petorama

Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette

Our puppy is taking her toys and playing very rough with them. She growls, shakes her head back and forth and generally goes to town on it. A friend of ours says that our dog is “killing” the stuffed animal. I can't believe our puppy would kill anything. Is she dangerous?

Angie

Young animals play. Often play involves pouncing, chasing and yes “killing” type actions. Before you get overly concerned, remember that most normal human children play physically. Just watch as a child “wrestles” with a parent. Play is normal. Aggression is something different. But first, let's take a look at why animals play.

There have been many ideas proposed. One of the most common theories is that animals are learning their rank in a pack. This idea has been rejected by many professionals. If you watch normal puppy play you can quickly see why.

Puppies and young dogs usually engage in play that involves both give and take. One moment a dog is pouncing, the next minute the dog is belly up.

Newer ideas suggest that dogs are learning how to interact with other dogs. They are learning how to switch roles as the need arises. Active, normal play teaches dogs how to function normally with other animals.

Personally, I tend to agree that the old models really do not explain sufficiently all the intricacies of dog behavior. I can clearly recall watching my male dog go belly up to entice young puppies into play. I also cherish a photograph of my older dog as she plays, “tug” with a litter of rescued puppies. The young puppies are physically no match for her size. Yet she stands and gently tugs back on the rope in a game that lets the puppies play successfully. If dogs needed to establish rank, then these behaviors make no sense.

There is so much about play we do not know. But we do know it is necessary for normal development.

I also believe that one of the reasons young animals play is very simple. Play is fun. It makes animals feel good. Play is good for dogs and frankly it is good for people too. If you asked a child why they wrestle with an older sibling or parent, they probably will say that it is fun.

Many puppies enjoy shredding, shaking and otherwise destroying toys. This is not all bad. Some people have to work to teach a dog how to play with appropriate toys. Your puppy naturally chose them. Other people are green with envy wishing their dog would stop chewing the carpet or couch cushions!

Play directed at appropriate toys is not of concern. Puppy owners do need to watch for aggression, usually in the form of resource guarding. These dogs often take things such as bones and toys into other rooms or under coffee tables. These puppies want to be along with their things. Some puppies may tense, lip curl, growl or snap if you try to take things away.

If your puppy is engaging in any behaviors that say, “Back off,” then you have reason to be concerned. But if you have a playful and social puppy, then keep things going in the right direction by actively socializing as soon as you have veterinary clearance. Then invest in a well run puppy class to keep things going in the right direction.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

Previous Questions

• Dear Yvette, We have run into some problems wi...
• Dear Yvette, Our dog is eight months old. Out...
• Dear Yvette, We have been told that puppy clas...
• Dear Yvette, We were looking at getting a pupp...
• Dear Yvette Our dog recently was involved in a...
• View All Questions