Puppies will sometimes get overexcited and play too hard. With few exceptions, they will quickly learn to play gently when they are consistently reprimanded and are not played with for a while after being too rough. Dogs also solicit play by staring and then crouching as though ready to attack, or by staring around from behind objects like a sofa or door, and then quickly hiding. With my own three dogs, I will sometimes make eye contact and then pretend to be a threatening monster, and they love it most any time. Most dogs, but not all, love to chase a ball, frisbee, or stick and to return it to be thrown again and again.
Some dogs also enjoy a tug of war with an old towel or rubber pull-toy.
Play is enjoyable and a physically and mentally beneficial activity that helps establish and maintain a strong social and emotional bond between participants. People who play with their pets will have happy and alert animal companions from their infancy into old age. Our animal companions also enjoy play with each other, which is also fun to watch. Those who play together stay together. Dr. Michael W. Fox , born in England, obtained his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, and moved to the US in 1962, subsequently earning his PhD and Doctor of Science.