We call it the Morning Tussle. Fate and Gus go at it right after breakfast, and Maria and I are both surprised and touched by Fate’s gentleness towards Gus, who weights just a few pounds. Gus doesn’t seem to know he is small, and he and Fate play with trust and affection.

To look at it, one might thing Gus must inevitably get eaten or maimed. Play is very important to puppies, it socializes them, builds their confidence, and teaches them the diplomatic and instinctive skills they may need to deal with other dogs.

Fate signals Gus in a number of ways – tail, ears, posture – that this is play,  and Gus routinely sticks her head in Fate’s mouth without fear. Gus learns the boundaries of play, if he tries this stuff with Red, he is silence with a brief roar.

Fate seems to have no limits on play, she lets Gus do whatever he wants, including climb  up onto her head, something she would not tolerate in any other dog. So this is good for both of them.

There is something in almost all dog lovers that just loves to see their dogs play. But in a month or so, I’ll begin to discourage too much of this. In adult dogs, play is not about play in the human sense, it is most often about learning how to hunt and kill. Play gets all dogs aroused, but puppies need to be aroused to deal with the world.

This is a classic example of a behavior that needs to be controlled, and not simply encouraged. It is good for Gus now, but might not be so good for Gus in one year.

Most adult dogs need to learn how to be calm, not excited or aroused. But for now, this is good for both of them. Gus is learning how to be a dog, Fate is learning how to be less intense. Instead of lying by the gate for hours waiting for her work, she can romp around the yard instead.

I see that this playing has erased what little timidity and caution Gus had around the other dogs. He is already King Of The Hill.