More on Play
I thought you might be interested in two of the books I am using as references for my talks on play behavior. One is Animal Play: Evolutionary, Comparative and Ecological Perspectives, by Marc Bekoff and John Byers. It’s not new, (1998) but it is considered a classic in the field. Bekoff has done a lot of work on play in canids (and also on animal welfare). Byers has studied play as well, but is most well known for his lifetime of work on Pronghorn antelope (who he describes physically as “a sausage with toothpicks stuck in it for legs.”) (I might not have the quote exactly right, but it’s close!)
Another valuable book is Play and Exploration in Children and Animals by Thomas G. Power (2000). It’s comparative perspective is fascinating. Neither of these books are beach reading: they are written for academics, so don’t get them unless you are seriously interested!
I won’t be talking much about the information in the play book that I wrote with Karen London, Play Together, Stay Together, because my talk on play between people and dogs is only 45 minutes, and I want to emphasize the two problems I think are most important for professional trainers to address to their clients: clear signaling from person to dog, and preventing over arousal when dogs play.
Speaking of play, here’s a great photo by a professional photographer, Patricia Thomas, who I met at the seminar in Atlanta:
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About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
LEARN MORE FROM PATRICIA’S BOOKS & DVDs!
Patricia is known the world over for her clear and engaging books and DVDs on dog training and canine behavior problems. You can also “meet” Patricia in person on her seminar DVDs, from The Art & Science of Canine Behavior to Treating Dog-Dog Reactivity.
Thanks for the reading recommendations. The books sound a bit more serious than I can handle right now, so I will stick with your booklet on play. I’ve ordered it and can’t wait to receive it!
I think the points you plan to emphasize during your speech are key ones, especially when discussing preventing over-arousal during play. I sure wish I could be there to hear it!