Let them play! Play behavior in dogs

Let them play ...

... because then we know they are doing well. Dogs should have joy, feel comfortable, and lead happy lives.

Now there are many discussions surrounding the topic of dogs and their behavior. Everyone knows: not all play is the same. However, dog behavior is judged very differently with emotional interpretations, and corresponding rules of conduct are established for human behavior and intervention.

We can state that there are many dogs who play passionately and exuberantly, entirely without ulterior motives or benefit. And there are dogs who playfully resolve conflicts with their peers, just as there are those who cleverly and playfully win many different interactions without getting into conflict. Much that looks like play is not. Much that looks wild and aggressive is actually combative play without aggression.

The topic of play has many facets, which unfortunately also leaves a lot of room for interpretation. We want to try to observe and interpret the behavior of dogs at play together in videos. We want to train our own eyes to better recognize the many facets and nuances. And since playing usually involves two, we also want to look at what the other party is telling us.

Finally, the questions remain:

• How do I play with my dog with this knowledge and information?
• What is allowed and what is possible?
• What is fun and where does the fun stop?

Prepare for some surprises!

The Speaker

Ute Heberer is a trained veterinary assistant and has been the long-time head of an animal shelter in the Odenwald. As a certified dog trainer and lecturer and examiner for expertise tests, dogs with aggressive behavior and resocialization are among her areas of expertise.

More about the speaker: https://hundecampus-odenwald.de/uber-mich-2/