This question has been really biting at me...

I would say supervision is a must in almost all situations.

If it is a pet than is it going to be different than if it is a "working dog" ? How long would you let your dog "play" with another? I have seen here on leerburg that "you want to be your dogs universe" so does this mean you don't let them play with other dogs ever or if you do how long? I know that I have really limited Zuki's play with other dogs and she has been way more focused on me than the other dogs I had and seems not to care to much for other dogs company in play. Is this because she was never allowed to play or just because she is that type of dog?

BTW thanks for all the responses on the last thread Sometimes I don't post for a while because I don't have access to the internet for long but I read ever post so please don't stop posting!

I would think it would be different for a working dog than a pet. To me, for a pet, it would depend on the individual dogs whether or not to permit play and for how long.

Is Zuki your only dog?

I have 4 and they all do have play time together. They also have time together with my aunt's two dogs as we travel together all summer.

I definitely think there is the possibility of them becoming to attached to each other instead of me...I counter this by doing obedience training with them while they are all in a group.

I do not let my dogs play with any others besides my own or my aunt's.

I do not think a dog NEEDS another dog to play with.

I really think it all depends on knowing your dog and of course the other dog that may be considered for play.

I have two dogs that are my pets, and we have some neighbors who have two labs that get along perfectly with my two.
They have been allowed to play together, supervised of course, but there were no problems at all, they all got along great.

We met their dogs on our walks and the dogs were introduced several times. No signs of aggression, or dominance etc.

I think this is crucial for play. If there are any signs of those things, then I would not allow it.

I do agree though, it is not a necessity for a dog to play with another, but if you know this dog well and their owners, and the dogs energy is right, it can be a fun experience for them.

I have had dogs that enjoy playing and dogs that don't. My current dog loves to play with some other dogs.

For dogs that enjoy interacting I'm super careful about who they interact with, but I will allow it. My current dog loves other dogs, and it has simplified my life immensely. It means off-leash hikes in the woods with my sister's dogs, barbecues with the family dogs at the lake, it means my dog can go on vacation with me to my Mom's and get on well with her dog. I love it, but my dog is also super attentive to me. My family jokes that he has no autonomy But his good behaviour and ability to get on well with others has meant a great deal of freedom for both of us, and I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it immensely.

This is the same dog that was dog-reactive a couple of years ago. I found that the more he was able to have good, fun experiences with other safe, stable dogs, the better his dog skills were. This was one small part of helping him move past his reactivity (in addition to many other things). This isn't always the case at all, but it helped him.

I think whether or not 'dog play' is allowed depends a lot on the dog and the circumstance, but should always be undertaken carefully and under supervision.