Puppy Play Groups

10 Tips for Supervising

 Group Playtime for Puppies

 There are many benefits from letting young puppies play together, however  it is important to closely supervise activities to make sure it is a safe, positive experience! For those of us not enrolling in a semi - formal play group or puppy kindergarten class, the same tips can apply when taking your puppy to the park, neighbor's , or even in the backyard to play. 

1. Any time you don't feel comfortable with the way dogs are playing together, or the behavior of another owner interacting with the group of puppies, remove your puppy from the group. 
2. Carefully watch your puppy with the other dogs. This isn't a good time to catch up on your reading or update your FB status --- your puppy needs you to watch out for them and you both should be having fun with the other puppies and owners 
3. Keep the sessions short, young puppies can become overstimulated or tired and a fun game can turn into an overwhelming experience
4. If you see any signs of the activity not being a positive experience for your puppy (watch it's body language -- is it trembling, trying to hide, being overly submissive ?) take a break
5. Watch for canine bullies and have a group agreement that a puppy that is dominating or intimidating the others be removed or held by its owner for part of the session
6. Be aware of your options --- would a smaller group or a small dogs only group or other solution be a more ideal match for your puppy ? What is your puppy's specific needs and maturity level? 
7. Don't push a pup that is shy into the "action", as long as they are not showing signs of fear, it is ok to let them watch and decide on their own when they are ready to jump in
8. Practice calling your puppy out of the group and reward her for coming with a favorite bite-size treat
9. Do not feed your puppy shortly before play group and make sure it has had time "to go" in a familiar spot before group.
10. Plan a calm down activity such as a short walk and allow your puppy to rest when you return home