Puppy Play: How to Tell Good Play From Play That’s Gone Too Far

Good puppy play can look surprisingly rough. There can be growling, chasing, wrestling, open mouths, teeth and an impressive amount of ridiculous noise. The question isn’t really whether the play looks rough — it’s whether both dogs are still choosing to participate.

As a dog trainer, the things I watch for are loose bodies, pauses, role reversals, self-handicapping and whether each dog listens when the other asks for space. Healthy play should be mutual. If one puppy is constantly chasing, pinning or overwhelming the other while the second is trying to leave, hide, freeze or repeatedly disengage, that’s when I’d step in.

Below I’ll show you what good puppy play actually looks like, the warning signs that play is becoming too much, and when you should interrupt. I’ve also included a real play session between Indie and Shelby so you can see how incredibly fast these little conversations happen.

Quick Check: Is My Puppy Playing Normally?

Usually healthy play	Time to pause or step in
Loose, bouncy bodies	Stiffness or prolonged freezing
Dogs swap who’s chasing or on top	One dog is constantly pursuing or pinning
Natural pauses and breaks	One dog tries to stop and isn’t allowed to
Both dogs repeatedly re-engage	Hiding, escaping or repeatedly seeking a human
Bigger/stronger dog adjusts their play	Size or intensity difference is overwhelming one dog
Signals are noticed and respected	Warnings are repeatedly ignored

Don’t judge a play session by one growl, one air snap or one dramatic-looking moment. Watch the conversation between the dogs and what happens immediately afterwards.

Is Play Important For Puppies?

Yes! Massively! 

Play is how puppies learn so much about their body, about how they move, about how other puppies and dogs move, or even how you, their wonderful human moves! It helps them develop muscle structure and helps them be the social animal they were born to be.

This is why meeting other dogs and other people is an important part of socialisation (but it isn’t all of it!), just remember we’re looking for quality exposures, not quantity of exposures to wonderful friendly dogs who are polite and mannerful.

Remember, we’re looking for quality exposures, not quantity of exposures

Ali Smith

What About Playing In Dog Parks?

Dog parks are a little hit and miss, it depends on when you go, why you go and the quality of the other owners within the park. Because, what you will learn as puppy grows, there is a lot of misconception about how to raise a puppy, there are a lot of opinions and not all are … well… correct? They may work but it’s often exposing unnecessary risks etc — but that’s another blog post! 

I would preach caution because unless you’re a body language expert across the last count of akc recognised breeds (197 at this current stage), and a range of designer cross breeds, and then pure mutts in between… Then it can be a super messy place. 

Remember, dog’s (especially puppies) often don’t understand how to mediate themselves – let alone eachother. This makes it very tough to get a positive experience out of Dog Parks.

What About Puppy Play Dates?

A much better idea. One on one? There’s a lot to be learnt, a whole host of fun to be had, and only one other person and dog to monitor. 

This way you can easily monitor the interaction between your puppy and the other friend! You can also make these play dates bigger by arranging a few puppies to come along! Remember to think about dog shapes and sizes for your puppy’s socialisation benefits. 

My Puppy Growled, Is This Still Play?

Quite possibly. Growling is communication, and plenty of puppies are gloriously noisy when they play. I wouldn’t decide whether a growl is “good” or “bad” from the sound alone — look at the whole dog and the interaction around it. A loose, bouncy puppy who growls and keeps offering play is very different from a stiff puppy trying to create distance.

If this is the bit worrying you, I have a separate guide on why puppies growl during play that goes into it in much more detail.

Why Does My Puppy Growl When Playing?

Basically? Because your puppy is into it. They’re really enjoying their play and you’re managing to engage so many of their natural patterns that they’re grumbling! That’s a real win in my books! I love getting to this stage with any dog or puppy, it really makes me smile.

Why Does My Puppy Bite When Playing?

It’s because you’re fun, unfortunately! 

It can be tackled, it can be something you stop (and you should!). I find the best thing you can do is to redirect to a toy? Because if they want to play, you need to engage that play drive. Play is massively reinforcing for your puppy and for you! One of the best things you can do with your dog is to play with them. It’s awesome for your bond together too! 

If play keeps turning into teeth on human skin, that’s slightly different from judging dog-to-dog play. Start with my guide to when puppies stop biting and what actually helps.

What Should I Play With My Puppy?

There are some great staples like tug, fetch, hide and seek, tag (trust me it works rather well!) that work well between human and puppy, make sure to play to puppy’s level not yours. And let your puppy win often, and celebrate it with them – it certainly won’t make them bad tempered or aggressive, it’ll actually just give them a little more confidence.

What Should I Do when Play Goes Too Far?

I’ll break this down into human and dogs so that you know how to approach each situation.

To Humans

At this point, calmly create some space rather than reprimanding your puppy. If play has become increasingly frantic, bitey and impossible to interrupt, I’d also ask whether they’re simply running out of regulation. A toilet break, a chew, some quieter sniffing or a nap may be far more useful than trying to train through an exhausted puppy. My guide to overtired puppies is worth reading if this happens repeatedly later in the day.

To Dogs & Puppies

Try and remove puppy from the other dog or dogs, and give puppy a little break. It’s important here to consider that puppy is probably over stimulated, and shouldn’t be reprimanded for that. It’s natural for puppy to find other dogs exciting! You remember how it was when you played with the older kids? It’s very much the same for our pups, sometimes they need you to show them their limits.

What Is Good Play Between Dogs?

