Temper when playing

Fi1805 · #1 11-10-11, 07:34 AM

This is going to seem like a silly question, but sometimes when Isla is playing with my OH's dog, or my Mum's dog, she really growls ferociously and sounds so angry!

Trying to keep telling myself she is a dog and that's just what they do but there is a slight worry in the back of my mind that she is going to be bad tempered as an adult.

Am I just putting a human interpretation onto what is normal puppy behaviour?

I also have been seperating the dogs when play gets too boisterous and when they are calm they are allowed to play again. Is this the right thing to do?

Jon · #2 11-10-11, 07:40 AM

I wouldn't worry at all, Jax plays with another GSD pup very roughly. I was the same as you until a got told off by a friend of mine... he said i was "mollycoddleing" (is that spelt right??)

Dog's will yelp and submit to the other if it gets too rough...

Jax half the time backs down rolls over and submits then three seconds later the other dog does...

nisbreagha · #3 11-10-11, 07:40 AM

GSDs are very vocal dogs especially when playing, my two sound as if they hate each other but infect are just having a right good play. Not being able to see your puppy means I can't tell you for 100% that's it's play but it most probably is and if it's not the older dogs will tell her off for her nonsense and keep her right.

#4 11-10-11, 01:41 PM

Yep. Mine sound like they're killing each other sometimes. Isla's playfighting and testing her vocal range!

What seems boisterous to us, often is mild to them.

Caryll · #5 11-10-11, 03:11 PM

You have to look at body language as well as listen to their vocals. What sounds like blood-curdling snarls are often just vocal playing.

Stuart · #6 11-10-11, 04:19 PM

Same answer, very vocal indeed, I still have to convince people that mine are playing when `fighting` over a tug toy

The same when Sam plays with me,.... but there has to come a time when you need to say `No more`,... its very important that you are able to stop the game when you want to

Fi1805 · #7 11-10-11, 05:19 PM

Cool - just thought that I would check because she really does sound quite fierce, even for a baby!

I'm stopping play when it gets a bit too rough, either with other dogs, or with people, until she is calm again and then we play some more!

RainbowLass · #8 11-10-11, 06:48 PM

i'm having a similar thing at the mo with rugs and a friends dog we were out walkies with today

Maybe the hard part is knowing WHEN to intervene and give the command!