Should I be correcting this?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Should I be correcting this?

    Buddy has taken extremely well to having a little (well she's actually bigger than Buddy now) sister. I have never had 2 dogs at one time so I don't know if this behaviour is appropriate.

    I take the dogs to a local park where the same doggy people meet up every day. Ribbon loves to run and play wrestle with a few of the younger dogs. The dogs can get quite excited with their play. When they get running around chasing and barking at each other, Buddy will suddenly take off and charge at Ribbon. He will grab her at the neck area and put her down. He always targets her as opposed to her playmate. Once she is lying on the ground he will hold her front leg in his mouth as he hovers over her. Ribbon doesn't resist. Buddy may hold her in place for about 30 seconds. If she runs to resume her play, more often than not Buddy will pin her again. This could go on for a couple of minutes. Eventually Ribbon will be released and will either go off and play some more or she and Buddy will have a some chase time. I suspect Buddy is either disciplining her or is jealous but I really don't know. Would you be concerned about this or is it normal?

    • Gold Top Dog

     I guess I should post a picture!!!!

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Uhhh Yes...I was wondering where the picture was.   She is soooo very cute!  Cant answer your question really will have to leave that up to the behavior experts.

    • Gold Top Dog

      She is adorable!!! I don't know the answer either but couldn't resist commenting on how cute Ribbon is.

    • Gold Top Dog

    She's so pretty! I call that "being the fun police", and I do stop it, because it's no fun for the dog being pinned. Jewel has such a strong "fun police" instinct that she now crates herself, when the other dogs are getting too wild for her liking.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I should probably add that I live with 3 bitches who were introduced as adults, so I generally stop any behavior that might cause a scuffle. Bossy Jewel has been hurt a couple of times, because she won't keep her mouth to herself Big Smile

    • Bronze
    my boy twitch does this also with "his girls".  when jazz, now at the bridge, or nova plays with other dogs, he would go out and be the fun police. kinda like telling them "hey, you're my girl, stop having so much fun with other dogs!" i don't worry about it too much. mostly twitch will lay down the smack, then come sit with me while the girls would continue to play. if your boy continues to lay down the pup, maybe restrain him with you for a time out.
    • Gold Top Dog

     Play behavior is complex and of course most of it mimics prey chase, shake, dismember behavior.   Rex will do something similar when he and Gabby are playing but it's while they're doing the back and forth chase games.  It never lasts more than a few seconds before they resume the chase game.  If by chance Rex causes Gabby to yelp because he got too rough, he immediately backs off and gives her a play bow and play resumes.

    Twister often rushes in and barks at the other dogs when they are racing around excitedly.  If I see he's getting over stimulated by the other dogs play, I interrupt him and call him to me.  You might practice that so you have a way to switch Buddy's mindset before he takes off after Ribbon, if you're concerned that it's behavior that could escalate into something beyond play.  Since you say they often chase each other after Buddy does this, I wouldn't be too concerned.  It's really hard to know without seeing it in person and knowing the dogs individual play style.

    There is also predatory drift to consider and you might want to read up on that if you haven't already.  It doesn't sound like that but again without seeing it's hard to say. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     Thanks everyone. I do on occasion call Buddy off, especially if the play isn't  too rambunctious, When he first started doing it I was afraid that he would target the other dog in an attempt to protect Ribbon. That doesn't seem to be his motivation. As I said he his very good with her considering she is a real pest sometimes. Buddy has snapped at her and made her yelp. It's quite funny. Buddy will immediately shoot a guilty glance in my direction then start licking Ribbon's mouth.

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    • Gold Top Dog
    Especially with the info you just posted I tend to believe he tries to calm her near the other dogs to let her know the boundaries - his version of them. The fact that when he has snapped at her he appeases her & you shows me he is in control of his behavior.

    FWIW Bugsy is ridiculously tolerant of other dogs especially obnoxious adolescents but when they hurt him or he feels it is too much he uses an open mouth and pins the dog down for a bit. Then play resumes. There are two dogs I know of that he does it to, both young and both fun but obnoxious lol. The owners of both beg B to put them in their place but all he'll do is the pin. I think Buddy is telling his baby sis to chill a bit
    • Gold Top Dog
    JMHO, but I do not like to see dogs pinning other dogs repeatedly, especially if they stand still over the pinned dog for any length of time, or if they "freeze" or look like they will not let the other dog escape. If it looks like bullying I would not let it continue. If he were just doing a "walk between" or some other "playground monitor" behavior, I wouldn't be that concerned.