Any doggy professional will tell you that sometimes this line is a very fine line, and it doesn’t take much for any party involved to take it too far or accidentally hurt the other. Which is why there are certain signs that dogs give to one another that give the ‘go ahead buddy’ and the ‘hold up, enough’ signals.

The video here is an example of two large dogs who are playing politely – slightly different to your puppy but they should give you a good insight into the process that translates. I want to use it as an example to show you a few really key factors in the play habits domestic dogs show. I’ve slowed the video down a smidge so you can see things a little clearer.

Indie is the male grey shepherd type dog, and weighs about 40kg (90lbs) and Shelby is the red hound and weighs a good bit less at around 32kg (75lbs). There’s a solid difference in their weight and builds despite being similar in height.

A Guide To Body Language Within Puppy Play

Body language is something I try and avoid talking about – because it’s really difficult to do, because a still image could look like aggression when it’s actually playing or vice versa. So, I decided video was best! Let’s hit a few key aspects of this video for you so you can apply them yourself.

Vulnerability & Trust

Indie starts on his back and this is a very intentional thing on his part. Indie loves to play, and he’s very social and roughhousing is one of his favourites. Shelby takes a little more warming up or convincing (typical boy girl relationship, huh?) – so his laying on his back is a real “C’mon, come get me, I’m all weak and a super easy target right now!” which when coupled with some pawing gives Shelby the opportunity to begin the play with comfort. He trusts that she isn’t going to get him in a way he’s not comfortable.

There’s a continued exchange of who’s leading the play

At different stages in this video, who is leading the play changed. By ‘leading’ I mean the dog that’s doing what would be the ‘offense’ if it were a football game. At some points Indie leads, and others where Shelby leads.

This is really important to see because it gives each dog the chance to be in the ‘it’ (ever play that game when you were younger?) – this demonstrates that neither dog is trying to control the exchange or become overbearing to the other. Think of it like any sport of two sides! You’d almost always be closer to saying “Good game” if one side didn’t annihilate the other. The same goes with canine play! 

Indie hampers himself

This means that there is a definite natural ‘hampering’ you can see going on here – you can see Shelby, several times put both paws on Indie’s back, but Indie knows he is headier than his sister and won’t do the same – occasionally one paw, but not for long. This shows that Indie wants to make the match as fair as possible, that he wants it to continue and that he knows Shelby can’t match him if he were to go at her as heavy as he can (because trust me! He can!). He’s making the game fair. This is really much more apparent when there’s a puppy involved, or a much smaller dog? But hopefully this gives you an idea.

When Indie Licks his Lips Shelby Backs Off 

When Shelby freezes Indie gives a break in Play

Shelby freezes at various points during this video, they’re very subtle – but more visible with this slow down of the action. A freeze in motion is a sign of appeasement, which is Shelby’s way of saying she’s had enough of this for a bit, Indie recognises this and tags her back in so she can get him now by offering the non-toothy end of himself (The butt is always friendly unless it’s gassy…). This means that Shelby is willing to play again.

There are no real tail wags 

No intention to harm 

Even when teeth meet skin, ears, or legs, it’s more of a “got your leg!” than a “CHOMP”. This sort of easy, non-threatening manner is a really easy way to see that neither dog means harm in this instance. 

When play gets too much and Shelby ‘shakes off’ Indie realises a moment too late, tries to play and then realises she’s stopped.

Indie’s gone over Shelby’s boundary at around 3.20? She gives an air snap in the space between them and you see Indie back off. He’s listened to the fact she’s not comfortable, and Shelby was given the chance here to take the lead in the play. Indie gave her a quick moment, and she then shakes off.

A shake off is a universal indicator to dogs that ‘play stops now’. It’s a way that they literally “shake off” an emotion. But you’ll notice indie doesn’t actually listen initially and goes in to play again. Now, I’m not sure why Indie didn’t listen, but Shelby conveys it again, assumedly by eye contact and by freezing up a little, and Indie takes the hint. At 3.35 you’ll see Indie lick at the sides of Shelby’s mouth – an appeasement gesture in return, and then he shakes off too. And play ceased.

Body language is floppy (as well as half of the ears!)

Despite there being moments where either dog has the other’s whole head in his or her mouth, or a whole limb, notice the bounciness? There is a lack of rigidity in these little tussles.

There’s a lot of “You bite my neck? I’ll whip you with my butt” which means that neither dog is uncomfortable for very long. They’re de-escalating their own issues (with appeasement and listening to one another’s concerns) and they’re really communicating clearly with one another.

At the end, they part and no one is angry! 

Both dogs have understood the game is over! This can be tough to understand for younger dogs, or dogs who haven’t had quite so much socialisation – if needed, this is definitely a time for guardians to step in and separate – even for a couple of minutes until one initiates play in another acceptable, light-hearted way.

So what can you learn from this? That it’s a really good idea for you to know a little bit about your dog’s body language, and about other dogs too. Knowing and understanding signs of appeasement is a great foundation for any parent, guardian or owner (no matter what you wish to be named!). This is one real-life exchange, and you can see how many subtle signs there are within that.

In real time? That was about 2 minutes and 30 seconds of play. Not much! But it’s definitely enough to show some very important skills are present in both dogs.

Become A Pro At Your Pup’s Body Language

I love this book, honestly, it’s one of the cutest little books in our industry (in my opinion) and yet, still one of the most informative.

This book is a pictorial dictionary of canine body language, and just gives the reader a whole new way to look at their dog, and other dogs. To me? It’s a wonderful way to get the insight you need into what your puppy is trying to tell you.

I hope that helps give a little insight into Well Mannered Play for dogs! And if you’re still struggling? Reach out to me and let’s chat about it!