Playing can often make dogs feel slightly stressed, especially after a rough encounter. One of the best things to do is let the dog cool off with a brief time out of at least five to ten minutes. A firm command to sit or lie down in their bed will cause them to relieve some of the tension and regroup.
Avoid games that promote rough behaviors such as tug of war. Help your dog focus on listening to you by having him roll over, sit, stay, or shake hands. If your dog loses focus and begins to play rough, redirect him right away. Do not engage your dog.
You want to make sure your puppy learns limits, but not be beaten up or dominated. When your puppy play starts getting too intense, you can separate the pups to let them settle down. Try to do this by walking in between the pups and gently nudging or blocking the offending puppy while walking away from the other.
For dogs, playing is primarily about exerting dominance over another dog, toy, or person. Spaying or neutering your dog can help reduce some of these impulses, make them more docile, and easier to manage.
Playing is a healthy part of socialization for dogs and it is definitely something to be encouraged. On the other hand, rough play can be dangerous for you and your dog because it can lead to bites or other injuries to yourself or another pet.
Roughhousing is part of the fun of being a dog. Playing is a way for dogs to explore their world and to socialize with other animals and people. It is completely normal, safe, and healthy in most cases, but it can become dangerous if it goes too far.
Is It Playtime or Time to Separate? It's normal for puppies and dogs to growl and romp over one another in a mock battle. Most dogs display behaviors that can seem a little aggressive to us, but as long as they are within the boundaries of good fun, it is usually okay (and can help them with socialization skills).
When your older dog wants to play, let him set the tone of the play. If the puppy or young dog is too rough and the old dog corrects him by pinning him, barking and growling, or otherwise telling him off; that's fine.
This kind of play can seem like it might be rough, but it is actually normal and a healthy expression of their innate behaviors. They use these interactions to assert their social rank, as well as to practice their skills. It is also simply a way to have fun. However, there are some dogs which will play too rough.
The dogs are acting silly. Loud, continuous growling and snarling; again, exaggerated. Play-growling may sound scarier than serious fighting. The dogs voluntarily make themselves vulnerable by “falling” down and exposing their bellies and allowing themselves to be caught when playing chase.
If she keeps trying to play with the puppy in your arms, then she's saying that she enjoys the playtime. Let them have another go! If she welcomes the break from playtime with the other puppy, then it's a sign the play was too rough for her.
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.