How do I stop my dog from playing too rough with other dogs?

To get your dog to play nicely with others, you need to become very familiar with canine body language so that you can notice when tensions are first starting to build. Dogs have different play styles depending on their breed, age, and other factors, but they generally understand each other’s body language. When dogs are romping happily together, their bodies are like limp noodles, tails may wag in loose arcs, and mouths may hang open. When a dog becomes tense, his body stiffens, and when a dog’s body goes stiff and that “happy mouth” closes, this is called a “freeze.” If you notice a freeze or tense body language, stay alert and ready to intervene if necessary. As far as the play itself, one thing to be wary of is speed and intensity, it is a lot easier for play to boil over into aggression when things are becoming fast and furious. If you notice that your dog is becoming overexcited or playing too roughly, or that other owners are becoming concerned, create an enforced break in the action by calling your dog to you. If your dog does not have a solid recall to the point that he will come to you even when playing with another dog, practice at home first, then work outdoors, gradually adding distractions as your dog is successful. If you do create an enforced play break, it needn’t be long, just long enough for your dog and others to calm down.

Dogs are definitely no exception to becoming overexcited and getting caught up in the moment. Although it can be fun to watch or even engage in excitable play, too often your dog can misread your signals and think it’s acceptable to play rough. Rough play often comes from overexcitement, or a dog learning to play rough from other dogs. In some instances, dogs can play rough because their owners have taught them that behavior or it may be a dog exerting dominance over another dog or person. Whatever your dog’s circumstance, she can be trained to stop rough play by following any of these effective training methods. Make sure you are in a calm mindset and remain patient and consistent throughout the training session. Careful observation is needed as well to determine the point at which your dog crosses from happy and energetic to overly excitable. Keep a positive attitude, and soon your dog will be able to play gently.

If the play seems one sided, it is time to step in and calm the situation down. If play turns too rough, dogs can become mildly stressed. Therefore, it is a good idea to separate the dogs for a short while so that tension levels can drop. It is helpful if your dog knows basic commands, as this will make it easier to intervene if dog play becomes too rough. ‘Leave’, ‘sit’ and ‘down’ are all useful cues for your dog to learn. Watch out for signs and try to stop rough play before it begins. It is also important to be especially observant if the dogs at play of differing sizes. Neutering is an option if you find you have an excessively boisterous male dog, as this may help to calm things down.