I recently worked with a two-year old mixed-breed dog named Buddy who was kept isolated and caged since birth. Thankfully, he was recently adopted into a loving home. However, he exhibits poor social behavior towards people and other animals. This is probably to be expected based on his history of abuse. His behavior is not necessarily aggressive, but just different, as if he doesn’t know how to be a dog. In particular, he doesn’t know how to play.
So why would a dog that is isolated behave strangely when reintroduced to other animals and people? Why can’t he simply interact and play with other dogs?
Let’s take a look at this from an evolutionary point-of-view and how being able to move, in a locomotor sense, has shaped what animals are and what they can do. As for the brain, physical movement is not only healthy for it, but is believed to be what caused it to evolve in the first place.
It seems that most, if not all dogs play at just about the same age relative to brain development. This tells us that movement, in the form of play, may be important for brain growth and socialization.
The cerebellum handles physical coordination, so it makes sense that a young animal (or a young human, for that matter) spends a lot of time being active and playing during the period that the cerebellum is forming new connections.
The locomotor play period also coincides with the period when muscle fibers are turning into whether they will be fast-twitch or slow-twitch. Fast twitch fibers are good for things such as sprinting, whereas slow-twitch fibers are necessary for things akin to long-distance marathons. Animals need both!
When you look at what young animals do when they’re playing, while noting that animals do the most physical play while the cerebellum is forming connections, it will probably be discovered that play is an important way that a young animal develops its brain’s ability to guide it’s movement.
So what does all of this mean as applied to our beloved pets? Dogs, especially puppies, need to be social with people and, if possible, other dogs in a physical sense. It’s critical for proper brain development that they are active and learn how to play. This is what Buddy was missing. So play with your dog – throw a ball to her, take her for long walks, and keep her active!
Although this is a topic for another day, I can’t help but extrapolate these findings to people. I wonder whether children today are being physical enough. Physical movement is probably the basis of a huge amount of academic, social, and emotional intelligence. Kids need to get outside and play. And while they’re doing it, they should take the dog with them!