Dog Training - The wisdom of allowing a dog to play rough. Recommended or not?

Question

I have a dog and I'm not really sure of the breed, but I think she's a bird dog. She's a great dog with me, my wife and our 3 kids.

I enjoy playing rough with her. We wrestle on the ground and she will growl very loudly and wrestle back. She will mock bite me, never biting down or anything, but she'll get my arm or hand in her mouth. She never gets near my face.

I think this rough play freaks my wife out because the dog gets really aggressive, even though it's still obviously play. She'll growl and bark, but all I have to do is hold my palms out and say "Brook, Calm" and she'll calm down. Her tail is wagging the whole time during this rough play and she has never hurt me.

Lately, her growling is getting louder, but I just attribute it to the fact that she's comfortable with the play, not because she's getting more aggressive or anything.

Anyway, would a dog trainer say that this is dangerous or foolhardy? I'd hate to be training her by doing this and putting my family at risk.

Answer 1

Aggressive play can lead to some aggressive tendancy's. It is good that she will calm down when you say too. That shows that she does see you, (at least sometimes), as a leader. The problem lies when she trys to rough play with someone else, example: your children, your childrens friends, or strangers. Anyone that may be either smaller than the dog or doesn't know your dog. Read the Article: "How to tell if your dog has a superiority complex, and what to do about it." at the website below. Does your dog show any of these traits? It is important to teach your dog that you control play time. If your dog initiates the play, you must ignore her. Giving in to her demands signals to her that she is the leader. This also goes for normal petting as well. If you do not have full control at all times the rough play can lead to more serious problems. Although you may see it as playing, other people may not and you can get into alot of touble if something goes wrong. I would suggest playing that makes your dog use her mind. Example: hide-n-seek games and "Find it" These will be just as fun to your dog and will diminish rough behaviour.

Answer 2

It is not only not bad but it is good if you have done it from the time she was a puppy as it is the only way a dog learns Bite inhibition.
Dogs learn just how hard is acceptable to play and bite by playing with their brothers sisters and parents. (which is you)
If they don't learn then they will hurt someone.
Look at wild dogs... They play very rough and when they overstep they get a warning growl or nip.

I have worked with dogs my whole life. Trained in Obedience and assisted in Schutz Hund (attack, tracking, obedience)
I see all the time dogs playing with another and it becomes a fight because one doesn't know how to act.
I have a 150 lb. Bullmastiff and we play like that all the time, It scares the hell out of anyone that watches (except my wife) and they usually say what the others above said, but they don't know what they are talking about.
The whole issue should be that the dog sees you as her pack leader as well as your wife and children. I also have three children (boys) and my dog has to defer to them, my 6 yr.old can take his food from his mouth.
I wouldn't ask a VET about Behavior issue's anymore than I would ask my Doc why my son might get bad grades.
It isn't their occupation.

Answer 3

I would say do not play for the very reason it builds aggression.
Your dog may be fine with you playing this way but it may get out of hand if it were your children or wife playing this way. It is best to not teach the dog that this is ok. A bark is a warning before a bite in most cases as well. This may not be your dog in a way to bite but the wrong circumstance it can be. A dog is an animal and this is one behavior not recommened. :)
Also, a reply to another answer prior to mine about spanking a dog for peeing, never never hit your dog. There are other methods of training.

Answer 4

I do not think it is good to play rough with the dogs. Now, rough play between the dogs is okay as long as it does not get to the point where they get mad. I would just be afraid that the rough play with you might end up making the dog aggressive.

Answer 5

I wouldn't reccommend teaching your dog to play rough because your dog will eventually look at u as a equal or below them. All respect for you will be lost. In my case, my dog loved to play fight with me, but when I was getting ready to spank her for peeing on the floor, she snapped at me. That was exactly when I knew the play rough game was a bad idea.

Answer 6

If you do it, the kids may try it. If they get overexcited or scared, the dog may sense it and actually attack. It's not a good idea.

Answer 7

when your dog is playing with don't ever let her put her hand in your mouth.She will strat biting you if she thinks it is ok to do that.My dog had the same promble when he put my hand in his mouth i would snap then put my hand up and say.NO!

Answer 8

no rough play premotes fighting and fighting promots athoities putting him down

Answer 9

it is very dangerous...you let her do it to you but how about the kids you are telling the dog that its ok to tackle u to the ground so one day she might do it to your kids if it becomes a bad habit