Why Do My Dogs Only Play When I’m Around? Surprising Facts!
By Jessica Kim
Updated on
Although humans and dogs have coexisted for thousands of years, canines still do things that leave us feeling puzzled. One strange behavior that many dogs exhibit is stopping their play sessions once their owners leave them.
Since dogs can’t verbally tell us why they do what they do, we can only speculate on why they engage in certain behaviors. There are a few reasons that dogs may not want to play when their owners aren’t around. The most common reason is that you encourage and make their play fun, so your dog wants to play with and around you.
The 5 Reasons Your Dog Only Plays When You’re Around
1. As Their Owner, You Encourage Play
A 2021 study revealed that dogs engaged in more play when their owners were around. The owners would often instigate playtime by praising and encouraging their dogs whenever they played. This affirmation would incentivize the dogs to play more. So, when you leave your dog’s presence, they may return to their normal state of repose because they no longer have the incentive to play.
2. Play Occurs as a Result of Your Attention
Sometimes, dogs can engage in play because they notice that it garners attention. Dogs are very observant and can pick up on subtle patterns. They may notice that their owners pay attention to them more if they start playing.
So, dogs may start playing as a means of getting attention from their humans. So, if a dog feels ignored or needs something from their unaware owners, they may engage in play to catch their eye. Once the dog successfully captures their owner’s attention, they may then exhibit another behavior, like walking over to their food bowl to ask for more food.
3. Owners Create a Safe Environment for Play
Some anxious or timid dogs may feel safer when their owners are around. They can bring a sense of safety and familiarity that the dogs need in order to feel comfortable enough to play.
If you suspect that your dog doesn’t play alone because of anxiety, you can try to create and build a greater sense of safety for them. If you’re having difficulty getting your dog to feel more comfortable playing by themselves, you can work with a dog behaviorist or trainer to come up with effective ways to help your anxious pup enjoy solo playtime.
4. Play Can Lead to Other Fun Activities
Sometimes, dogs can engage in playtime because they believe another fun activity will follow. For example, if you tend to play with your dog before going on a walk, your dog may try to play with you because they believe that a fun walk around the neighborhood will come afterward.
So, if a favorable event, like a walk or mealtime, follows a play session, your dog may engage in more play in front of you in order to bring about the next fun activity.
5. Playing With People Is More Fun
Dogs are social animals, so they just might not like playing by themselves. It’s more fun to play with others, especially their favorite humans. Playtime with owners is fun because dogs receive attention and praise, and it’s a fun way to bond.
So, if a dog starts to play in front of their owners, they may be signaling that they just want to spend more time with them.
Conclusion
There are several reasons that dogs may engage in play only when their owners are around. Usually, it’s because there’s an incentive for them to play. They may receive more attention and rewards if they play in front of people.
While this behavior isn’t explainable with complete certainty, one thing that we can know for sure is that dogs can be extremely observant. They’re masters of knowing how to get what they want, and they also enjoy spending time with their favorite people. So, playtime can be a great way for dogs to get the best of both worlds by having fun and receiving love and attention from their owners.
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Featured Image Credit: Zozz_, Pixabay
