Hi...we lost our oldest Lab just before Christmas. He was 16. When he was 5 we got another Lab pup. At first the old one was scared of the pup but eventually tolerated him! The pup soon became top dog and the older one would readily go into submission belly up. They would tussle like this but never hurt each other. Thhe young one grew to adore the old one and followed him, lay with him etc. When the old dog died he was lost. Now that pup is the old dog of 11 but typical Lab and thinks he's a pup. We have just got a new pup. He's 11 weeks old and we've had him from 8 weeks. He is now completely clean during the day but sometimes he has wet his bed when he wakes. I have been training recall and he's brilliant. Our worry is that the puppy fights get very full on and the older dog doesn't hurt the pup even though he goes at him with open mouth but the pub keeps biting into the old one's lips. The old one doesn't seem to mind and tails wag. Should we just leave them to it or intervene? we do break it up if we think it's time the older dog had a break and let him into another room. Your article on Lab puppy biting is brilliant and I have 2 of your other books Pippa.
Play fighting can appear very ferocious particular with open mouths. Older dogs are often very tolerant of puppy play even though it would the pup good to be told off! It does sound as if you're old boy may be very tolerant if the puppy is biting his lips and he's not responding - tail wags don't just mean your dog is happy, they wag during many emotional states. Keep interrupting the play as you have so the older dog gets some peace but also mix it up as to which dog is removed from the room, sometime pup, sometimes older dog
It does sound like perfectly normal play. My two adults were not at all tolerant of my puppy at first, but now they play with her a lot. And, just as you described, it's open mouths, biting of the faces, hanging off lips etc. My boy, Shadow, makes whale noises when he plays with her and my adult girl, Willow, makes ferocious snarling sounds. I break it up for my own sanity rather than theirs - Willow will set her own time limit, but Shadow would play all day with her. My adult dogs are only two and a half years old, so not "seniors" by any stretch of the imagination. I'd say, you know your dog best to read his body language about whether he's happy or being pestered.
As said above, it does sound like very normal play. Yes, continue to split them up periodically and ensure they are both able to get down time.
Oh yes, it all sounds crazy, but it is play. Here is an example of how it starts - lots of mouth biting! But this is the gentle version, now that Mollie is six months old it's growly, snappy and barky - but all still play. You can tell that by the play bows and friendly wags. Here is a livelier version.
I intervene when I need a break from it or I think Tatze has had enough. Tatze also has her own chair which she goes to when she's had enough - the pups soon learn that they are not allowed near Tatze on her chair (taught by me - not Tatze, she lets the pups do anything!) ...
All normal play - it looks rough but watch very closely and they arent really connecting or when they do they arent biting all that hard. There are times we tred and stuck a hand in and the puppy had very little pressure behind grabbing folds of skin. The older dogs will tell the puppy when they've had enough eventually and puppies will listen.
I have a year and a half lab, had him since he was 8 weeks. He is amazing, he doesn't bite which we have a very active house with 9 nieces and nephews, ranging from 2-13. My sister got a white Labrador pup around 2 months ago which we now have him. They got on ok as they saw each other pretty much every week. However Buzz who is the pup bites buddy's neck. We let them play like the videos above but then we noticed blood on Buzzs back. Could not see where it came from. We break it up to give buddy a break. We then saw a cut on buddy's neck which looked sore and he is my first dog so took him to the vets. They said he's cut the skin but not deep so to watch it. Also gave him antibiotics and a steroid injection for itching. I came home today and it looked worse. Turns out Buzz bit him again My dad is home during the day and I'm home in the evening as working patterns. I feel so guilty. It's looks so sore. I know Buzz is only 4 months so he needs training. I just fear now every time Buzz goes near him. Buddy growls and Buzz lays on his back but Buzz bits and hangs onto his neck which is when we stop it and but Buzz under the stairs. We put a gate on it and it is where buddy used to go. Bed in there, lots of blankets, has a light and window also. Cosy. Buddy though just lets Buzz take things off him. Growls but thinks he knows it's just easier to give it to Buzz rather than argue. Any tips please as to how I can get Buzz to not bite so hard on buddy.
