Much like a child pets have to make decisions and choices while they are young and learn from them.
Silver is doing this when it comes to other dogs. We leave dry food out in bowls in the house, she cannot go outside as she has not had all her shots yet, for that occasional snack that they would like after being fed in the morning, between 5 and 6 a.m.
Silver learned that some dogs do not like others in the dish at the same time and she was growled and snapped at. Being present during this learning process no harm came to her of the other dog.
She backed off with her ears down and scampered to a corner of the kitchen to ponder what happened.
Later on in the day she and another dog, our Aussie Shepard mix almost a year old, became closer friends. Up until this point when Silver would approach, Callie would snarl and bark and run off.
Here they started to mix it up a bit more. Silver would go over and play growl and snap and try to tug fur and she would get a glare and some teeth bared and she would lower her ears and drop to the floor in submission, which is good for her to learn and after a few seconds start the whole process over again. Until they were playing with each other.
Later on we have this mayhem breaking out almost in my lap. I have a green recliner and they decide to mix up right next to me.
Notice the position of Silver, feet up in the air and belly and chest exposed. 
She was having a ball. They played off and on for about a half hour and then it was nap time for Silver.
