Our mutual love of play doesn’t always mean that we know how to play well together. After all, we are two different species, and it’s not surprising that we occasionally miscommunicate. Sometimes that simply means that the dog doesn’t bring back the ball, but other times, it can result in dangerous or frightening situations. Misunderstandings during play are a real concern because social play consists primarily of actions borrowed from fighting, predation, and courtship. Predatory behavior patterns-such as chasing, biting, and shaking-are especially problematic; all of these actions are highly arousing and potentially dangerous if things get out of hand.
That is why dogs have evolved stereotypical play signals that can be roughly translated as “I’m just fooling, honest!” Dogs do things during play sessions that would be considered antagonistic in other contexts, so it’s critical that their behavior is perceived by their canine playmates as friendly rather than aggressive. People are no different-imagine if what you see on a football field happened in a supermarket parking lot between strangers. Thus, the purpose of play signals is to make sure that all participants understand that what is going on is playful, not threatening.
Because dogs need and expect their play partners to communicate clearly, it is worthwhile thinking about the signals they use and how we can incorporate them into our own repertoires. The classic play signal is the play bow, and it’s a common sight wherever happy, well-adjusted dogs congregate. One dog plunks down the front part of his body so he is perched on his elbows, while his back end remains at near-normal elevation. Perhaps another dog assumes this same position before they race off together in a merry game of chase. What fun! What joy! The game is afoot! Play bows are used to initiate play and also during play to keep it going. Many dogs wag their tails, and some bark while performing a play bow, but the basic form is always the same: The front part of the body is low, and the back end is higher. Lowering the head may allow a dog who wants to play appear to be less threatening than would otherwise be the case. The fact that play bows are so consistent in their form probably relates to how important it is for play signals to be unambiguous.
Although there is no definitive research on this, it is also likely that play bows function to create pauses in the vigorous nature of social play. Inappropriate play, dogs often stop for a brief moment and then resume, alternating chasing, batting, and mouthing with play bows and standing still. These pauses create breaks in the high-energy, high-arousal kind of play that can lead to over-arousal and eventually to trouble. These pauses are so important that we can use them to determine whether or not dogs are playing appropriately. Dogs who have the self-control to take a break are most likely the ones able to avoid over arousal, loss of impulse control, and inappropriate responses to the behavior of their partners.
The importance of pauses and breaks in dog play is the reason that it is critical to play with your dog in an “off and on” kind of way. Ignoring the need to take pauses, and thus to allow emotions to settle, is a common problem in play between people and dogs (especially between children and dogs). We’re not saying you need to do your own play bows, but it is crucial to alternate vigorous play with short breaks to keep emotions in check. A perfect example of doing that is described in the tug-game section in which you teach your dog to play hard and then pause as a way of teaching emotional control.
In their study, the least effective human behaviors for eliciting play in dogs were kissing the dog, picking up the dog, and barking at the dog, none of which ever resulted in play. Stamping one’s feet and pulling the dog’s tail (sigh) had very low rates of playful response by the dogs. The human signals that most frequently elicited play were the forward lunge (the person makes a sudden quick movement toward the dog, which is much like what is called “start-stops” in dog-dog play), the vertical bow (the person bends at the waist until the torso is horizontal, or a human version of the play bow), a “real” or full play bow, chasing the dog or running away from the dog, and grabbing the dog’s paws (which we don’t recommend!). The study also found that play signals were more successful at eliciting play when accompanied by vocalizations.
Of course, one of the most common and effective ways to start playing with your dog is to pick up a toy (which was not included in the study cited). Whether you then toss it, hold it out toward your dog for him to grab, or call out “Wanna play?”, most dogs know that when you pick up a toy, play time has begun.
Play faces are another signal that easily translates across species. Play faces usually involve a circular, open mouth; open eyes; relaxed facial muscles and ears; and raised eyebrows. To make yourself appear more playful to your dog, you, too, can mimic a canine play face by displaying an open-mouthed grin, open eyes, and relaxed facial muscles. We’re not quite sure what to say about relaxing your ears-if you figure out how to do it, let us know.
Play signals between our two species can sometimes be effective, but in other cases, they’re just confusing. For example, many dogs jump up on people, who respond by pushing the dog away with their hands. In the canine world, pushing with paws, or “boxing,” is a playful behavior that often incites further play. In this case, the dog thinks the person is being playful and responds with more leaps and jumps. The person responds with more pushing away, perhaps even more energetically out of irritation, which the dog takes as a signal for more vigorous play.
This cycle can go on until the person angrily yells at the dog or gets up and walks away. The poor dog probably thought they were having such a nice time playing together and is now totally perplexed. You can see why a thorough knowledge of canine play signals can help you avoid confusion and ensure that your play sessions are fun for all.
And now … let the games begin!
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