November 1, 2008
Two dogs playing very rough to the point of bleeding.?
Me and my husband recently adopted a second dog, a 9 month old husky mix, approx 30 lbs. We already have a 3 yr old 50 lb. shar-pei/lab mix. They get along GREAT except they play very rough with each other. They will slam into each other and push around, growling and bearing teeth, and chase each other around. It all seems to be playing until the smaller one grabs the larger dogs wrinkles and pulls her around with her teeth. Since Saturday she has bitten into her and caused small wounds which bleed about 4-5 times. We separate them during the day so we can observe their playing, but for example this morning, they run down the side of the house with a toy and then I hear them fighting because the larger has gotten bitten. I'm breaking them up when they get rough and giving them toys to chew on and tug on instead but they go back to rough playing when I turn my back. I really dont want to bring this new dog back to the SPCA but if I don't find a solution I won't have a choice. Help.
You have to teach them rules to play…….I keep leashes on my dogs when training, I teach a stop play command by clapping my hands loudly and saying enough! and separate them, making them go to separate corners and lay down. I do this 15 to 20 times a day, practicing.It usually takes about a month of being very consistent to get confident enough to have leashes off. I do this at all different levels of play. I never let play get too rough, no growling, play has to be respectful and the dogs have to know Im in charge all the time. If I see one dog is getting picked on or is not interested in playing , you have to step in and protect that dog and make the aggressor lay down in his corner for time out. That way they both look to you as leader and feel safe. never let play escalate it can turn into a serious fight in seconds and is dangerous to you trying to break up a fight.
Filed under Toy Shar Pei by Melissa Coleman


Comments on Two dogs playing very rough to the point of bleeding.? »
Smack their butts and tell them to knock it off or seperate them when they start doin that
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Well why not train them, to stop the agression
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It doesn't sound like playing to me, if there's blood.
You can call an obedience trainer to make a house call and assess the situation based on your dogs.
Good luck, and hang in there!
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You have to teach them rules to play…….I keep leashes on my dogs when training, I teach a stop play command by clapping my hands loudly and saying enough! and separate them, making them go to separate corners and lay down. I do this 15 to 20 times a day, practicing.It usually takes about a month of being very consistent to get confident enough to have leashes off. I do this at all different levels of play. I never let play get too rough, no growling, play has to be respectful and the dogs have to know Im in charge all the time. If I see one dog is getting picked on or is not interested in playing , you have to step in and protect that dog and make the aggressor lay down in his corner for time out. That way they both look to you as leader and feel safe. never let play escalate it can turn into a serious fight in seconds and is dangerous to you trying to break up a fight.
References :