What does healthy puppy play look like?
The first sign of healthy play is something called role-reversal. Role reversal means that there is Read More
How to tell if dog play is aggressive?
Edwina Thiel
2025-07-05 14:05:57
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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. If your dog has long hair, this may be harder to spot. 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. Dogs are trying to get away from one another, or at least one probably is, and their body language reflects that. They won’t be happy and bouncy. Instead, their tail may also be tucked underneath them. A dog that feels threatened will have quick and efficient movements. They won’t be bouncing around, and definitely won’t be “taking turns” like they did when they were playing.
Oscar Gerlach
2025-06-22 06:03:40
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There's a huge difference between dogs play wrestling and overt aggression. Dogs possess an innate drive to establish pack hierarchy. 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. Threats normally precede an attack.
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Kids need to get enough calories to learn and develop well. Doctors measure a child's weight, length Read More
Kenyatta Labadie
2025-06-22 05:22:45
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Roughhousing is just part of the fun and in most cases, it’s completely healthy, safe and harmless. It’s totally normal for dogs to play-bite, bark, chase, swipe, and lunge, as long as it’s in a gentle and friendly manner. But sometimes growling, biting, jumping, barking, etc. can shift from playful to aggressive. When dogs play, it often takes the form of play fighting, play biting and wrestling. Although it can be fun and harmless, sometimes this can intensify into unsafe and serious scraps if you do not observe your dog closely. To prevent playing turning into fighting, it’s important to watch carefully for stress signals and warning signals. Some of the most common warning signals are: Stiffness – when a dog becomes tense and stressed, they usually appear rigid and stand in a stiff-legged stance. Their face is another indicator, so look for muscles tightening or furrowed brows. Growling – Sometimes dogs will growl during play, but these growls are accompanied with loose, relaxed body language. When growling is followed by any of the above behaviors, or is a deep and low, it may be a sign of aggressive behavior that needs to be addressed.
Larry Abernathy
2025-06-22 04:51:03
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Signs of dog aggression include raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, or lunging. If either dog shows aggression, separate them immediately. Exaggerated growling or barking could sound scary, but if other behaviours show you that your dog and their friend are just having fun then don't be alarmed. Play Biting is typically one of the hardest signs for pet parents to accept because we associate biting as a negative outside of eating, but this is simply what dogs do. Both dogs may bear their teeth, but as long as there isn't aggressive growling, yelps or whimpers your dogs are probably just engaging in playful behaviour. If you notice one dog isn't feeling it and looks like they’d rather be left alone, it might be best to separate them for a time. Dogs can also become territorial, whether it's toward a place, food, a toy or a person. If you notice one of your dogs becoming territorial over something any time another dog comes around it, it is best to separate them before aggressive behaviours begin.
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How rough should puppies play?
If we roughhouse with our dog, because we’re not dogs, we don’t master the rules of play and will of Read More
What does aggressive puppy play look like?
It’s totally normal for dogs to play-bite, bark, chase, swipe, and lunge, as long as it’s in a gentl Read More