How to Hold a Successful Puppy Playdate
Susan Hoffman
HOME > LIFESTYLES > PETS
How to Hold a Successful Puppy Playdate
Are you a "helicopter mom" who hovers over your puppy, or is your parenting style more relaxed? When it comes to puppy's first playdate, a little bit of both is the right approach. Playing comes naturally to puppies, but you have a critical role in making sure his first playdate goes well.
First, pick the right place. "Find a safe, fenced area on private property," advises Dana Fedman, a certified professional dog trainer and the owner of Pupstart Family Dog Training in Central Iowa. Next, "Allow the puppies to do the ‘Dance of the Leash,' letting them move toward or away and sniff each other nose to rear, without interference from a taut leash," says Fedman. "If both puppies assume the pounce position after a few seconds, they're ready to play and you can remove the leash to let them interact."
Normal Puppy Play
Puppies like to mock-fight in doggie games such as:
- "I chase you, then you chase me," with butts tucked
- Jaw wrestling or gently biting each other on the muzzle, ears and neck
- Play barking and growling
- Alternating who's on top while wrestling and biting
- Chasing and nipping at each other's legs, tails and ears
Dangerous puppy play
You should step in and put distance between your puppies if:
- Either puppy stiffens or you hear deep belly growls
- One puppy repeatedly holds the other on its back
- Either puppy bites too hard or aggressively
- The larger puppy "body slams" with enough force to physically hurt the smaller puppy
- The intensity ramps up to a level that makes you uneasy
Do your best to match up puppy personalities. "If one is shy and timid and the other is overbearing, the timid one can easily become frightened and forevermore be fearful of strange dogs. By the same token, a too-bold first encounter could encourage a puppy to grow up to be a bully," says Fedman.
Common Sense Matters More Than Age or Size
Puppies around the same age -- especially those under 6 months of age -- generally interact well with each other. If the owners are consistently monitoring the play behavior, there's little chance of injury. As far as size is concerned, you might not want a tiny Chihuahua puppy playing with a Mastiff, but this isn't as much of an issue as energy level and personality.
"We have quite a few large-breed puppies that are timid, so we let them play with our Yorkie and Shih Tzu puppies," says Lisa Collins, a certified professional dog trainer and the owner of Collins Canine dog training in Chicago. "I like to have puppies of all sizes exposed to each other, but it has to be done so that each dog is comfortable. If small dogs only encounter small dogs, they will grow up to be afraid of large dogs. And if large dogs only play with each other, they won't learn to be more careful and gentle with smaller dogs," says Collins.
If the first interaction doesn't go well, separate the puppies and walk them away from each other and try again in a few minutes. If the second attempt fails, discontinue that playdate. "Pay attention and be prepared to step in if play gets too rough. Like human children, puppies can get overexcited, and that's when a good playdate can go bad. Sometimes you need to intervene and give them little breaks," advises Collins.
When it's time to end your puppy's playdate, reinforce the good socialization lesson with praise and a cool, rehydrating drink of water.
Photo: @iStockphoto.com/choja
&nbsbp;
Susan Hoffman is a freelance journalist who writes about canine, feline and equine topics. Her feature articles regularly appear in consumer and veterinary media.
Twitter: @ihavenet
Available at Amazon.com:
Living with Kids and Dogs ... Without Losing Your Mind
Miss Fido Manners Complete Book Of Dog Etiquette
Recent Pet Articles
- Are You Smarter Than a German Shepherd?
- Avoid Mealtime Madness
- How to Hold a Successful Puppy Playdate
- Allergies: Caring for Your Cat This Fall
- Get to Know Your Cat's Sounds
- Dealing With Dog Bites
- Does Food Taste Different to Cats and Dogs?
- Is Your Puppy Ready for School?
- The Dangers of Raw Meat Diets
- Can New Dog Feeders Help Solve Mealtime Problems?
- Beginner's Guide to Dog Agility
- Are You Prepared for Dog Emergencies?
