I apologize in advance for the long post but I wanted to explain the best that I could and I will take any insight. We adopted a pointer/pit mix 6 months ago. He is neutered and is now a yr. old. We have him in obedience and flyball. He is very muscular and energetic and weighs about 40 pounds. He gets regular walks and is overall a wonderful dog. He is able to get along with most dogs in a social setting but loves to play.
About 2.5 weeks ago we adopted another pointer mix she is smaller at around 30 pounds and i would say is not mixed with pit. She is a lot smaller build overall. She has also started obedience. She is very playful and loving and they seemed to hit it off well. They really get along quite well for the most part. They do not fight over food or treats. She gives up toys and tug contests and lets him out the door first. He seems to obviously be the dominant which I have read to play to. I give them both attention but him always first and first food and best bed. I also make sure I make them wait for me to get out the door first and sit for their food and these types of things. So... without going into every detail, here is my problem...
They are playing way too rough. They have good days where they will tug over sticks and run and chase each other, switching the chaser and chasee however, they also have not so good days. If she has a toy she will give it up to him but then she will chase him and latch on to his cheeck or ear until he drops the toy. He will then chase her down and pin her. I have never heard any crying or had any cuts or injuries but it looks terrible. So... lately when i let them out now he will just chase her down and pin her down. I will break it up and everything is okay but I hate this and am not sure what to do. I can let them out seperately but they really do enjoy each others company and I want them to be able to go outside together. They don't act like this in the house. In the house they will play gently tug and even wrestle very gently occasionally mouthing each other. It seems outside now is his territory and he is dominating it. She can run into the wooded part or quit running and he will leave her alone but she will usually come right back for more and jump at him in a playful way and he will pin her down again. Is there something I am doing totally wrong or not doing? I will try anything. I read everything I can about transitioning them smoothly and like I said they really do quite well even outside most of the time but I'm not sure what to do.
Also one other note. She loves to stalk him or stare him down which I found strange. I read that pointers like to do this but it seems like a threatening behavior. I think she is just playing because then she will just run and pounce at him and they will play or sometimes he gets freaked out and runs from her. Is this something I should stop? Is she challenging the dominant role? Thank you in advance.
About 2.5 weeks ago we adopted another pointer mix she is smaller at around 30 pounds and i would say is not mixed with pit. She is a lot smaller build overall. She has also started obedience. She is very playful and loving and they seemed to hit it off well. They really get along quite well for the most part. They do not fight over food or treats. She gives up toys and tug contests and lets him out the door first. He seems to obviously be the dominant which I have read to play to. I give them both attention but him always first and first food and best bed. I also make sure I make them wait for me to get out the door first and sit for their food and these types of things. So... without going into every detail, here is my problem...
They are playing way too rough. They have good days where they will tug over sticks and run and chase each other, switching the chaser and chasee however, they also have not so good days. If she has a toy she will give it up to him but then she will chase him and latch on to his cheeck or ear until he drops the toy. He will then chase her down and pin her. I have never heard any crying or had any cuts or injuries but it looks terrible. So... lately when i let them out now he will just chase her down and pin her down. I will break it up and everything is okay but I hate this and am not sure what to do. I can let them out seperately but they really do enjoy each others company and I want them to be able to go outside together. They don't act like this in the house. In the house they will play gently tug and even wrestle very gently occasionally mouthing each other. It seems outside now is his territory and he is dominating it. She can run into the wooded part or quit running and he will leave her alone but she will usually come right back for more and jump at him in a playful way and he will pin her down again. Is there something I am doing totally wrong or not doing? I will try anything. I read everything I can about transitioning them smoothly and like I said they really do quite well even outside most of the time but I'm not sure what to do.
Also one other note. She loves to stalk him or stare him down which I found strange. I read that pointers like to do this but it seems like a threatening behavior. I think she is just playing because then she will just run and pounce at him and they will play or sometimes he gets freaked out and runs from her. Is this something I should stop? Is she challenging the dominant role? Thank you in advance.