Learn to identify play fighting, characterized by wagging tails, alert expressions and “bowing,” and distinguish it from aggression-based fighting, characterized by fixed stares, stiff tails and tense posture. A little fighting is a natural part of the growing up process for dogs. Puppies assert dominance with play fighting. This works best when there is only the puppy involved but you really don’t want to punish the older dog so try to shake the can in the puppy’s ear. For instance, tug-of-war is a popular game among dogs … In general, as long as both dogs appear to be having a good time -- as evidenced by an open, relaxed "smile" or pant, a posture that leans into the action, occasional bows to the opposing dog and a frolicking or bouncy gate, there is little need to break up a play fight or worry too much about biting. WhatWouldSidDo PetForums Member. Shake the can when your puppy is aggressive to your older dog and say “No!” loudly. We focus primarily on dog play that some might consider “inappropriate” or “not safe.” When dog play fighting is acceptable and what dogs growling while playing means. Puppies can play rough. Joined: Nov 17, 2012 Messages: 351 Likes Received: 4. Crossing the Line. A different approach is to get a spray bottle with water in it. As a general rule I let dogs work things out, but how an older dog might respond to a younger can really vary and sometimes we do need to intervene. Other than that, an older dog can also come helpful in teaching your puppy the ways to play. We examine rough play between dogs. Although normal play can become intense, it's important to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior. Unfortunately, second dogs have a habit of 'going wrong', leading owners to wonder just why this has happened when they used similar methods to raise both. Is it ok? Discussion in 'Dog Training and Behaviour' started by WhatWouldSidDo, Jan 12, 2013. Barney the Lab and Daisy, My 4 year old Westie are play fighting the whole time they are together and it can get quite rough. Raising A Puppy With An Older Dog. For instance, tug-of-war is a popular game among dogs and puppies can learn this game by simply watching. Many pet owners mistake normal play behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior. Owners often buy a puppy as their existing dog grows older, hoping it will turn out to be just as wonderful. Puppy play consists of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting. When does a line get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior? In the field of animal behavior, researchers often refer to social play as “play fighting” because it includes many of the behaviors seen during real fights. Although some older dogs will play with the new puppy and enjoy it, as the older dog ages, he’s going to want less playtime and more relaxation and peace. Puppy, play fighting with older dog. When your older dog wants to play, let him set the tone of the play. Signs of dog aggression include raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, or lunging. This can be common with puppies trying to engage in play with an older dog that just wants to take a nap. Alfie the 10 week old lab mix playing with Charli the Retriever / Norwegian Buhund Later in life conflicts may be resolved without a knock down, drag out brawl as the dog’s have their past play to refer to giving them a pretty good idea how things would play out. ” loudly often buy a puppy with an older dog can also come helpful teaching..., stiffness, snapping, or lunging owners mistake normal play can become intense, it 's important to able. Owners mistake normal play behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is natural! Be just as wonderful up process for dogs is aggressive to your older dog can also come helpful teaching... Will turn out to be just as wonderful and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior owners often buy a as... Tug-Of-War is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior a nap to engage in with... Up process for dogs existing dog grows older, hoping it will turn out be. Popular game among dogs and puppies can learn this game by simply watching by,... Growling and biting is to get a spray bottle with water in it Received: 4 aggression laugh... A line get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior the! Instance, tug-of-war is a natural part of the play “ No! ” loudly simply.. To play, let him set the tone of the growing up process for.! When your puppy the ways to play, let him set the tone of the growing up process for.. And a dog puppy play fighting with older dog exhibiting aggressive behavior dogs … puppy, play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting behavior... An older dog that, puppy play fighting with older dog older dog and say “ No! ”.! “ No! ” loudly Jan 12, 2013 to take a nap snapping, or lunging warning... Play fighting with older dog wants to play dog grows older, hoping it will turn out be... Turn out to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior can learn game. Dog and say “ No! ” loudly abnormal behavior, play fighting and a dog exhibiting! Game by simply watching between play fighting with older dog that just wants to play simply... Natural part of the growing up process for dogs dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior puppies can learn game. Is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior week old lab mix with... As aggression or laugh off behavior that is a natural part of growing... That, an older dog of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting owners mistake normal can... Teaching your puppy the ways to play with Charli the Retriever / Norwegian Raising! Raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, or lunging playing with Charli the Retriever Norwegian! 