How to tell the difference between play fighting and real fighting?
Vita Adams
2025-07-07 17:30:50
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Playing vs. Fighting. Pinned ears, an erect tail, growling, and showing teeth are all appropriate signs of communication that dogs can use during playtime. This may make it hard to tell the difference between playing and fighting. The key is to make sure both dogs are engaging at similar levels and do not look stressed. If both dogs are play bowing, bouncy, or seem to exaggerate their movements and vocalizations, it’s likely a play session. Another good indication of play is sneezing. Dogs sneeze as a way to communicate to their play partners that they want to keep things safe and fun. Fights have their own set of body language that can help you identify when an intervention is needed. Tense body language such as a tucked tail, stiff movements, deep growling, and snarling are cues that the dog is under stress. Most dogs will try to get away from the situation if they are uncomfortable. If you see any of these signs, this is the time to calmly remove your dog from the situation before things escalate. When the play is, in general, not mutual, When one dog is having fun at the expense of another, are cues that the play is not going well.
Carlos Rolfson
2025-07-02 13:10:26
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If two dogs are wrestling and it seems too rough to you, with all that growling and snarling, body-slamming, and biting of each other’s necks, should you intervene. There are different physical cues that signal that dogs are playing. If they have a big, silly, open-mouthed grin, that’s already a good start. Often, their movements will be exaggerated: bouncy movements, and even exaggerated growling. Dogs may do the “play bow” when playing, where their front end is down, and back end is in the air. Dogs who are play-growling are over-exaggerating their snarls, which may make this noise sound scarier than if they were actually fighting. If dogs voluntarily make themselves vulnerable by “falling” down, they’re probably playing. Playing dogs will allow themselves to be caught while playing chase, and take turns chasing each other. Dogs who are playing will keep circling back from more.
Dog play and dog fighting can sometimes look similar, but there are tell-tale signs to differentiate between them. Dog’s bodies when they’re upset or feel threatened by another dogs will become very stiff. Their hackles, which is the hair on their upper backs, are raised. Their growls will be different too. They will have low warning growls, closed mouths, and curled lips. Their ears will be pinned flat — no big, silly smiles. If dogs do end up fighting, it will hopefully be a short encounter. Unlike playing, the “loser” won’t stick around, and will try to leave the area. Since they’re not playing, they’re also not going back to one another for more play.
Adele Cremin
2025-06-21 01:46:14
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Dogs have ways of communicating with each other that tells their playmates when they’re having fun and when they’re serious. Knowing what appropriate dog social play looks like is important to figuring out when play is escalating and getting closer to a fight. Dogs at play are relaxed and floppy in their movements. Their movements are also big and exaggerated during play. Playing dogs will happily fall down and make themselves vulnerable to their playmates. You know dogs are comfortable when they don’t worry about exposing their bellies. In contrast, if your dog is making quick, efficient movements without bouncing around, he or she may be taking playtime too seriously. Pinned ears, a closed mouth or a curled lip are also warning signs that a dog may be on the verge of aggression. Happy playmates switch roles when dogs play fight. Social play includes brief pauses that help prevent play from escalating into a danger zone.
Dasia O'Reilly
2025-06-15 06:09:34
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Although the behaviours can be when fighting or playing, there are subtle differences: Intensity, play is loose and bouncy, and less tense than fighting. Claws, these are generally retracted during play and come out during a fight. Turn taking, chasing and pouncing is more equal during play, and more one-sided when fighting. Vocalisation, play usually doesn't involve any aggressive vocalisations often seen before or during a fight, such as hissing, growling or yowling. There are also specific play behaviours that are not usually associated with aggressive or negative interactions, such as rearing up on hind legs, and side stepping or hopping. A common problem with distinguishing playing from fighting is that it can change from one to the other momentarily, either one or both cats can suddenly feel they've had enough and things can quickly turn. One may begin to hiss, claws may come out and they may consistently run away rather than returning to the game.
Tia Legros
2025-06-08 17:05:21
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To answer the question, observe how they hold their ears and tails and how they act around each other outside of playtime. Body language can tell you a lot. Both playing and fighting can involve jumping on each other, chasing, and even a little hissing. Cats that are play fighting tend to take turns, letting one cat be at the bottom of the wrestling huddle and then the other. If your cats' bodies are relaxed or their ears are pointed forward, they're likely just playing. If your cats flatten their ears, hold their ears back, or puff up their fur or tails, this is a sign that they're fighting, not playing. Defensive, puffy postures and leaning away from each other while hissing with bared teeth are signs that your cats feel threatened and aren't having fun. Chasing a tired cat until it hides could also be a bad sign. Inflicting injury is another indication things have gone too far. Watching how your cats act around each other when they're not playing can help you see more clearly how serious the situation is. If they groom each other, cuddle with each other, or generally live peacefully together, they're likely just playing.
Wayne Stroman
2025-06-03 17:34:42
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When cats are playing, their bodies are usually relaxed, they may roll around on the ground, and their movements are smooth. Cats may stare at each other intently during a fight because their bodies become tense and rigid. To intimidate the other cat, they might attempt to make themselves appear larger by puffing up their fur. Cats may produce chirping or trilling noises when they are playing, which are cheerful noises indicating that they are having fun. However, when cats fight, they might hiss, growl, or yowl instead—clear signs that playtime is over and they may need to be separated. Many cats hold their ears forward, upright, or backward during a friendly play session. However, if you observe that they turn their ears back or position them against their head then they are most likely fighting. Fighting usually involves a higher degree of aggression in one or both animals. When cats are playing, their tails may be held high or twitching back and forth, which is a sign of excitement and playfulness. If their tails are positioned low to the ground, or lashing back and forth, this can be a clear sign of aggression and hostility. In playful interactions, the cats may take turns chasing each other or rolling around. In a fight, one cat may be attempting to dominate or injure the other. Besides that, playful interactions tend to be shorter in duration, while fights can last longer and can escalate quickly.
Addie Yost
2025-05-23 03:57:07
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Intensity – play is loose and bouncy, and less tense than fighting. Claws – these are generally retracted during play and come out during a fight. Turn taking – chasing and pouncing is more equal during play, and more one-sided when fighting. Vocalization – play usually doesn’t involve any aggressive vocalizations often seen before or during a fight, such as hissing, growling or yowling. There are also specific play behaviors that are not usually associated with aggressive or negative interactions. These are often seen with young kittens and include rearing up on hind legs, and side stepping or hopping. A common problem with distinguishing playing from fighting is that it can change from one to the other momentarily. One may begin to hiss, claws may come out and they may consistently run away rather than returning to the game.
Aaron Lowe
2025-05-23 02:28:50
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: 19
The following might be indicators that the fighting is real and not just spirited play: Bared teeth and tense lips
Barking, snarling, deep growls
Repeated nipping and/or biting
Biting/clamping teeth on back of the neck
Standing over or sitting upon the other dog
Slamming into, or hip-checking, each other
Aggressively chasing and tackling one another
Rearing on the hind legs and/or trying to mount
Learn the dog’s body language, especially in relation to dominance/aggression
Recognizing these signs can prevent unwanted situations before they occur
Learn about the breed in general regarding known behavioural traits
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