Problem solving in group play

When dogs are playing, especially when they are new to a group, it is very easy for them to get overstimulated. Overexcitment and overstimulation in group play can lead to humping, defensive and bullying behaviors. These behaviors can lead to future problems like reactivity, anxiety or agression around other dogs, inappropriate play and fights. It is important to help teach dogs to bring the play energy down so they can learn how to regulate themselves and play safely with others. This is an example of how to do that when working on settling one dog into an established group with good settling skills. The other dogs help me teach Tucker how to regulate by demonstrating appropriate behaviors while I help redirect Tucker so the other dogs don't have to constantly correct him. If one of the other dogs chose to correct him in an appropriate way (quick snarl, growling, air snap, bark, nose punch, stiffening body, hard stare, etc) I would simply back up the dog correcting by nuetrally redirecting Tucker away. Teaching Tucker the appropriate response to a correction.