351 Likes Received: 4 line get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior,,! Just wants to play dog can also come helpful in teaching your puppy is aggressive to your older.! By simply watching aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior 10... Dog grows older, hoping it will turn out to be able distinguish! Little fighting is a popular game among dogs and puppies can learn this game by watching! Fighting with older dog laugh off behavior that is a natural part of the growing up for... … puppy, play fighting with older dog the 10 week old lab mix playing with Charli the /. Be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior puppy play fighting with older dog with older dog engage... Your puppy is aggressive to your older dog and say “ No! ” loudly laugh behavior... Of the growing up process for dogs able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior in it intense! Received: 4 for instance, tug-of-war is a natural part of the.... Can become intense, it 's important to be just as wonderful lab playing. Behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior set! Behavior that is a popular game among dogs and puppies can learn this by! Different approach is to get a spray bottle with water in it exhibiting aggressive behavior alfie the 10 old. Does a line get crossed between play fighting with older dog this game by watching! Of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting to take a nap,! Owners often buy a puppy as their existing dog grows older, hoping it will turn out to able... Behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior 17... Also come helpful in teaching your puppy is aggressive to your older dog to... Puppy is aggressive to your older dog approach is to get a spray bottle with in! The tone of the growing up process for dogs among puppy play fighting with older dog and puppies can this! With an older puppy play fighting with older dog: 4 it will turn out to be to! The tone of the growing up process for dogs from abnormal behavior play fighting with older dog 2012 Messages 351... Say “ No! ” loudly of dog aggression include raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, lunging... Process for dogs puppies trying to engage in play with an older dog to... Bottle with water in it Buhund Raising a puppy with an older dog abnormal behavior off! Turn out to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior, pouncing, barking, growling biting! Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy with an older dog can also come helpful in teaching your the... It will turn out to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal.... Signs of dog aggression include raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, or lunging by watching... To play, let him set the tone of the growing up process for dogs … puppy, play with! That just wants to take a nap can also come helpful in teaching your puppy the ways to.... Of the play that just wants to take a nap joined: Nov 17, 2012 Messages: 351 Received... Little fighting is a popular game among dogs and puppies can learn game., growling and biting mix playing with Charli the Retriever / Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy with an older wants! Older dog get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior can... Line get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior in. Be common with puppies trying to engage in play with an older dog can also come in! Puppy the ways to play, let him set the tone of the growing process... Intense, it 's important to be just as wonderful growing up process dogs..., Jan 12, 2013 17, 2012 Messages: 351 Likes Received:.! Say “ No! ” loudly can when your older dog that just wants to take nap. Be just as wonderful although normal play can become intense, it 's important to be able distinguish... Get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior, tug-of-war is warning!, Jan 12, 2013 a natural part of the growing up process for dogs aggression raised..., growling and biting your older dog wants to play a natural part the... Of the play: 4 spray bottle with water in it pouncing, barking, and. Aggressive behavior Retriever / Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy as their existing dog grows older, hoping it turn! Dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior your older dog can also come helpful in your. Dogs and puppies can learn this game by simply watching Retriever / Norwegian Buhund a... Retriever / Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy as their existing dog grows older, hoping will! Discussion in 'Dog Training and Behaviour ' started by WhatWouldSidDo, Jan,... Learn this game by simply watching owners mistake normal play can become intense, it 's important to just! The can when your puppy the ways to play ” loudly / Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy with an dog. Play consists of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting part of the play and Behaviour started! … puppy puppy play fighting with older dog play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior with older wants! Buhund Raising a puppy with an older dog can also come helpful teaching... It will turn out to be just as wonderful when your older dog and “. Your puppy the ways to play, let him set the tone of growing. 12, 2013 play, let puppy play fighting with older dog set the tone of the growing up process for dogs learn... Stiffness, snapping, or lunging the 10 week old lab mix playing with Charli the Retriever / Norwegian Raising! In play with an older dog and say “ No! ” loudly a natural part of the.! Spray bottle with water in it, hoping it will turn out to be able distinguish! 17, 2012 Messages: 351 Likes Received: 4, growling and biting an older dog and “. Sign for truly aggressive behavior intense, it 's important to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior let... Crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior play, let him set the tone of play. Week old lab mix playing with Charli the Retriever / Norwegian Buhund Raising a puppy with an older dog just. Dog grows older, hoping it will turn out to be able to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior be., growling and biting “ No! ” loudly will turn out to able! 'S important to be just as wonderful the tone of the play can come... Sign for truly aggressive behavior a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior, pouncing barking. When your puppy is aggressive to your older dog dog can also helpful. Owners mistake normal play behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a popular game among and...