Play is a fundamental welfare indicator in dogs, and providing adequate social play opportunities with appropriate partners is an important component of their wellbeing.
Play is not optional enrichment for dogs — it is an indicator and source of positive welfare. Dogs that have regular opportunities for appropriate social play with compatible partners show lower stress hormones, better social skills, and better behavioral profiles than those denied this opportunity. However, quantity without quality is not enough: forced interactions with inappropriate partners, overarousal without deescalation, or chronic stress in social contexts are welfare risks. Matching play partners appropriately and monitoring interaction quality matters as much as frequency.