Dog Play Styles
By Kari Meyer, ZimmVet Daycare & Hotel Manager – ZimmVet-763-856-4848
Dog Daycare is a relatively new concept in the world of pet care that offers so many benefits to your furry family members! The opportunity to socialize, exercise, and get interaction throughout the day is vital to all dogs, though each dog socializes, exercises, and interacts in a unique way. We see several different play styles in the 400 plus dogs that are enrolled in our Dog Daycare and Pet Hotel programs here at ZimmVet and we love to watch how each dog develops his own play style over time.
Here, Kitty Kitty
Some dogs have a cat-like play style. Ironic, right? We describe the movement as cat-like because of the daintiness of it. Similar to how a cat bats at a toy, some dogs will use their paw to bat at each other. The movement is quick and inefficient, while the dog’s body language is loose and relaxed. This play style is often seen in small breed dogs or puppies who prefer a daintier style of play as opposed to rough and tumble play.
Catch Me If You Can
Ever seen a dog get the “zoom-ies”? Chasers are dogs who, you guessed it, love to chase and be chased. There is no greater fun for these dogs than running around our huge outdoor play yards. They will run all day long! Chasing is a natural play style for dogs and can be very fun when it is a small group of 3 or less and the dogs are giving each other plenty of space and moving around our playground obstacles.
Rough and Tumble
Labradors are one breed that is known for having a rough and tumble play style as some labs forget just how big they are! These are the football players of the play group and, just like football, it’s a fun game as long as the rules are followed. These dogs thrive on physical contact weather it be snuggling up on the couch with their owner or wrestling with their best friend in daycare.
The Co-Exister
Highly active off-leash play is not all that appealing to some dogs, just like extreme sports are not all that appealing to some people. We describe these dogs as co-existers. All those young whipper snappers with all of their energy can be overwhelming for co-existers, who are often senior dogs or dogs with physical limitations such as arthritis or difficulty seeing. They are relatively indifferent to other dogs and don’t engage in a lot of “play”. They would rather explore the yard and enjoy the sunshine, still taking advantage of the exercise and socialization, but the atmosphere more like a nature hike than bungee jumping.
People Dogs
Have you ever heard a person say that they prefer the company of dogs over the company of other people? Maybe you are one of those people. It’s not such a stretch to believe that some dogs prefer the company of people over other dogs. In fact, several of our guests here at ZimmVet prefer to spend one-on-one time with our staff because they are more relaxed and comfortable that way.
All of these play styles are fun and engaging and they also have the potential to become inappropriate at any moment. A fun and happy “Chase” can turn into a hunt, a good-natured “Rough and Tumble” can turn into body slamming, and “cat-like” batting can turn into pouncing. At ZimmVet, our staff are trained to make balanced play groups that allows your dog to play and interact with his friends by facilitating stimulating activities and environmental engagement. The small and personalized groups are monitored 100% of the time and staff are observing every interaction, and ensuring that any signs of fear, stress, or anxiety are redirected using positive reinforcements techniques.
Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.
