Playing by the Rules
The other day I managed to catch on camera Albert Claude and Cerise in a delirious moment of play. At least Cerise seemed delirious for a split second, Albert was just being Albert. It’s not easy recording Cerise at play as the moments are fleeting. But when she does play it’s magical to witness.

Renae was Albert’s teacher and playmate. She had rules, firm ones and took an organisers approach to playing. From the youngest age she loved enforcing her rules. I believe the happy days she spent in doggy day care when she was a young, developing dog helped shape this. There she gained confidence in first learning and then displaying masterful body language which led to her liberally dishing out Renae’s Rules of play!
Renae was a natural game player with all dogs; friends, family and strangers alike all undertstood how to play by Renae’s rules. On the odd occasion when a dog went rogue with her rule book, the game was swiftly over. One way or another, Renae kept matters in order. She was clear in her game mastery and dogs got it.

When he arrived as an impressionable six month old puppy, Albert was quick to pick up the ‘Ways of Renae’; mostly he never got too carried away. If he did, Renae took him down off the ceiling and had a firm word before play resumed. Cerise can’t take too much rough play, she reverts quickly to worrying. Nowadays I see how important those lessons from Renae were as he plays to Cerise’s sensitive nature with a respect I admire.

Angel scarcely plays. There’ll be rare moments in the house when a bit of growly play might start before she runs under the table to get away from her annoying brother. Playing isn’t her thing and never, ever on walks.
When Albert can’t get Cerise to play mid-walk, he turns to me, leaping up alongside, behind, in front. But I’m a boring human who doesn’t do lively, nor sharp nipping teeth. I know I disappoint him all the time. To see Cerise satisfying his gaming is hugely pleasing, plus a relief that he hasn’t completely lost his opportunity for sibling play.
Dogs are one of the few animals who continue to play well out of their youth, through into middle age and during their senior years. They adapt to aging and play more gently, but play they still do. Renae’s willingness to play was present until almost her last day, even though her body wasn’t up to it.
Dogs in breeding kennels, aka puppy farms, are deprived of play. That Cerise, and Angel have little awareness of the fun that play represents is an indication of the deprivation of their years in the breeding industry.
The breeding industry robs dogs of so much. Thank goodness Albert Claude got out young.
