Playing with other dogs is great exercise, along with being important for your dog socially. But not every dog is a potential playmate for yours, even if it's a nice dog that plays well with other dogs.

Finding Suitable Playmates

Finding suitable playmates for your dog isn't always as easy as it sounds. It's not so much a size issue as it is a playing-style issue. Dogs, like people, have different playing styles. Some are very physical, wrestling, play-biting, mounting, etc., while others prefer tag-type games in which the dogs alternate chasing each other, with or without any physical contact. Some dogs play well with other dogs by using toys, playing tug of war or keep away. But for others, toys are something to be protected from other dogs, not shared with them. Sometimes you can find good playmates at dog parks, but you are often just as likely to run across dogs that shouldn't be at the dog park at all, let alone off leash and interacting with your precious companion. Many training centers and some pet boutiques offer supervised play sessions that allow your dog to socialize and play in a relatively safe and controlled setting.

Your Job

Your job during doggie play dates is pretty simple. For the most part, all you have to do is to stay out of the way so you don't get knocked down in the foolishness. Don't be surprised if the dogs' play involves a lot of growling and barking. In fact, usually the more noise you hear, the less there is to worry about.

Reading dogs' communication is easy with practice. You'll see dogs communicate with each other (and with you, if you pay attention) constantly, with a variety of body postures, facial expressions, and vocalizations. See if you can figure out what the dogs are “saying” to each other. Is it “Will you play?” or “Get away from me!”?