Tonight Sage and my cattle dog were playing in the ball field. My cattle dog plays ruff and well.... Like a cattle dog. When she gets to intense I always leash her and make her calm down. Tonight they were playing and when Mia(cattle dog) plays she will play growl and sounds mean but it's easy to tell it IS a play growl. Apparently Sage isn't used to that and Sage went right for her. I was luckily able to get them apart before any damage happened. There fine in the house together and everything but it seems I will not be able to let them play together. Sage plays fine with other dogs but they don't play growl and they are not as ruff. It just really sucks because I was hoping they would be able to play together. Sages other play mates are moving this weekend and my cattle dog has my sisters Aussie to play with. Sage loves playing with other dogs but there are no other dogs that I know of for her to play with We don't have dog parks here or anything. Obviously I will give her, her outlets but I know she really enjoys playing with other dogs.
Oh and body language was calm and relaxed and in play state. My cattle dog got into her barking zoomies, Sage got stiff and was on her. It was quick and I couldn't call her off.
Hmmm that it is a shame. But it doesn't sound like it was too bad, more a case of the two dogs misunderstanding each other. I think you are right to not allow them to rough house together right now, but hopefully as they get to know each other better they'll sort it out.
I never think it is important for dogs to play together, they can also get injuries. I have two Labs and they do not play together or with other dogs. We do walk with a couple of other dogs but they just do doggie things, hunting for mice, smelling where other dogs have been etc etc. Dogs should be happy with your company, you can keep Sage happy by playing games with her, hunting, retrieving, training, just walking together.
