Dog-dog play provides important physical and social welfare benefits. Understanding appropriate play helps owners facilitate beneficial interactions and prevent injury or fear.
Dog play provides genuine welfare benefits through exercise, social bonding, and the expression of natural social behaviors. However, the welfare of dog play depends on whether it is mutually enjoyable or one-sided - a dog that is repeatedly overwhelmed, cannot escape, or shows stress signals during 'play' is not benefiting from the interaction but experiencing stress. Owners who allow their dog to persistently bully another under the rationale that 'dogs need to sort it out themselves' are permitting a welfare harm to the victim dog. Welfare-positive dog social experiences require active owner observation and intervention when play becomes unbalanced.