Playing rough

[Workingspaniel]

Hiya guys,
                I've been having a slightly embarrasing problem with my Bella, which makes me feel like I'm one of those bad owners with aggressive dogs. When I take Bella up onto the Common she's really keen to go and play with all of her fellow doggy pals, however recently she's started to play really rough. The bigger dogs can cope with her boisterous behaviour, however any of the new puppies or dogs which are the same size or smaller than Bella simply get pounded into the turf!!! She slams into them at high speed and then proceeds to hurdle them. She also barks and growls at the dogs she's playing rough with.
I don't know whether this is behaviour that she's learnt from her fellow dog friends, she's clearly not afraid or scared by any of the other dogs on the common because she always goes zipping off to meet her buddies with her tail waggin and head held high.

Obviously my little boisterous dog can seem a bit scary for new puppy owners and people who haven't met my Bella before. I'm just fed up with having to call her away from playing with her mates because she's made the playtime turn into a bit too much of a rough and tumble and the owners of the other dogs are getting a bit anxious obviously. She's very obedient and will always come to recall and will never stray too far from me and is fantastic at retrieving etc..... She's been walked on the Common ever since she was a pup and has played with practically every shape and size of dog on the planet so she is well socialised with dogs.

I really would love any advice on how to make her play in a slightly more controlled manner with other dogs, because at the moment most of the pups on the common consider her a bit of a bully!! Maybe she likes being the centre of attention and is jealous of new pups? I don't know.... I just need some help to curb her enthusiasm for rough play!!!

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Best wishes Mary

PS: she's walked twice a day, once in the morning for an hour and once in the afternoon for 1 and a half to 2 hours. Both times off lead.

[Mollycuddles]

Hi Mary

My Molly is very much the same, she hurtles herself at my Rottie even jumps clean over her and when I call them back to me (she's always first back as she is faster) she lays down and when our poor Rottie gets closer she runs straight into her with such force, she's even jumps on her back and has a piggy back .....

Thankfully I don't meet any other dogs when I go down the fields on our daily walks and when we've gone to the beach and other places and met dogs she doesn't do this to them.... she uses all her energy bouncing off our poor long suffering Tessa .....she only does this on the first 10 mins of our walks though....
no matter how much excercise she has .....

Sorry am unable to help but my girl is a bit rough too!!

[Annette]

How old is Bella?

Buddy has been a bit like this. I think he just needed to learn some doggie manners, and seems to be better now although not 100%. He is now 13 months old.

What I have done is let him play a little, but if the other dog seems overwhelmed, I call him/grab him and put him back on the lead.

I don't know whether it is that which has helped him, or just natural maturity (if you can call a 1 year old cocker mature in any sense at all ) Certainly he now seems to suss out the dogs and plays with some and not others.

To be honest, I have no idea, but just thought I'd try to post an encouraging reply!

[dreamcatcher]

Sorry no advice, but I am having the same problem at the moment!
Shiloh is 19 months so Im wondering if it is a teenage fad to be grumpy the same as human teenagers!!!!!!!!!!  He started on a golden retriever the other day that he has walked and played with every day for the past year. Just thought I would let you know your not alone.

[Spanielsmum]

I think it must be a cocker thing  My Norris is definately not phased by my springer, even though he's much smaller than him. He leaps on him and waits outside and attacks him in the garden (for a play fight I hope ) Bilbo turns around and comes back inside, I think he's a bit scared of him.

[zorgi]

Hello,

In Hungary there are a lot of agressive cocker. I don't know why.

[Mollycuddles]

Just to say we are not talking about aggression here......just rough playing......

My Molly is only 10months old and has not an ounce of aggression.... she is just sooo excited when she first goes out for her runs.....

Which I think is the same with Bella.....

[shonajoy]

Hamish used to do this a lot, but since he's got oldr, has calmd down a lot. Also, we have been clickr training him, and he sems to be generally calmr all round!

Maybe a maturity thing?

[Workingspaniel]

Hi guys,
I'm so glad that I'm not alone with having this problem! (if it is a problem   )

Bella is now 17 months old and should be getting a little more ladylike in her behaviour, but clearly she's not!!

Anyway I've been trying this thing which I worked out a couple of days ago. Basically when I take Bella for her afternoon play with the other dogs on the Common I get her to sit and stay before we reach the group of dogs. I walk over to the group and greet everyone and all the dogs before I invite Bella to join me from where I had left her sitting. I think that this just helps as a small sign to Bella that I'm still in charge even though we're out and about with all he doggy mates, and even putting the message across that they're all my mates and she,s only allowed to play with them when I invite her to.
Anyway this little routine over the past few days has seemed to calm down her play a bit because she keeps a closer eye on what I'm doing and seems to respect the other dogs a bit more    


Annette- I do exactly the same as you, as soon as the play gets too rough and Bella starts to jump around barking a bit and baiting the other dog by growling at them and then darting off I grab her and put her on the lead for a short period of time to allow her to calm down. But it just gets sooo boring having to do this, especially as I want to have a good natter with all the other dog owners.
 

Thankyou all for reassuring me that I'm not the only one with a boisterous little monster who tries to show me up everytime we're in public!! ::

Best wishes Mary

[Gilly]

Your not alone, Gracie is a complete thug   she doesn't care how big the other dog is. She's quite happy to jump on their head and then run around in mad circles. It's only going to be a matter of time before she gets told off  
She does it to her Mum, runs at a million miles an hour, jumps on her, jumps over her and then runs into her growling and then runs off   Buttons doesn't stand for it though she pins her to the floor  

[Dannyt]

To quote another member "cockers are thugs in fluffy coats"

[Laura]

Bailey used to be the same - too excited and over zealous (and still is sometimes).  He is now 21 months though and the difference in the last 3 months is amazing - think he might be growing up after all   He bothered me most with timid dogs - just never picked up on their fear and took the running and squealing as play   I think his time-out on the lead help   I have also upped his training in general to teach a bit of self control all round.