How to know when dog play is too aggressive?
Madelyn Rau
2025-07-20 04:31:25
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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. Dog play and dog fighting can sometimes look similar, but there are tell-tale signs to differentiate between them. Always watch dogs that are playing too, in case their play turns more serious. Dog’s bodies when they’re upset or feel threatened by another dogs will become very stiff. Their growls will be different too. They will have low warning growls, closed mouths, and curled lips. Dogs are trying to get away from one another, or at least one probably is, and their body language reflects that. A dog that feels threatened will have quick and efficient movements. 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.
Adolphus Kulas
2025-07-20 01:53:54
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: 13
Dogs do this by testing one another's dominance and subservience, mostly through play and general interaction. They wrestle, tug, mouth, pounce, play bite, and even softly growl and yelp. And, this is all okay - as long as the dogs maintain self-control and do not allow their behavior to escalate into outright aggression. When it comes to play fighting, the key is deliberate intent. If two dogs are wrestling and one dog accidentally goes a little overboard, you should see that dog immediately back off when the other dog gives a little yelp, for example. That's if the offending dog has no deliberate intent to hurt. If the offending dog doesn't back off, there's cause for concern. Dogs rarely just lash out without first giving some kind of warning. A dog can threaten or attack another dog with the message of, "I'm boss. You must respect me." Threats normally precede an attack.