Rough Play & when to stop it?

[Cocopop]

Hi,  i am pondering over how to handle a situation between my Coco (1 yo) and another dog that i walk four days per week (1 yo tibetan terrier) and i thought that maybe someone may be able to help, especially those with more than one dog.

The problem is that Coco and her friend have known each other since they were both six months old and always engage in rough play.  i have always kind of left them to it, recognising that it is just rough play and nothing else.  Just lately i have been more concerned that its a bit too rough as they really grap each other hard - for example they try to pull each other down by their ears etc.  I noticed a couple of weeks ago that Coco has some nicks on her face and wondered if it was done during one of their play fights.  Today when i walked them, Coco actually yelped and so i gave her a quick check over and noticed she had some sore red little cuts on her neck.

I then felt i had to calm them both down as they are 'constantly' at each other during the walk so i took it in turns to put one on the lead and kept the other from starting the play fight again. 

Do you think i should just continue to intervene when the play gets too rough (which is almost straight away) and put one on the lead?  I'm not really sure how to handle this  and wondered if anyone else had ever had to deal with this problem?

It appears to me to be very equal and neither seem to be 'the bully', they are both 'the bully'   


So sorry for the long post!  Michelle & Coco x

[supergirl]

The same goes on between my two, especially out on walks - they grab whatever they can get hold of, tails, ears etc.  I do know that they're only playing, but if I feel that its getting a bit too rough especially if we walking towards other dogs (other dogs might take it the wrong way), I'll distract them with a squeaky tennis ball - always does the trick.  Sometimes if I let it play out they usually stop on their own.  Its almost as if they get to a point where neither wants to take it any further and then they usually have a shake and carry on walking.  Only ever seems to happen when we're walking on open ground and I've stopped throwing the ball.  Never happens when we're in the woods.

[BabyB]

Henry and Katie are just the same.  They were playing so 'roughtly' my mum wanted to intervene when my parents popped round the other day.  She forgot that Morgan and Dylan (now 11) were like this when they were younger and full of more bounce 

You'll soon know if it's getting too much - Katie tends to go for a drink when she's had enough (she's a year older than Henry).

[JennyBee]

Good grief you should see Brodie and her sister

I hope you don't mind me hijacking the thread but I was minutes away from posting a similar thread . What would you do if the other dog was a retriever puppy three times your own dog's weight? This pup is Brodie's new best friend and they love playing, things got very rough which I'm not bothered about - but - after a very rough and tumble run around last night, Brodie has been very subdued today and has slept pretty much all day, it's just not like her . They get on so well but he is so strong and powerful..... What would you do

Once again, sorry for hijacking!

[joanne_v]

Welcome to my world. Half my day is spent supervising adolescent dogs playing with each other. They generally learn how far to push each other but if it gets OTT I use a sharp 'enough' command to interrupt and lead them away or call one dog to me. I dont think size is too big an issue, its more about respecting each others boundaries. The same dog will play killing games with one dog but be as gentle as mouse and puppyish wiith another. Some of the 'best friends' pairs at daycare are hilarious. One is a leonberger and a JRT x but not once in 2 years have they hurt each.

[JennyBee]

Welcome to my world. Half my day is spent supervising adolescent dogs playing with each other. They generally learn how far to push each other but if it gets OTT I use a sharp 'enough' command to interrupt and lead them away or call one dog to me. I dont think size is too big an issue, its more about respecting each others boundaries. The same dog will play killing games with one dog but be as gentle as mouse and puppyish wiith another. Some of the 'best friends' pairs at daycare are hilarious. One is a leonberger and a JRT x but not once in 2 years have they hurt each.

I would go mad if I had to put up with that every day . Unfortunately today Brodie seems to have gone a bit lame in one of her hind legs . She barely walked at all yesterday so I didn't notice it..... She has told him off several times so hopefully he'll soon learn not to be so strong, I'll keep an eye on them until then - they really are best friends

[GinnyB]

Mali often 'plays' with a year old Rhodesian Ridgeback called Ruby. Ruby is massive and can leap like a deer, she is very powerful but I always know when Mali has had enough and just clip her lead back on and Ruby runs off into the woods. The biggest problem is cleaning all the slobber off Mali's back when we get home 

[Cocopop]

Thanks for all the advice!

I think my problem is that they begin the rough fighting from the start of the walk and continue to the end with a few breathers inbetween.  So i am constantly having to seperate them as they only seem to play rough now 

I am going to keep on seperating them and hope they get the message as i really dont want either to get hurt and Coco has already got little wounds round her neck.

Hate to have to put one dog on the lead during our walks but hopefully it will be a short tem thing.

[JennyBee]

Yes Brodie's the same with Beau, from the moment they meet each other they never stop - she met him for a few minutes tonight and gave him a good telling off for going near her sore leg, but if she's ok tomorrow night she will be going a walk with him. I've decided I'm going to let them sort it out between them, otherwise Beau's never going to learn (he's only 4 month old). I will step in if things get too strong though.

I hope poor Coco's wounds heal soon

[cazza]

Cor i have got this to come again 

Fern and Braan sounded as tho they were killing each other half the time (I miss this  ) but they never hurt each other when playing like this

I like JoV used the command 'Enough' when I thought it was getting out of hand or more often than not when i was on the phone and couldn't hear myself think 

[Mudmagnets]

he he when Katie and Smudge have a 'set to' that seems to be a bit more than the usual play, I feel I should get a big bell and announce end of round 1 

Usually tho they tend to sort it out themselves, one will give a pained yelp and they will cease.....for a while.