If a pup seems overwhelmed, step in! If you can’t turn things around in 15 minutes, call it a day and try again later.Ī great playdate can be a godsend for humans dealing with an active, mouthy pup who can’t seem to focus. * Determine if pups are happily engaging or looking like they want to go home. Do they both happily seek each other out, or does one run for the hills? If they both keep choosing each other, you can feel more confident it’s all good. * Great doggy play can look a little scary to the uninitiated! If two pups are interacting in a way that concerns you, gently take the pups apart and give them a moment to re-group. In contrast, stiff bodies and cornered dogs mean it’s time for you to jump in to help. Ideally, you’ll see some loose, waggy bodies, a play-bow, and reciprocal action where the chaser becomes the chasee, and the top wrestler takes a turn on the bottom. Once your pup is happily integrated into play, you can relax and chat. Here’s the perfect scenario: You wave to the humans as they call their dogs away from the gate, so that your pup can enter and get the lay of the land before interacting. * The first minutes are key! Be ready to focus on your dog the instant you arrive – even though your manners will be telling you to go over and greet the humans. Instead, be ready to help your pup navigate this new situation. If your plan is to let the puppies “work it out themselves,” you’re better off skipping the experience, because it could backfire completely. During the playdate itself, you’ll need to be switched on. While it’s true that this activity will buy you some time off, that only happens afterward, when your pup crashes on the couch back at home for two hours.

Playdate Rule #1 is that the humans are very much on duty at all times. Don’t blow it, because a bad experience is just as formative as a good one. However, making sure these critical experiences are positive takes some forethought. Half an hour spent wrestling and chasing with the right canine friends, a couple times a week, will have an enormous payoff in both the short and long term. If there’s one thing that can serve as the magic elixir of puppyhood, it’s the puppy playdate. A terrific adult dog is worth her weight in gold for a puppy playdate she can be your partner in instilling a sense of order and manners in an otherwise 'Lord of the Flies' gathering! The author's German Shepherd loves to come out and lead good chase games, knock a full-of-herself pup down a peg, pick a favorite to play with, and then retire inside: 'My work here is done.'

How to play puppy love game