As a canine behaviourist, "He's only playing" is possibly my least favourite expression in the world…

Of course, many dogs love to play with other dogs, but with an estimated 64,000 dogs being killed or injured by other dogs in the UK in one-year*, it’s clearly not without risk.

Good canine play is balanced. Both dogs get to have fun and enjoy themselves without feeling threatened or bullied at any point. Play can change quickly from happy and relaxed to frightening or even damaging, so it is essential that we monitor our dogs’ play, and intervene where necessary.

It’s simply not true that dogs should be allowed to ‘sort it out themselves’. Even if neither of the dogs are physically harmed, the emotional effects of a bad experience can last forever and can create serious behavioural problems that could have been avoided.

Good play, on the other hand, can be fun, stimulating and enjoyable for both parties – it can also create and maintain bonds between dogs that remain friends for life.

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Inside the booklet:

  • Real-life photos!

    The booklet features more than 20 real-life photos - capturing specific, subtle behaviours and annotated with Sarah's notes, so you can see exactly what the dogs are telling us.

  • The 'good, the bad and the 'uh oh!'

    Concise descriptions of what's OK and what's not, in approaches, greetings, and meetings between unknown dogs.

  • Learn about

    Non-consensual body contact, manipulation of space, on-lead versus off-lead and what to be aware of at 'puppy parties' and puppy classes.

Sarah Whitehead is an internationally renowned speaker, best-selling author and global leading authority on canine behaviour and training. 

Sarah's most recent booklet is designed to explore and explain the subtle signs that dogs give which tell us whether play is appropriate - or not!

 

Watch this lecture as a stand-alone... or... access this plus hundreds of other amazing resources at Sarah Whitehead's Inner Circle for only £35 a month - no contract, no tie in.

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When is dog-dog play safe?

Richie Sills

You know the scene: You've just let your dog off-lead to have some fun when you spot another dog running towards your dog. "It's OK." shouts the other owner ...

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You know the scene: You've just let your dog off-lead to have some fun when you spot another dog running towards your dog. "It's OK." shouts the other owner "He's only playing." The mere fact that the other owner feels that this needs to be said is enough to set off alarm bells! So, how do you know whether dogs are going to play well together? You learn to talk dog! And this booklet will help to get you started on your learning journey.

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