How to Recognize If Your Dog Wants To Play

Recognizing when your dog wants to play will help you strengthen your bond with your furry friend, and there are many different physical cues that can tell you when your dog wants to play. In this blog, we’ll explore all things play, such as the importance of dog play, signs your dog wants to play, different dog play ideas, and how to make sure you’re playing safely with your pup.

The Importance of Dog Play

When your puppy is young, playing with them helps them to learn good motor skills and important social skills. It’s also great for exercise and fun! Playing with your dog should be a part of your daily routine, and coming up with new dog play ideas can help you discover what sort of toys and games your dog enjoys.

Play is an excellent way to avoid boredom and provides both mental and physical stimulation for your dog. Incorporating different forms of play both outside and indoors, as well as varied toys, will help to keep your dog interested and stimulated. Not only is playing great for your dog, it’s also great for you! Encouraging play behaviour in dogs helps to strengthen the bond between you and your pup.

Signs A Dog Wants To Play

It’s handy to know how to spot the signs that your dog wants to play. They will usually invite you over with a bow action where their front end is on the floor and their rear end is up in the air. They use this bow to let others know that it’s playtime! Other signs you may see are spinning, tail wagging, barking to get your attention, or even a cheesy grin!

With play behaviour in dogs, you will also often see bouncy, loose movements, growling, or barking. When your pup is playing with other dogs, you may also see them circle back around after a break to check if the other dog wants to continue to play. During dog play, keep an eye out for signs that your dog is getting overexcited. If this happens, take a break and consider swapping to a less exciting game for them afterwards.

How To Play With A Dog

Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to play with a dog as some prefer to play with people, and others might like playing by themselves. If you’re wondering “why won’t my dog play with me?” They might prefer solo playing such as throwing and running with a toy, a chew, or a puzzle toy. If you’re just starting out playing with your dog, activities such as retrieving, tugging, or chasing toys are great for allowing them to play to their natural instincts.

Other dog play ideas can include:

• Tug of war—This is a rewarding game for dogs, but it’s important to encourage them to grab the toy gently. Make sure there are cues in place like “yes” or “off” to signal when it’s time to release the toy and let them “win” often enough to keep them interested. Remember, this game should be relaxed—keep a loose body tension and your dog should follow your lead!
• Retrieve—Retrieval games are great for improving your dog’s focus and listening skills. Encourage your dog to return the toy by making yourself interesting or exciting for them to come back to, and reward them for bringing the toy back. Over time, the reward will become the toy. Just be careful not to overuse this play idea as it can be very physical, and some dogs won’t want to stop.
• Hide and seek—This is another great dog play activity that allows for exercise and mental stimulation. Ask your dog to stay in a “sit” or “down” position, then give them a cue to come and find you. When they do make sure to praise and reward them.

Safe Dog Play Tips and Respecting Boundaries

When playing with your dog, you want to make sure it’s fun but also safe. Knowing how to play with a dog safely depends on your ability to read their body language and judge their surroundings. When assessing your dog’s body language, consider their age, personality, and breed, as this can influence their play behaviour and how they express themselves. If you notice your dog is starting to feel uncomfortable or becoming over aroused during play—for instance by becoming more tense or moving their ears back—you can calmly help them move away from the other dog or move closer to them.

Play With Other Dogs

So, what about when our dogs want (or don’t want!) to play with other dogs?

Remember, it's completely fine for your dog to be picky about their playmates. Take care not to force them to interact when visiting places with lots of other dogs (such as dog parks) or when organizing playdates. Instead, follow your dog’s lead: if they find dog parks overwhelming, choose other places for their exercise or check out times they are less busy.

If your dog does want to play but can’t find a suitable playmate, move on and try another time. Or alternatively, organise play dates for dogs you know they’re friendly with. And that doesn’t just mean picking the humans you happen to be friends with yourself!

You can our ADAPTIL Calm Collar. This uses natural appeasing messages to help dogs adapt to unsettling situations. Each collar provides up to 30 days of support and is a great solution for nervous pups exploring outdoors.

If you notice any changes in your dog’s interest in play, or if you see them worried about interacting with other dogs, be sure to visit your vet. They will be able to check for any underlying medical issues. A certified animal behaviourist or qualified trainer can also help you with training and behaviour advice.

For more information on dog play or for advice on how to play with a dog, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you! You can also join our online community to stay up to date with all the latest info and guides from our experts.