Prof Karolina Westlund said: “Play seems frivolous and not serious. It really isn’t. It may be the emotion that you should take the most seriously.”
Social species (like dogs) have seven primal emotional systems in the brain; these systems ‘light up’ when the animal is experiencing certain emotions.
Let’s talk about the Play system.
This system can be seen as the most important system, because it is directly responsible for the emotional and physical wellbeing of individual beings. From here on, capitalisation of the word ‘play’ refers to the system in the brain, and not just a feeling of excitement or elation it brings forth when the individual is engaged in play activities. The Play system refers to the physical act of playing, the hormones released during play and the parts of the brain that ‘light up’ during the play session.
Play facilitates social development, learning boundaries and emotional regulation. This system is a very sensitive one and can easily be interrupted by negative emotions like fear. Play impacts relationships, place preference and social intelligence. Young animals and humans who engage in social play display enhanced brain development.
A third of the genes in the cortex are affected by play. Play prepares the individual for the unexpected, and helps to develop social skills. Play also enables the dog to practise hunting and mating repertoires. Dopamine, endogenous opioids (like endorphins), oxytocin and serotonin are released during play and these feel-good hormones and endorphins ensure a positive mood state over a period of time, therefore having a positive effect on the immune system.
Rat study
Interestingly, the Jaak Panksepp and Jeff Burgdorf study on rat tickling and laughter conducted at Bowling Green State University revealed that rats emit high-frequency 50kHz ultrasonic vocalisations – interpreted as laughter-like chirps – when tickled. The rats were particularly tickled in the nape area, which is also a common target area during juvenile same-species play.These chirps were associated with positive emotional mood states and social bonding.
Remarkably, the rats began to anticipate tickling sessions, actively pursued the tickling hand and showed a preference for handlers who engaged in tickling, signifying the formation of social bonds. This study provided significant insights into the emotional lives of animals and the evolutionary roots of play and laughter.
Playing helps individuals to collaborate, compete and outsmart their opponents, and advance sexual and even parenting behaviours.
Animals have limited behaviour repertoires like stalking, chasing and biting, for example, and play behaviour chains might sometimes look like dogs are fighting; one big difference between play and a real fight is that the play behaviour chain will be unstructured with no real goal in mind and the behaviours are expressed in random order – very different to a real fight.
Meta signals are also present during play. These can include: play bows, high-pitched barks, activity shifts (taking turns to chase), role reversal and self-handicapping (the larger dog usually self-handicaps) to enable a more equal playing field. For example, a Rottweiler will play with a Jack Russell Terrier while lying down rather than standing up to ensure that the Jack Russell Terrier is not overpowered.
Types of play
When we look at types of play, these can include same-species play (the dog plays with another dog), different-species play (the dog plays with a cat or person), locomotory play (zoomies) and, lastly, object play with toys. It is important to note that not all dogs love to play with other dogs (or other species), and this is influenced by a few factors, but this is a topic for another day.
I recall a client asking me to come and help them with a dog who was digging up their yard and they were at a loss as to why the dog could be doing this. The owner reassured me that the dog couldn’t be bored because he had a lot of toys and, as we walked into the yard, he pointed at the almost 30 tennis balls lying around and said: “See!” This would be the equivalent of saying a child does not need any more toys because he/she already has 30 puzzles, but they are all exactly the same. There is no fun in building the same puzzle 30 times over, and the same 30 tennis balls just lying there are also no fun at all!
Toy categories
This brings me to my next statement – that there are different categories of toys.
1. Puzzles and interactive toys
Function: Mental stimulation, problem solving, slow feeding, reducing boredom.
Examples: Treat-dispensing toys, puzzles, snuffle mats/balls.
2. Chew toys
Function: Satisfy natural chewing instinct, reduce destructive behaviour, soothe teething, dental and jaw health.
Examples: Rubber chew toys, nylon bones, edible chews, puppy teething rings.
Myth: Some people believe that by providing chew toys, you will ‘teach’ the dog to chew ‘prohibited’ items. This is not true because dogs have a natural need to chew, so if you don’t provide suitable items for him to chew, the dog will go and seek out items to chew on.
