Rules of Play: WWF Smackdown, dog style!

What dog doesn't love to play? Many humans like the idea of dog parks, and take their dogs there. The idea is that we can run off leash (free at last!) and wrestle and play to our heart's content! However, many silly humans really don't know anything about how dogs play, and they get worried and think that we are fighting when we are really just playing. They let their dog loose, and the minute their dog starts wrestling with another dog, the silly human screams "MY BABY! IT'S KILLING MY BABY!", grab their dog, call the other dog "aggressive", and flee from the dog park never to return. If this describes your human, print this out (hit Ctrl and the P button on the keyboard) and leave it on your human's bed or kitchen table. I will explain how dogs play so that your human will figure it out and take you back to the dog park, where you can run free off of the leash of oppression! The Play Bow - the play bow is the universal doggie symbol for "Let's Play!" Basically, the dog smacks his front paws on the ground and his head is near the ground, while his butt sticks straight up in the air and his tail wags. Below, my buddy Cody demonstrates the play bow as he pins Storm to the ground. Cody's front legs are almost completely flat against the ground, his head is near the ground, and his butt is right up in the air. His tail is even wagging - that's a happy playful dog! Naya (the pretty white Husky...I think she likes me!) Maxx and I stand and watch, we know it's all play and that we don't have to worry about Storm getting hurt.
In the October 6th, 2004 article called "Fair Play" on Science News for Kids, Emily Sohn writes:

A behavior called "play bow," for one, seems to be especially important. When a dog crouches on the ground with its rear end in the air, it's saying, "I want to play with you," Bekoff says. His research shows that wolves, coyotes, and dogs use play bows directly before or after behaviors that could be taken the wrong way. If one animal gives another a particularly hard or aggressive bite, for example, the two normally part ways. If the biter uses a bow, though, either as a warning or as an apology, play immediately continues.

Humans (I know you read this) keep this in mind! When you see us do that, it means we're going to play and we both understand that! Here are some more examples of dog body language with great illustrations and photos. So read up on dog body language and play, and off to the dog park with you!