This is my parents' 6yo Bassett hound and Jackie, my 15mo choclab. They've acted like this every evening, since I brought Jackie home saturday. I can't really tell if I should be seperating them, like I have been doing, or just let them play, if that's what they're doing. Godzilla, the Bassett, is an extremely playful dog in general, but I am afraid that he is being too rough on Jackie. Any thoughts?
I'm certainly no expert on dog but it looks to me as if they are playing nicely together and Godzilla (love the name) doesn't appear to be too rough with Jackie. If anything I got the impression that Jackie is using his height more against Godzilla to chew on his ears but that may be more to do with the angles of the video. You might want to train the dogs on a cue to stop play and settle down when asked to make sure play doesn't get out of hand.
Yeah, I think I know that I'm overreacting because Godzilla has a tendency to tip smaller dogs over, and he outweighs Jackie by about half again his weight. I let them just continue playing like this for another hour, almost, before Godzilla decided that he really needed a nap. Both of them seemed really tuckered out after that.
This is lovely gentle play. They're taking it in turns to be the bitey one, both going back for more and have very relaxed body language and facial expressions. Yes, gentle. Here's a picture of my two playing:
Must admit I only watched the first two minutes but what I saw were two dogs playing very nicely. They both pause often (very polite) and both dogs were taking turns to invite the other to play again. It really wasn't at all rough. Don't worry about one dog grabbing the throat of the other - in this instance it was obviously just part of the game. Both dogs looked happy and relaxed. You could quite comfortably let them continue this kind of play as long as they want to keep it up. Having said that it would also be a good opportunity to teach your dog to stop playing on cue for a treat. It shouldn't be too hard to get your dog's attention with a tasty treat and then call him away from the game. After he has the treat tell him he can go back to playing again.
Yeah, I just worry. The last time Godzilla got so excited playing with another dog, it turned around and bit him bloody. It didn't turn him off from playing, clearly, but it's made me rather tense when Godzilla plays with new dogs, and I don't want that kind of tension between these two.
If the other dog bit Godzilla I'd say that was the other dog's fault. In that vid they are playing in a very, very calm way. That is very quiet, gentle play. I'd say you have nothing to worry about with these two together.
I'm no expert but what I saw were two dogs having a lovely time. And getting tired in a low-impact way. Godzilla was barking to invite play in my opinion, Jackie was just lying there and Godzilla wanted him to keep going, Godzilla was not being aggressive at all. If anything, Godzilla is making himself vulnerable by rolling on his back, I didn't see him being rough on Jackie at all. Jackie, on the other hand, was not giving into Godzilla, would only lie down quite far away but not during play, to me it looked like he would not allow himself to become vulnerable. If they were hurting each other with all that biting, you'd hear a cry. I would've loved to have had a playmate for Snowie at that age like you have for Jackie, Godzilla is a lovely playmate!
I watched with the sound off but agree with the others - looked really quite gentle and well-mannered! Godzilla - love it! jac
Those two dogs seem very tame, compared to Tara, who is much more "full on" with her puppy fighting. Her latest pal is a 7 month old Doberman, Frank, who is bigger than her, and is always trying to get her collar off! Somebody reported us, the other week, as she thought we were dog fighting in the park, as they were going hammer and tongs, but it was all play, with no injuries, as they know how far to go.
People can look quite astonished at my two when they're having a mad moment outside. It doesn't happen away from home very often, but when they do, if there's anyone else around, you can see them take a step back from the scary beasts
Annie is really loud and growly, but Fred can hold his own. They have a good ding dong and then lay down together and go to sleep
That's very gentle and quiet compared to what goes on here! Twiglet is a monter for shouting at Tatze! (I will try to get a video today ) Wide open mouths is a good sign - tipping each other over is normal too. I stop play when I've had enough. When Tatze's had enough she leaps on her chair. Twiglet has never had enough! .
I just came across this thread as I'm still very new on here and always check threads for advice. They are playing very well together! Here is my 3kg Pomeranian playing with my 23.3kg Lab looks fierce but it's all just play!
This is something I really struggle with. At puppy class the pups spend some time off leash and the resulting "play" frightens me silly. Seeing and listening to the growls and mouthing coming from these pups makes me want to intervene and pop Bailey back on his leash. Especially when some of the worst growls come from your own pup! The vet nurse running the class assures us that it is only play, and if it goes to far she will stop it, which she has done only once. I know I need to relax about this but it's easier said than done!
