Dog Community

Apollo's playing too rough- advice wanted

Posted : 10/19/2009 7:57:28 PM

Apollo has been playing really rough with these 2 female Labs. They get along great, have known each other for 3 years, lots of play bowing and body bumping and tug of war, and in general rough play (not really mouthy though)- but all 3 play like that. Lately he's been nipping them, usually in the butt, and I don't know why. Example, if one of them starts doing zoomies he will run after them, they will freeze, play bow, maybe bark at each other, run around and if he catches up to them he nips them, usually in the butt! Surprise He only does it to these 2 females. When he does nip them they sometimes "yip", then they stop their game, ignore him (even though he keeps trying to play), but after about a minute they will go back to playing again. It's so weird because he just started doing this more often....any ideas? I don't want him to hurt them, he doesn't really seem to be. Also, the entire time he's with them his tail is high as a flag- I mean straight up. Normally it isn't.

I don't want to end his playing with them because they all seem to enjoy each other. Never any fights or aggression- ever.

corvus

Posted : 10/19/2009 9:18:20 PM

Maybe he's getting a little over-stimulated? Sometimes when Kivi gets over-excited he expresses it by playing a bit too roughly. With two young boy dogs in the house, we do have times when play gets too intense here. As in, Kivi cries or Erik gets snarly because the other one is biting too hard or something. I'm trying to teach them "gentle" by interrupting them when it gets too intense. They usually tone it down a bit once they've been interrupted and then I say "gentle". I have resorted to sitting on the floor with them and interrupting with my hands, which is pretty dumb, although at least now I know how hard they are biting each other!

I'm not sure if it's working or not. I think a little in a classical conditioning kind of way, but I also think I should be more pro-active about it and teach it operantly instead. I've been looking at the jazz up and chill game. I think I'll try teaching my boys a "chill" suggestion.

BlackLabbie

Posted : 10/19/2009 10:06:14 PM

corvus

Maybe he's getting a little over-stimulated?

He very well could be. It's like they play play play, then he nips one of them and they stop the game and ignore him, then go right back to playing. And the nip is a nip- not a bite. He nips once and backs off, usually with a play bow or a few air nips and barking, like, "what r u gonna do now?!" it's almost like he wants them to get him back or something, lol!

CoBuHe

Posted : 10/21/2009 9:03:44 PM

It seems like such a fine line too. When do you make an issue out of it and make them stop. Heidi and Bruder play hard; and you can tell when its mutual play. They both run together usually with their bodies touching for the most part. Heidi makes these ridiculously loud noises...not growling....just very vocal. Sometimes it escalates and they get overstimulated....especially if I'm in the mix. If I see that they are both consenting, then ok as long as it doesn't get hairy. But Its a problem when she gets over stimulated and Bruder doesn't want any part of it. My natural instinct is to make it stop.

On the other hand, I feel I am not helping by getting in the middle and putting a stop to it. I know they need to work it out. And, the times that he doesn't want it, and he gets hurt and yelps, she stops...play ends.

I think you are right on....he is just playing hard and wants his friends to come back at him with the same zeal.

Its a tough one sometimes to manage ... but if you feel its too much, gotta put a stop to it and separate and get him on to something else.