03/11/2025
Should we interfere?
Why not just let them “go for it”?
Nothing builds confidence like a great play session with a new or trusted friend.
Nothing ruins it faster than letting it go on for too long.
Play can turn quickly for many dogs. What starts as fun can shift and morph before we even realise.
If your dog has had limited exposure to other dogs or they are a quieter or less social dog, little and often is a good rule.
Over arousal and over stimulation are easy lines to cross. When that happens, things can change fast.
Reading the other dog’s body language becomes harder, they stop taking those small pauses to assess what’s happening, and they miss the moment the vibe has shifted.
If play only ends when someone collapses from exhaustion, growls, or gets a correction from another dog, that pattern can stick.
For some dogs, that can knock confidence and cause further issues going forward.
If your dog struggles with social interactions, little and often is the key.
Short, positive, well matched play sessions build far better social confidence.
Choose their playmates wisely.
