Is my puppy playing with other dogs?

Cobalt · 05-05-2008, 10:23 PM

Edited to fix my title but I can't. Should say is my puppy playing appropriately with other dogs

When my 10 month old goes to the dog park she greets the other dogs and plays fine BUT if another dog starts to run Mia will chase and tackle it. She loves to run fast.

What I am wondering is if play biting of the neck and shaking of the head is ok. Mia and another dog were doing this to each other and ts alarmed the other owner and myself. Our dogs were both being playful and kept playing but it looks scary when they play so rough. At no time did either dog yelp or bark.

Mia is an alpha but has been in doggy day care since she was two months old. No problems there at all. But, they don't run full out and tackle at doggy day care.

So, is this something that I need to correct and if so, how?

Thanks

poodleholic · 05-06-2008, 04:38 AM

Sounds like typical puppy play to me. My dogs (no longer puppies) take turns running away and chasing, and when they leap up, chests crashing in mid-air, teeth flashing with throaty growls and high pitched yelps, it does look wild. It's simply the way they play when they're feeling frisky!

Luc, the little Shih Tzu, initiates play with Maddy and Beau (Standard Poodles, much larger dogs) by jumping up and biting their necks, making all sorts of noises (plays the chase game, too), and LOVES to be their "squeaky toy!" LOL He's relentless, like the energizer bunny, and keeps going, and going, and going! The only serious problem resulting from this play behavior is getting off the Poodle spit. Sigh.

Cobalt · 05-06-2008, 06:53 AM

Thanks for the reply, sounds exactly like what I am seeing.

What if she were to do this to a tiny dog? There was a 1 pound puppy running around at the dog park last night and a few 3 pounders. I was afraid to walk! I had a maltese, 7 lbs and there is no way I would have taken her to a dog park. They could get hurt falling in a rut or by being knocked over.

But in general, do they seem to know when another dog is tiny and use caution??

MegaMuttMom · 05-06-2008, 07:00 AM

My dog takes down other big dogs in 2 seconds flat but he has never played roughly with small dogs. He really does know the difference and behaves accordingly. I would observe your dog to see if he has good doggy sense and only plays roughly with dogs that invite and reciprocate. Little dogs often love to engage him in chase, and some even try to chase him.

Aggie · 05-06-2008, 07:26 AM

Depending on the other dog, and the owners comfort level, mine knows "Leave it!" and prior to that, I usually just have to do a "eh eh" or cautionary noise and he'll be more gentle..don't really know how to describe the sound. If they are roughly matched, I'll usually let them alone unless the other owner seems uncomfortable, or one of the dogs is (unsuccessfully) trying to get away.

If he doesn't listen, he is grabbed in the middle of it and put in time out.

My friend has a German Shepard who is rough with little dogs- she won't let him play with them, and I don't blame her- he'll "mouth" but it's their whole head/body! He knows "leave it" and is called over to her when he starts that up.

poodleholic · 05-07-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobalt

Thanks for the reply, sounds exactly like what I am seeing.

What if she were to do this to a tiny dog? There was a 1 pound puppy running around at the dog park last night and a few 3 pounders. I was afraid to walk! I had a maltese, 7 lbs and there is no way I would have taken her to a dog park. They could get hurt falling in a rut or by being knocked over.

But in general, do they seem to know when another dog is tiny and use caution??

I would never take a toy breed to a dog park, unless there was a sectioned off area reserved for small breed dogs. You cannot trust dogs you do not know.

agility collie mom · 05-07-2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poodleholic

I would never take a toy breed to a dog park, unless there was a sectioned off area reserved for small breed dogs. You cannot trust dogs you do not know.

I agree. While walking my dog in a local park, I stopped to talk to an older lady with a cute little Westie. She told me that one day while she was walking her dog another dog, (lab) came running up to them and picked her little dog up and shook him! Both her and her little dog were horrified. Fortunately for her the larger dog finally dropped the Westie. He survived but, needed wounds sutured. The park was not an off leash park so the lady with the Westie has no idea that the larger dog was coming and the owner of the lab was not in close proximity of the dog. (Not all owners that go to parks leashed or unleashed are responsible ones.)

Cobalt · 05-07-2008, 06:50 AM

Our maltese had to have back surgery after falling in a rutt in the yard and then having a family Chesapeake puppy pick her up by the neck and shake her. The puppy was not angry, just playing too hard.

Mia is 20# but 3" shorter than the "if you dog is taller than this at the shoulders do not enter this area" sign. She needs something in between the two areas but that would be too much to expect from a dog park!