What you need to know about play, as your dog ages…

As dogs get older, they become more selective of the dogs they interact with and less tolerant of rude or pushy or even just excitable behavior. It’s why you often hear about dogs who once “loved” daycare all of the sudden exhibiting avoidant or aggressive behavior towards other dogs, either at daycare or elsewhere. This especially happens when play is under-supervised or unregulated. 

So what do we do about this? 

It doesn’t mean you need to cut off your dog’s social life. But, it does mean that you should be more mindful and exercise caution around dogs you aren’t familiar with. 

Here’s a few tips for happy & healthy play for your pup:

1. Pick your playmates wisely! Avoid interactions with random stranger dogs that might end badly.

2. Get to know your dog’s preferences in playmates and play style.

3. Teach your dog a “take a break” command AND have a solid recall in case you need to interrupt heightened play

4. If you chose to take your dog to a public space, think BIG. Dog friendly spaces with a lot of acreage is ideal. If you are local to San Diego - Fiesta Island Dog Park is a favorite!

5. If you're not able to hire an in-home petsitter, chose a daycare/boarding facility that prioritizes quality over quantity. Make sure to ask about attendant to dog ratio and what their max capacity is.