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We love to watch dogs run after a thrown ball and then smartly bring it back for another toss.
Ball-fetching is what researchers call “object play,” and it’s one of three general types of canine play behavior.
Dogs were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago to help hunt and gather food. They were systematically bred to enhance retrieval skills. Eventually certain breeds like Labradors and Border Collies became natural “experts” at the art. Chasing a thrown ball or stick is ingrained in them.
Another type of play is called “social play.” This is an interactive kind of play like wrestling, play-fighting or chase games. Who hasn’t rolled around in the grass, wrestling with a rough-and-tumble pooch like a German Shepherd or Boxer? Funny thing, though the wrestling match can get intense, the dog seems to know it is not a real fight and just a game. (Interestingly, games like chasing one’s own tail may be a kind of social play when a dog doesn’t have a playmate.)
The third category of play is called “locomotory.” This usually is when dogs frolic together. Go to the dog park and let a pair of energetic dogs off their leashes and watch them run and jump like they’ve been cooped up for a decade!
Incidentally, cats seem to engage in these types of play. Cats pounce on a moving string (object), wrestle and play-bite (social), and run through the house in the dead of night, the so-called “Midnight Crazies” (locomotory).
There are several theories why dogs play. It could be that play builds up puppies’ survival skills. Play also makes dogs feel good and it can become a self-reinforcing behavior. Some believe dogs develop communication skills during play. The book Dog Facts: The Pet Parent’s A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia by Amy Shojai states:
“During play, puppies realize what is and what isn’t acceptable behavior, learn to inhibit their bites and discover the limitations of their bodies and the world around them…Play behavior is also an expression of emotion and seems to characterize an individual dog’s personality, and styles vary somewhat across breeds.”
Shojai cites a survey of 56 dog breeds that showed playfulness varies among breeds. High degree of playfulness: Airedale Terriers, English Springer Spaniels and Irish Setters. Low degree of playfulness: Bloodhounds, Bulldogs and Chow Chows.
Without a doubt, dogs are hardwired to play to some degree. And we humans pay up for it. The U.S. Pet Toy market was estimated at more than $668 million in 2020. The worldwide market that same year was a staggering $2.5 billion, and expected to grow to $3.7 billion by 2027, according to ResearchandMarkets.com.
But in the end, who cares about the economics of it all? Playing – especially with a four-legged friend – is just dog-gone FUN!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Sources and Links:
Why Do Dogs Like to Play Fetch? | Humane Society Naples (hsnaples.org)
Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash
