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Can small dogs play with large dogs? While size is a consideration, small and large dogs can safely play together. There are safety measures you should take when letting dogs of different sizes play together. If dogs have similar temperament and compatible play styles, small dogs and large dogs can sometimes make good playmates. It also depends on how well the dogs know one another, the environment, and the toys in question.
Large and small breed dogs can live together in the same home. If your dogs already get along, it’s more likely that they’ll play well together. Especially for dogs that are just getting to know each other, there are safety precautions to consider. In most cases, it’s recommended to have careful supervision over the dogs playing together.
Planning Successful Playdates
There are always risks of having big and small dogs interacting due to their size differences. Even when they’re playing, accidental injuries can happen more easily. The larger the size difference between the dogs, the greater the risk of injury. Even if the dogs get along great and play gently, accidents happen.
If you do decide to let small and large dogs play, consider the risk level. In general, vet any new playmates for your dog, regardless of size, before letting them play together. Make sure they’re vaccinated, well-trained, and that their temperament and play style match your dog. Be sure to consider each dog and closely supervise their interactions. Whether you’re meeting up with friends or looking to arrange a playdate, you want the experience to be safe and enjoyable.
The Importance of Supervision
Sometimes, small dogs are coddled or treated like they’re dolls. But size and breed differences don’t mean they don’t need the same training as larger dogs do. It’s still important to take breed differences into consideration, as well as behavioral differences that often come up for dogs of different sizes. Unfortunately, small dogs often receive less training than larger dogs. As a result, small dogs may be less comfortable and confident playing with large dogs. It’s important to be aware of these differences when setting up a safe space to play, and also help build confidence in your dog.
Supervising your dog’s interactions is important. Whether they’re meeting a new dog for the first time or seeing a dog they’ve known for years, it’s important to watch your dogs. Play should only happen when you can supervise the dogs to ensure their safety. Things can go wrong, dogs can get spooked, and outside forced can make a situation escalate quickly.
If you’re not able supervise the dogs, you should appropriately separate them. You can use dog gates or crates to separate the dogs when you’re unable to manage them in order to ensure everyone’s safety. While dogs may enjoy playing together, we want to ensure that it doesn’t get too rough and that neither dog gets injured.
Look Out for Choking Hazards
Toys are a fun part of dog play. When dogs are playing together, they might want to play with their toys too. When dogs of different sizes are playing with toys, make sure the toys are all large enough. Small toys that work for small dogs can be choking hazards for large dogs. This might mean using larger toys than the small dog might need when playing together. This ensures they’re safe for both dogs in order to prevent larger dogs from accidentally choking.
If you’re having a larger dog over for a playdate, put away any small dog toys to prevent a chance of choking.
Understanding Playtime Behaviors
Playtime is developmentally essential for dogs and something that all dogs, regardless of size, need. Play between well-socialized dogs with compatible temperaments can be a great enrichment opportunity. Make sure both dogs are friendly towards other dogs. Then, you’ll want to observe the dynamics between the dogs to ensure they’re playing well together.
Observing a dog’s body language is usually the most straightforward way to understand how they’re feeling. Be sure to watch body language closely. Signs to look out for include tense bodies, a dog trying to get away from the other dog, ears pinned back, and raised hackles. These tense body signals could indicate a dog that is becoming stressed or agitated and may lead to an escalation, including growling, snapping, or even biting.
When watching them, we want to see loose and relaxed body language. Play should also be reciprocal, meaning that if one dog is chasing, we want to see the other dogs naturally take turns and get a chance to chase, as well.
Preventing Overexcitement
If playtime starts to seem a little out of control, it’s essential to pay attention to both dogs and redirect them to take a break. While the general assumption is that the small dog might be more easily overwhelmed, either dog can get overstimulated.
It’s important to consider both dogs’ feelings. We never want to allow any bullying to occur between dogs while they’re playing. While a large dog playing too roughly or bullying could quickly lead to an injury for the smaller dog, any form of bullying in play is inappropriate. The general assumption when dogs of different sizes play is that the larger dog could bully the smaller dog, but this isn’t always the case. We want to make sure that both the large and small dogs are feeling supported and confident during playtime.
A potential conflict trigger that can quickly lead to overarousal is resource guarding around toys or food. While some dogs are fine sharing, others may try to gather up all the toys or take them away from the other dog, which could escalate into disputes or fights. For this reason, it’s often best to remove any high-value items, such as a dog’s favorite toys, before introducing dogs to each other.
When to Redirect Dogs’ Focus
When navigating play between dogs of different sizes, make sure that the dogs can refocus on you and disengage from play sessions. We want our dogs to be able to disengage from playing with each other and regain focus on us, which can help prevent them from getting over-aroused.
Interrupting play regularly to ensure that the dogs can return to you will enable you to monitor their behavior and prevent things from getting out of control. Interrupting play to encourage dogs to take breaks allows you to assess them individually and make sure both dogs are having a good time. To direct your dog’s attention to you for a check-in, you can use treats to distract them away from playtime with the other dog, with caution. For some dogs, introducing food can lead to resource guarding or trigger conflict. If one of the dogs present has a history of these behaviors, it’s best to ensure they’re fully separated from the others before anyone receives a reward.
If everyone has relaxed body language and appear happy, you can release them to play together. If one or both dogs seem tense, fearful, or stressed, this is a good signal to end playtime, before any conflict develops or the stress escalates for either dog.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.