My friends puppies play really rough with each other. They sometimes even bite and scratch eachother .?

Question

I have even seem them draw blood. Should she stop them from playing like this or is it just part of their nature?

Answer 1

DUH They're dogs, shesh

Answer 2

This is a problem when you get more than one puppy at a time. I wouln't allow the rough play to esclate to the point of either of them hurting each other. Pups get carried away and dont know when enough is enough. Yes she should stop the very rough houseing with the pups.
If the pups are from the same litter then the pecking order has already been established before you even brough them home. The mother dog would not allow this to esclate into blood drawing, so now it's up to your friend to stop it.

Answer 3

When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths a lot. This behavior is not frankly aggressive at this stage – though it may be pre-aggressive.

There are two different life stages in which mouthiness can be an issue – before maturity and after maturity. The pre-maturity variety, all too often not taken seriously, and misguidedly interpreted as puppy play, leads to the adult version.

Bear in mind that it is easier to "nip" the problem in the bud at this stage by training youngsters what is and is not acceptable behavior. Even if the behavior has been permitted to flourish into adult maturity, it is still possible to take corrective measures.

Answer 4

Yes, puppies play very rough. If it gets too rough (ie. drawing blood) make them stop. Your friend could try spraying "Bitter Apple" on them which would make them not want to taste the stuff on the other pup and might teach them to play without getting too rough. It works great on anything you don't want the puppies to chew on, even your own hands. You can get it at most pet stores or vet offices.

Answer 5

Thats just the natural way puppies play and establish the dominance of the pack.
Just keep an eye on them and if they get too rough then break it up just like you would with kids playing too rough

Answer 6

Usually puppies are playful and bite, but I've never seen one draw blood. Separate them for a while, and see what happens. That's all I can tell you.

Answer 7

puppies know more about how to be puppies than we do...


i wouldn't break it up, if it gets too rough they will figure it out using simple simple logic.. example: one of my employs left a hammer on top of a ladder, later he went to move the ladder and the hammer landed on his head, instead of going on to yahoo answers and asking what to do.he used a super complex organ in his damaged head to equate 2 things, first don't leave tools on top of ladders, second look up before you move the ladder. hopefully the puppies are allowed to use the computer to post questions here or using there high powered brains they will figure out what hurts and subdue it

Answer 8

Thats what puppies do, its normal for them to play like that.

Answer 9

That's how puppies play.

When you adopt a puppy and then play with it...you have to train it not to use its teeth on you.

But all canine species, even wild one, play and use teeth.

Answer 10

Rough play is natural.It's up to you to teach them what is not acceptable to you by redirecting them when they get out of control.

Answer 11

Um, I could get a better idea if I knew what breeds they were. And no I am not being racist about certian breeds. I love all those powerful breeds like Pit Bulls and Bull breeds of any type, Rottweilers, ect. I have dealt with this issue before when we got my Female Rhodesian Ridgeback as a puppy and we already had a rescued Female Vizsla Mix whom we knew was very other dog dominant\jealous and also food, bone, and toy possessive\protective. Mine, Mine, Mine...It was all about her. I'm sure you know dogs like this...and this is what happens if a situation like your friend is in isn't corrected while they (the puppies) are young. You need to tell your friend that biting of any kind is not acceptable! Anyway, I'd had my Vizsla Mix for about 3 years, and I thought she was lonely at times and seemd to really enjoy playing at the dog park with other dogs. One thing I forgot to consider (and eventually figure out) was it was the Male dogs she enjoyed and the Females he had a problem with. Female to Female relationships are always a struggle in households and I learned this from a dog trainer I took my Rhodesian Ridgeback to. I originally wanted a Male RR for so long, but my husband would have no hiking of his leg in the house. I explained to him that most Male dogs won't do this if they don't feel like there is any competition in the pack, and they have been properly housetrained and\or neutered. It was a no go. I just accepted that often the puppies were just playing too rough. Many people who have asked me this question had gotten puppies who were separated from their littermates when they were too young. Mom and siblings didn't teach the puppy the proper restraint. Therefore, I stated that you the owner have to teach the puppy. There are many ways to do this. Some people put Bitter Apple on their hands. Some grab the pup's muzzle and say NO, which resembles what Mom would do by biting with her mouth. I used a water bottle on the Vizsla Mix that was filled with plain water accompanied by NO. This brought her back to her senses enough to quit biting. But she did eventually learn to like the small squirt of water and just lick it off. And she seemed to liked the Bitter Apple! I was at my wits end... I watched that show The Dog Whiperer on tv a lot. I learned a lot and was able to curb that food aggression thing with us. I had her snarl at me a few times when I went to get her toy we were playing with away from her. There goes the Female-Female thing again. And my husband can recall her holding her toys or bones tighter as he tried to get them out of her mouth. It was kinda scary, and I had actually been afraid of my dog for a little while. More problems started when the new puppy was grwoing up in the house. If my Girls has a bone, the Vizsla mix would stalk my RR, and pounce on her with hackles raised, and accompanied with growling and snapping, and take the bone fron her. My RR eventually learned this behavior and started doing it also. Round and Round they would go, but eventually the Vizsla Mix would get both bones and guard those. This eventuallt escalated into a little arguing and scuffling but no blood was drawn. The Vizsla was older, and nastier and eventually they fought more and more, and I ended up just like you with them. They were drawing blood and scraching. And while I was outta town the boarding kennels I left them at forgot to feed them seperately and my RR ended up with stitches all over on her face and neck and her ears. My RR has scarring on her face as a result, but luckly not to visible. I ended up rehoming the Vizlsa Mix with family which was ok, as I get to see her sometimes. And now I finally got my Male RR. So it all worked out for me in the end. But if you choose to try and fix your friends situation just keep some of these humane methods in mind, and be sure you stop the pups from playing for a couple of minutes when they start the really rough and vocal stuff. It does you no good to let them keep playing when they are biting each other - that just reinforces the behavior and they think its ok. Other people who ask me this question admit that they are also a bit frightened of their dog(s). Some eventually get back and tell me that the biting was just play-biting, and that one of these solutions worked for them. In any case, it worries me when people say they are afraid of their dogs. After that, I will tell people to visit a vet or animal behaviorist and find out why the puppies are biting each other and it could be in fact a dominance issue, and some professional help would be needed.
The dog needs you to be a leader of the pack, and if you are afraid this makes the relationship very dysfunctional. Dogs can sense this weak beahvior and will attempt to dominate over you by doing what they think is right based on what they have learned by themselves instinctively. If you are the slightest bit afraid of your dog, see a professional right away. Then the person should make an honest assessment as to whether or not the dog poses a threat. Unfortunately, due to unethical breeders there are a few specimens out there that are a danger to their human families, and to our freedom to own the breed of our choice makes it a torn issue between us.