roughhousing?

dawnalina · 01-05-2007, 05:17 PM

I'm a new dog owner and my boyfriend and I are disagreeing about roughhousing with the dog. Is it okay? Or does it promote aggression? Our little bundle of joy is already a bit growly, quite full of himself, and likes to bite (not hard, but more than just mouthing, I think). We have other ways to exercise him .. lots of walks and trips to the dog park a couple of times a week. Any thoughts?

Curbside Prophet · 01-05-2007, 05:39 PM

Elsa has been know to be rowdy...It's a trait that I believe to be in her personality, and I do not discourage it, unless it does go to far. What far would be is an intentional bite with dog or human and not during puppyhood. Elsa will be 2 in March, and I trust that she has been trained well by me in bite inhibition. Any time a nip happens though, accident or not, the game is over...though it's usually an accident and my fault, but ending the game abruptly and or yelping does reinforce bite inhibition when done correctly. In fact, during puppyhood biting is encourage so you can teach what is and what is not an acceptable pressure, Have you read Dr. Ian Dunbar's article on bite inhibition? The Bite Stops Here

I should also mention that excitability can also be a concern, and may need to be discouraged.

dawnalina · 01-05-2007, 05:42 PM

Okay, I'll be sure to read that. Thanks! This is our first dog and so everything is new. We are going to obedience school, so that's probably a good idea. Lucky is 2 years old and a shelter dog. He's super energetic!

MagicToller · 01-05-2007, 06:06 PM

Rough-housing is wonderful.. among dogs themselves

The dog might begin nipping and displaying dominance and whilst you think it's cute and he's playing, he is learning not to take you seriously

cshellenberger · 01-05-2007, 06:06 PM

My rules for any such play are "Teeth touch skin, fun ends". Yes, we do roughhouse with our dogs, but they HAVE to play by the rules and ONLY with my husband and I. They are allowed to play tug and fetch with the kids, again they HAVE to follow the rules.

Ian Dunbars bite inhibition WORKS, you just have to be RUTHLESSLY consistant!

DogAdvocat · 01-05-2007, 06:56 PM

It's got to depend on the dog. Some dogs can handle it, some can't. Some may become more aggressive, some may become more fearful. There's also usually a difference between women roughhousing and men roughhousing. A man that isn't in control of his own strength is going to do major damage to a toy sized dog.

I'd say start out very slow, and at the first sign of it getting out of control, go immediately to training commands with positive reinforcement so that the play period ends with the dog being praised.

dawnalina · 01-08-2007, 04:34 PM

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Yes, I'm going to make a no-bite rule and make sure Lucky doesn't get too riled up. More trips to the dog park and let him roughhouse with the other dogs. He loves that. Yes, I want him to see me as alpha, not a litter mate! ;-)

all4thedogs · 01-08-2007, 04:42 PM

I think rough housing is fine, as long as your dog knows that YOU are the pack leader and stops when you are done. I have two dogs a Great Dane and a German Shepherd, we rough house with both. Both respect our leadership and stop when told. I do NOT allow children (even ones I know very well, like my 12yr old sister) to rough house with my dogs, my dogs are simply to big and could easily (accidently) hurt a child!