- Help Your Dog Cope With School Days
- Meet the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- Play That Trains Your Puppy
- Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool
- Can a Dog Help Your Child Read?
- Best Dog Breeds for Kids
- Best Cat Breeds for Kids
- Determine Your Cat's Toy Preferences
- Do Cats Sing?
- Homemade Cat Toys
- The Best Dog Beaches - Coast to Coast
- Can You Leave Your Puppy Home Alone?
- Dog-friendly Games for the Whole Family
- Three Most Common Dog-related Allergies
- Why Do Cats Fear Dogs?
- Microfiber: Miracle Fabric Cats Won't Scratch
- Do Dogs Need Vitamin Supplements?
- How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth
- How to Introduce Your Kids and Puppy
- Dig the Dachshund
- Know Your Dog Park Etiquette
- The Chihuahua: Man's Best Amigo?
- Why Your Dog Needs DHA
- 15-minute Dog Massage
- Preventing Fleas -- Naturally
- How to Feed Your Ingredient-sensitive Dog
- DNA Testing Your Dog
- Can New Cat Feeders Help Solve Mealtime Problems?
- 15-Minute Cat Massage
- Brain Exercises for Your Cat
- Make a Carrier Cat-friendly in 5 Easy Steps
- How to Keep Your Dog Cool
- Take Your Dog to a Ball Game
- What to Expect From Your Puppy
- Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer
- Protect Your Dog From a Deadly Summer Virus
- Summer Cat Care
- How to Keep Your Cat Properly Hydrated
- The Dangers and Risks for Outdoor Cats
- Animals Treasure Their Friends Too
- Backyard Dog Training Fun
- Train Your Dog to Go Fetch
- Choosing the Right Breed of Puppy
- Do's and Don'ts of Socializing Your Puppy
- How to Transition From Puppy Food to Adult Food
- Is Your Dog at Risk for Sunburn?
- Picking Safe Puppy Toys
- Can Your Cat Save Your Life?
- Essential Summer Safety Tips for Cats
- Organizations That Feed Cats When Owners Can't
- Gathering Information for Your Dog Sitter
- Organizations That Feed Dogs When Owners Can't
- Hope is Rising in the Fight Against FIP
- 5 Great Cat Twitter Accounts to Follow
- 5 Great Dog Twitter Accounts to Follow
- The Right Diet for Your Athletic Dog
- A Day in the Life of a Sheepherding Dog
- Fireworks Are Fun For Humans, But Can Terrorize Pets
- Go Green With Your Cat
- Mother's Milk Influences Kitten Food
- Take Great Photos of Your Cat
- Take Great Photos of Your Dog
- 9 Key Ingredients That Nourish Growing Puppies
- Understanding Your Dog's Mealtime Behavior
- Which Flea or Tick Products Should You Buy? Well, It Depends
- Do Cats Really Prefer Women?
- Business Management the Dog Way
- Train Your Dog Properly
- Big Fun for Little Dogs
- Create a Dog-friendly Backyard
- Why You Should Adopt a Senior Dog
- Canine Heroes
- The Best Cat Beds
- Bringing up Baby With a Dog
- Can You Recognize Feline Diabetes?
- Do Cats Fake Sleep?
- Is Your Dog Overweight?
- Hold Your Cat Correctly
- How to Manage a Multi-cat Household
- Pregnant Cat Care
- I Found a Stray Cat. Now What?
- Measure Your Cat's Intelligence
- Does Your Dog Food Meet AAFCO Standards?
- The Best Time of Day to Walk Your Dog
- Washington DC: Travel to a Dog-friendly City
- Letting Your Cat Wander Could Be a Death Sentence
- Girl Scouts Are a Cat's Best Friend
- Litter Box Training for Your Cat
- Pregnancy, Babies and Cats
For more Pet Stories and Articles, Click Here to Visit our Pets Section
Copyright © 2011 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.