[tobeysmomma]

We live across the street from Tobey's brother. So most afternoons, his brother comes over (we have a fenced in backyard) and they play. They are both covered with scabs and scratches now and just yesterday we had to break it up once we heard some snarling. Just how hard do puppies normally play? They are 4 1/2 months old.

On an unrelated note: When you live in the house with our 5 year old - everyone wears a headband!

 

[ClarenceandFitzMom]

I let our boys play pretty rough. I only break it up if there's blood or someone yelps. Maybe trim their nails? It's good to let them play but make sure they know that you're in charge still. How fun that they live across the street from each other!!

 

[justine]

Well they do still have puppy teeth which as you've probably experienced are pretty sharp and can draw blood, even while they are playing.

It depends on the dogs, but I know when Abbey and Toby play, Abbey normally growls a bit and Toby makes some weird noises, too. My parents' dog for example will bark bark bark bark when they are playing. Abbey likes to play rough so sometimes I have to step in and tell them "enough" and have them chill out for a while.

 

[mitziandjudysmom]

They can be very rough at play, but it's easy to tell when it turns into fighting. They are the same age, probably about the same size so everything's even. It's amazing that they can be so rough and never get hurt, but if you feel it's getting out of hand, go ahead and break it up.

 

[tobeysmomma]

Thanks for the input. They just become a rolling ball of brown fur. Boys!

I have a feeling that once they are both fixed (not for a couple of months yet), they may calm down on the play/fight. I guess I'm going to have to sit out there with them for a while and break them up until they learn to play nicer.

 

[Samson]

Dylan is still "practising " on Jasper his "kill " routine

I break them up quite frequently as even though Jasper is forgiving, I don't want Dylan to become dominant in any way !

His nuts only have a couple of months to go too ! Hang in there !

 

[Belles mom]

Hoss and Red (brothers) play pretty rough. I never had had to break them up, although I will tell them to settle a bit (and they do). Now Kodi and her sister Thumper got into it a few weeks ago and I did have to break it up. There was an obvious change in the tone and pace of the wrestling and snarling. Thumper drew blood on Kodi, but Kodi won.

Hoss and Red playing

 

[blackandyellow]

If they are littermates and same sex it might well be a dominance thing rather than just play. If they are both same size and age (and equally strong) maybe they haven´t decided who´s boss.

As mentioned previously, it´s not hard to tell the difference between a real fight and play.

In my experience same sex play-fight is usually rougher than when it´s boy-girl. My two are rough but have never hurt each other, but back when I had my brother´s golden, Misha and her used to play more aggresively