Are dogs playing when one has his mouth around the others neck.?

Answer 1

Yes and No. This is a very common game between dogs. Its a game of dominance and just general fun. My two(bloodhound and mountain cur) love to pin each other down by the necks or chew on each other's ears. Usually it's all in good fun, but this is a method of killing. That is how dogs kill in the wild/domestic they go for the neck. It's similar to grown men wallering around on the floor wrestling. Their trying to beat each other, but actually no harm is intended. Yet another reason men are dogs, jk.

Answer 2

Dogs have to determine their 'pecking order'. The owner should always be the pack leader, but they have to determine who is next in line, and where each one stands in the pack. Biting on the neck is a show of dominance. It is ok, as long as it doesnt get out of hand. If the hair on the back is standing up, then they need to be stopped. Dont ever try to directly separate them however, this is how people get bitten. Throw a cup of cold water on them, then when they stop for a minute separate them immediately and let them cool off for a bit.

Answer 3

It depends. What is their body language? Are both dogs relaxed, jumping around, barking? Sometimes dogs will bare their teeth and play growl and "spar" - this is okay too.

What you need to look out for is stiff movement, dogs walking "on their toes" almost, tail held high and wagging stiffly, hackles raised, staring, low growling, and just general tension. At this point you need to get the dogs' attention off of each an have them seperate for awhile to cool off.

Likewise, if there is a big size difference between the two and things are getting wild, even if they are being friendly you will want to seperate them to protect the little guy.

Answer 4

Dogs and every other type of animal have mock battle play. It is instinctual play for when they grow up. Dogs or should I say wolves in the wild grab their prey around the neck to subdue and suffocate. If they are hurting on another you should be able to tell. If they are playing let them have fun. Dogs have very thick skin around their necks.

Answer 5

The training classes that I have been to say that they are playing no matter the faces they make or the noises as long as the hair on their neck or back is not standing up. When it is standing up that is a defense mode that suggests a mediator jump in.

Answer 6

Signs of fear or concern: lowered stance, tail down or tucked under, tail wagging in a quick, frantic buzz; looking away or turning head away to look so that whites of eyes show ("whale eye"); dilated pupils. Dogs often bark out of fear, in an attempt to keep a distance between themselves and the Big Scary Thing, especially if they are cornered, fenced in, or on a leash.

Answer 7

Dogs play very rough. Their skin is much tougher than human skin. Also one of the reasons you don't want to let puppies grow up biting you. Even if it is just play and tolerable to you they could hurt someone else. Puppies should stay with mom till 8 weeks to teach them that their bites do hurt. She is their standard. They bite her and if it is too much she corrects them. We have seen a lot of behavior problems with dogs that were taken away from momma to early. Even us in rescue will not let puppies go from us even if momma is gone till they are 8 weeks and we start working with them with our dogs. Most of us have dogs of our own that are used to having to help teach some manners (Many times in adult dogs). My mom comes over and still gets worried about some of the little ones when mine growl at them. Those are her grandbabies and she knows they are harmeless but still worries about the babies but they have to learn from their own kind

Answer 8

The majority of the time, yes...they learn that from there mom...that's the way the mother carries them while pups..just watch them and if they get to carried away be sure to stop them,,you know the difference of the growling and playing so it doesn't turn violent.

Answer 9

Sometimes.
That's the way their mothers correct them when their little.They hold the misbehaving pup down until it's calm.As the pups grow this is the way they establish dominance over other dogs.
As long as theirs no horrible growling and yelping going on don't worry about it.

Answer 10

Hmm.Maybe but maybe not.That is very aggressive playing.If one dog is smaller,,can get a broken neck.I would discourage this behavior.Try getting them to play tug with a toy or running some of that aggression off.