Do-It-All package and can be purchased separately. See registration form and schedule. Includes Trade Show and Contest Breaks.