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.
More From Men's Health. If you play-wrestle with your pooch, you're showing him that rough or physical interaction is acceptable, says Michael Baugh, a Houston-based dog trainer and certified behavior consultant. Some dogs handle this well and understand it's a game that only happens when you initiate it.
Rough play mimics how dogs interact together, and is used to establish dominance and social hierarchy among other dogs. When dogs roughhouse together, they receive social feedback from other dogs that helps them learn when they are playing too rough or bite too hard.
And, here are some signs that the play has become too rough:
Raised hackles (the hair on the back of their necks and along the spine) Stiffness in their torso and legs. Stiff tail in a high position. Snapping and/or snarling.
In rough play puppies will each attempt to get on top of and pin his opponent like a wrestler, bite the front or back of his neck and give a mock shake to sever his spine, bite his hindquarters in a chase to bring him down, push back from the front and bite his front leg, crash into him sideways at a run, “tee off,” or ...
An aggressive growl will be accompanied by snarling and snapping, while a playful growl is just a sound, accompanied by relaxed body movements (no tension).
Some dogs enjoy firm, even rough petting, while other dogs prefer a more gentle touch." Most dogs prefer soft pets (not pats) on their back and chest. Stick to these areas when petting a dog for the first time.
Never play tug-of-war or wrestling games with your puppy if you're having a nipping problem. These types of games encourage out-of-control behavior, grabbing, lunging and competition with you. These aren't behaviors you want her to learn.
New research suggests that dogs forgive to reduce uncertainty. Philosophers and psychologists working with humans talk a lot about forgiveness. By contrast, researchers working with other animals typically talk about reconciliation rather than apology and forgiveness.
It is good to play tug of war with your dog, whether they are a puppy or an adult. Tug is a way for your dog to practice instinctual behavior — tugging at a toy mimics what a predator does when they finish the hunt, pulling apart the carcass or "dissecting" before eating.
Don't yell at your puppy, tap your puppy on the nose or hold their mouth shut when they bite. This will only confuse your puppy and teach them not to trust you when you want to play. Don't antagonize your puppy to get him to bite for training or any other purpose.
You should aim to play with your dog twice a day for around fifteen minutes each time. You can also combine playtime with other exercise for your dog, such as walking over to the neighborhood park before playing and walking home.
Even though your dog can't help making mistakes, it's normal to feel frustrated at times. Getting frustrated does not make you a bad dog owner. It just means that it's time to take a step back, take a breather, and try a new approach to your training problem.
Now, a novel study suggests programs that use even relatively mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out, making them more "pessimistic" than dogs that experience reward-based training.
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.
Why does this happen. Many dogs will put their mouth and paw on us – not with any intention to hurt, but more to attract play and affection. This is known as mouthing and pawing. This most commonly occurs with puppies, but often continues into adulthood.
Areas to Avoid
The genitals and anus are obvious areas to stay away from; dogs are protective of these areas just like humans. In general, other areas to avoid petting include the face, tail, feet, and legs.
Dogs are good at reading us, and they usually know when we are being affectionate, such as when we kiss them. Because they love affection from us, most dogs do like being kissed. However, they don't like the act of being kissed but rather that we give them attention and show affection.
Your dog needs to feel secure with you and your abilities. He needs to feel like you are the type of person who can take care of him and keep him out of harm's way.
Growling during play does not mean your dog is aggressive. It simply means they're having a great time. Your dog might even growl during a particularly pleasing cuddle or patting session. Many dogs growl talk to communicate contentment or as a greeting.
Play fighting and neck biting helps dogs (and younger puppies in particular) learn how to socialize with each other. They might run about with the zoomies after each other, do little growls, and wrestle with each other – it's all just harmless play time.
Often, if pets are left alone too long, they will lick and chew an area of their body until it gets raw and sore. This is most common in pets with high energy levels that are bored, or that aren't getting enough exercise or attention.