Play Pause
Pause - Think - Resume
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A seconds pause is the difference between a game and a fight.
What are play pauses?
Play pauses are little micro-breaks dogs take during play to check in with the other dog and ensure the game is still fun.
Why?
- It allows dogs to check in with each other during play.
- It helps dogs synchronise their movements to avoid injuries.
- It reassures the other dogs that the intentions are peaceful and gives them a chance to end play.
How
During play at home:
- Start your dog's favourite Game.
- When your dog is fully engaged in the game, stop.
- Redirect your dog to a calm activity, like a sit, down, or play bow.
- Mark using your calm marker and reward your dog for settling.
- Once your dog is calm, you can re-initiate the game.
When playing with other friendly dogs:
- Watch for play pauses when your dog is playing outside with other friendly dogs.
- When you see either dog going 10 to 20 seconds without pausing, interrupt the play and call your dog away.
- Re-direct your dog to a calm activity like a doggy massage,
- Once the dog is calm they can re-initiate play when they like.
Tips:
- If your dog struggles to calm down, remove them from the situation and bring them back when calm.
- Use a Kong or another chewy enrichment toy to help your dog settle, relax and enjoy themselves outside.
- Know your dog's triggers and avoid trigger stacking your dog.
Rules of Play
Polite play requires both parties to be having fun. This is more likely to happen if both dogs understand the game and its rules.
- Ask first - Dogs will initiate a play with a play bow. This indicates to the other party that their intentions are playful and they are not a threat.
- Don't force play - Not all dogs are interested in playing. When these dogs are offered a play bow, they may refuse using calming signals. At this stage, the other dog must not try to force them into play by irritating or constantly biting and jumping on them.
- Take turns - During play, both dogs must get turns at winning. After all, a game isn't fun if you can't win sometimes. Dogs do this by reversing roles.
- Stop when asked to - Even though the other dog wants to play, they may not have the same energy. When the other dog says they need a break if its not respected the play is no longer fun.
- Do not hurt - During play, even though there may be a lot of vocalising and growling, the bites need to be soft. Most dogs will show bite inhibition during play.
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