3. Fetch toys
Function: Physical exercise, bonding, training recall, satisfying chasing instincts.
Examples: Balls (rubber, tennis-style, squeaky), frisbees/discs, ball launchers, stick-like toys.
Tip: If your dog is a strong swimmer, playing fetch in the pool is a much safer option, due to reduced impact on his joints.
4. Tug toys
Function: Interactive bonding, confidence-building, impulse control, physical activity.
Examples: Rope toys, rubber tug toys, double-handled tugs.
5. Plush and comfort toys
Function: Comfort, companionship, nurturing play (especially in puppies), scent retention (especially if owner-scented).
Examples: Stuffed animals, squeaky plush toys, blanket-style toys.
6. Scent toys
Function: Encourage natural sniffing and tracking behaviour, mental enrichment, confidence building.
Examples: Scented hide-and-seek toys, DIY scent boxes, hidden treat containers.
7. Enrichment toys
Function: Encourage foraging, problem solving and natural behaviours, prevent boredom.
Examples: Lick mats, treat balls, puzzle feeders, frozen food toys.
8. Training toys
Function: Reinforcement, reward, focus, motivation during training sessions.
Examples: Tug toys used as a reward.
9. Solo play toys
Function: Keep dogs entertained when alone.
Examples: Auto-moving toys, automatic ball launchers.
When we think of a puppy playing, we have a very different picture in mind to what we think of when we envisage an older dog playing. Puppies have short energy bursts and they will happily engage in physical, animated play. This might be too much energy for an older dog and they might not enjoy the sound of a squeaker anymore, or they may even not be able to hear the squeaker anymore. Keeping puppy play sessions short will ensure that the pup is physically and mentally able to engage and enjoy the session. Older dogs might appreciate less strenuous play activities.
Games like fetch include a lot of impact on the joints. Puppies have growth plates that are still developing and older dogs might experience joint pain. For this reason, this particular game is not the best option for any of these dogs.
Size matters
A lot of multi-dog households have dogs of different sizes. This brings forth a challenge, especially to keep the smaller dog/s safe, and requires management during same-species play. Management can include keeping the bigger dog on a harness and leash during play, restricting the play area and redirecting the dogs if things get out of hand. Baby gates, crates and playpens can help to provide a safe space for the smaller dog/s and can especially be used in common areas for improved safety.
Sound-sensitive dogs
Some dogs can be easily frightened by unexpected loud or high-pitched sounds, including squeaky toys, other barking dogs or human laughter. This can lead to avoidance of play altogether.
If you have a sound-sensitive dog, rather refrain from playing in a busy or noisy area like the park, where unexpected sounds can unsettle them. Rather opt for a safe, familiar area and make use of white noise in the background if your dog is comfortable with it. Men in particular tend to instinctively growl or mimic canine sounds during play – this can be disconcerting for sound-sensitive dogs. Be mindful that even playful growls made by humans can be interpreted as threatening by some dogs.
Touch-sensitive dogs
Some dogs (especially guarding breeds) can be sensitive to touch/handling and wrestling, so rough-and-tumble play might not be as enjoyable for them. Other dogs absolutely love rough-and-tumble play – let your dog’s body language guide you as to whether he is thoroughly enjoying himself or desperately trying to escape the John Cena grip.
Shelter/rescue dogs
If a puppy did not experience the opportunity to learn how to play, this becomes increasingly more difficult when they are older. Play might be confusing to them – they might not understand the ‘rules of the game’, feel easily overwhelmed, lack the confidence to try or simply be too scared to play, due to previous traumatic events. Rescue dogs need to feel safe for a period of time before they might engage in some form of play. Keep it simple with no pressure and try to use food-based games at first. Licking mats, snuffle mats and level-one treat dispensing toys might be the best starting point.
“Play is not a luxury; it’s a biological necessity.” – Jaak Panksepp, neuroscientist and pioneer in the study of animal emotions
By: Monique de Jager, Owner, Jurassic Bark Dog School
