Is the play actually working for both dogs?
Play is natural, normal, and genuinely good for a social dog. But not all play is equal — and it's not always easy to tell the difference.
When dogs play, they're doing fun versions of real-life actions — play fighting, play hunting, chasing, mounting, body slamming, growling. It can look intense. It's supposed to.
Easy to read
Bouncy and loose
Taking turns
Self-interrupting
Obviously happy
Harder to read
Stiffer body language
Growly or intense
Less obvious feedback signals
Harder to read play can look alarming — even to professionals. Sometimes it's completely fine. Sometimes there's a bully in the mix who needs redirecting. Sometimes a dog has genuine play skill deficits — they don't read the other dog's feedback, they can't regulate their own arousal — and that needs addressing before someone gets hurt.
The difference matters. And it's not always obvious.
Emily has spent her career watching dogs play.
She used structured playgroups throughout her shelter work to improve welfare, regularly mixed dogs with no shared history, and developed a practiced eye for what's working, what's not, and what actually needs intervention.
Send your video
An unlisted YouTube link — up to 10 minutes, uninterrupted. No staging, no setups. Just let them do what they do and hit record.
Flag your moments (optional)
Up to five timestamps with a question each. Emily will address those directly, in addition to the overall assessment.
Receive your report
A written, timestamped assessment covering consent, comfort, body language, and whether the play dynamic is working for both dogs.
Not sure if you're seeing a problem — or just being a helicopter parent? Let Emily take a look.
This assessment covers play only — it doesn't unpack broader behaviour concerns, though Emily will flag anything that warrants attention.
Dogs should be physically and mentally fit for play before filming.
If there are broader behaviour concerns, a Comprehensive Behaviour Assessment is likely the better fit.