Working with dogs during playgroups can be a rewarding experience for both the dogs and humans working to introduce them. However, running playgroups require skill and thoughtful set-up for success.
Which leads to the question: how do we know when dogs are engaging in play? To answer this, first we want to define what play is. Play consists of truncated or modified modal action patterns that do not have a complete function (Burghardt, 2012). For example, a dog may perform elements of the predatory sequence during play, but the function is not to predate. Animals expend energy and, in certain instances, can sustain injury in play. However, despite these potential “costs,” the animals of a variety of species still choose to engage in play. This indicates there are aspects of this behavior that are rewarding (Bradshaw, Pullen & Rooney, 2015). Next, we realize that there are different play types: social play, defined as animals engaging in non-aggressive interactions with each other; locomotor play, defined as an animal making movements like turns, runs, and jumps; and object play, animals engaging with an object(s) in many ways. For this article we are going to focus on social play. Social play can take place with humans, other animals, and conspecifics. This can be a part of building social skills and developing relationships within the species (Bradshaw, Pullen & Rooney, 2015).
Playgroups may have positive benefits for some dogs and allow for several types of species-typical behaviors to be performed. In fact, play is performed more frequently when resources are abundant. This reflects why captive animals that have their enrichment needs met may display more play behaviors, indicating that play can be a signal of good welfare (Sonntag & Overall, 2014).
A well-run playgroup will follow documented criteria to minimize risk. For example, your shelter may follow a 2:1 dog to handler ratio or even an 1:1 ratio to help reduce risk. This allows more individuals to observe, intervene, and assist with any escalations or concerning behavior. Your shelter may require arousal reduction procedures and observing the dogs’ choice-making to make sure they are choosing to opt-in to the interaction. These two factors can go a long way in having safer and more successful interactions and sessions between dogs.
Playgroups should always take the most risk averse approach, but should your shelter allow for valuable resources like food and toys in playgroups? Resource guarding can be a species-typical behavior that is a part of communication (Jacobs, et al, 2018b). However, when some of these behaviors are observed in playgroup, or other contexts, the situation can quickly escalate, and possibly lead to the expression of aggressive behaviors. This behavior can occur in dogs that show anxiety or concern regarding their resource being taken away. A resource can be many things - attention from handlers, smells, or a place where the dog prefers to rest (Jacobs, et al, 2018b). Dogs may also display this behavior in higher frequencies at times of stress or even with health issues (Zurlinden, 2021). Managing fear and arousal in playgroups can go a long way in helping prevent such interactions from occurring. Slow introductions with smaller dog to handler ratios also help. If this behavior occurs, then this dog can be redirected to another activity. Remember that contact with a conspecific is not necessarily the goal. Not every dog will benefit from participating in playgroups, especially if they are choosing to exit, or showing elevated levels of fear or arousal. Forcing these types of interactions can result in flooding and can negatively impact a dog’s welfare.
As for “tools” for playgroups, food and toys can be a terrific way to manage and redirect risky behaviors. Our best tools to keep things safe, even when resources are around, are keen and objective observational skills, more handlers with smaller groups, actively managing any observed arousal or fear, and making decisions on which individual dogs actually benefit from play interactions. All aid in making such interactions both safe and fun for the dogs participating. We also need to remember that social play is not the only form of play that a dog could benefit from, and dogs who may not enjoy or benefit from social play can still participate in other forms of enrichment.
References:
Bradshaw, J.W.S., Pullen, A.J., & Rooney, N.J. (2015). Why do adult dogs ‘play’? Behavioural Processes, 110, 82-87.
Burghardt, G. (2012). Defining and Recognizing Play. The Oxford Handbook of the Development of Play.DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195393002.013.0002.
Jacobs, J. A., Coe, J. B., Pearl, D. L., Widowski, T. M., & Niel, L. (2018a). Factors associated with canine resource guarding behaviour in the presence of people: A cross-sectional survey of dog owners. Preventive veterinary medicine, 161, 143–153.
Jacobs, J. A., Coe, J. B., Widowski, T. M., Pearl, D. L., & Niel, L. (2018b). Defining and Clarifying the Terms Canine Possessive Aggression and Resource Guarding: A Study of Expert Opinion. Frontiers in veterinary science, 5, 115.
Sonntag, Q., & Overall, K.L. (2014). Key determinants of dog and cat welfare: behaviour, breeding and household lifestyle. International Office of Epizootics, 33(1), 213-220.
Weiss, E., Mohan-Gibbons, H., & Zawistowski, S. (2015). Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff (pp. 317–347). Wiley Blackwell.
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