Animal Writings

Enjoy this Video of a dog and sheep playing together.

Many dynamics occur in play:

• Two-way communications. Each participant conveys his or her intentions to the other, and also reads the others' intentions.


• Civility. Although play can sometimes get out of hand, most of the time each party "plays by the rules." Claws are retracted, bites are superficial, swats and head-butts are toned down. It is not a stretch to say that each player respects the interests of the other.


• Creativity. Animals at play try different techniques to spice up the game or outsmart their opponent.


• Awareness of self and other. The interplay and real-time adjustments made by each participant, as well as styles that evolve over time with various playmates, reflect that the participants recognize individuals, the individuals' preferences and limitations, and what can and should not be done with those individuals. Granted, this knowledge is not always perfect; accidents and "foul play" happen. But those imperfections are certainly not unique to nonhumans.


• Joy and fun. Just watch—it's infectious.

There's a lot going on in play. How marvelous that individuals from different species can understand each other enough to get enjoyment from joint playing. What a wonderful way of communicating. Can we ever say we truly know individual animals if we have never engaged in play with them?

Labels: interspecies friendship, play