Playing a Little Too Rough

[Amanda Kelly]

So my cousin (who we bought our Frenchie baby from) told me to watch how my boys play because Tank will get to where he's growling and sounding mean. I've been watching the boys play, and occasionally I will have to separate them because he will grab ahold of my Frenchton's jowls and not let go. After looking over my big guy last night, I can see where the pup has been leaving red marks and almost breaking the skin on him. So my question is how do you combat this? I hate having to keep one or the other of my guys put up unless its at night and I feel like I'm neglecting one when the other is in their beds. How would you suggest to handle this?

 

[2bullymama]

They tend to play rough and there will be cuts and 'battle scars'. I do have to at times tell Cheli to 'drop' or leave it.... if you train them with that command, you can get some of the pulling and biting to stop, but in most cases you will have to pull him off and give a 'break'

 

[davidh]

I agree, they do like to play rough, and when they get too rough, just stop the play for a little while, or if you see them grab each other by the face for neck, them them no, and give a break. It will get a little better when they get a little older.

 

[Amanda Kelly]

I guess its just a learning experience like with children lol!! I have taught my Jack (he's the older guy, hes 1) to stay out of the kitchen with a water bottle and if he even sees me pick up a spray bottle, whether I'm cleaning or what, he stops what he's doing. Maybe my little guy can pick that up. It's just going to take work. The other dog we had was a toy poodle and he wasn't much fun for our big guy, so he's getting used to having someone to play with all the time. I just want them both to learn boundaries.

 

[blushy]

I guess its just a learning experience like with children lol!! I have taught my Jack (he's the older guy, hes 1) to stay out of the kitchen with a water bottle and if he even sees me pick up a spray bottle, whether I'm cleaning or what, he stops what he's doing. Maybe my little guy can pick that up. It's just going to take work. The other dog we had was a toy poodle and he wasn't much fun for our big guy, so he's getting used to having someone to play with all the time. I just want them both to learn boundaries.

Mine are horrible with rough play. I mean it literally takes at least a solid 2 hours of complete wrestling and running and tugging to get them to start considering a break... It's exhausting lol.

Our girl gets "tired" around our bedtime and gets actually more so "vicious" to our little guy and I end up having to give him time alone because she becomes a psycho lol.

 

[Jakeyjake]

They do tend to play kind of rough. When we got Stella she was all over Jake's jowls and ears. He was really patient with her while she grew out of the puppy and teething phase. He never yelped or cried. It eventually got better as she got older. Now they wrestle and body slam each other.