My lab and pitbull are constantly restling. I'm not too worried about the lab being rough because he knows when to stop. I'm more concerned about the pitbull. Should i allow them to wrestle this way? I dont want the pit to wrestle the lab when they are both full grown and end up in a tragedy. I know they're playing but could this affect their future behaviors?
2007-03-28 13:16:28 · 17 answers · asked by Nicole 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
i would let them work it out, they are learning their boundaries with each other now
2007-03-28 13:20:58 · answer #1 · answered by Eric J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no. 6 weeks old is too young to be wrestling with an 8 month old lab. Unless you see that the lab is gentle with the pup and does not play too rough. At 6 weeks old dogs do want to play and chew around, and get used to their body but they are too young to understand that they can get hurt. If the Lab isnt too rough like you said it should be fine. Now im not a dog psychologist but it sounds like the pitt is just playing around. Dogs are usually very energetic at this age. Try giving it as much exercise as it can get, walks, fetch, whatever, this will tire it down and its energy will be used for something productive and healthy. A game of tug of war or however your dogs play around, jumping, nibbling on each other (whatever) is fine, but you can use the advice and see.
Good Luck!
2007-03-28 20:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs know the difference between play and real life. That is why many of them do the play bow before they start playing with another dog. That is their invitation to start playing, once they start playing all the "real life" rules are thrown out the window. It's fine that your puppy is wrestling with your lab, and I bet you anything that your lab will tell the pup the minute the puppy gets too rough or does something unwanted. I don't think you have anything to worry about with future behavior, they are just having fun!
2007-03-28 20:23:01 · answer #3 · answered by Melinda E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we had our pit we had the same question about him wrestling with our other dogs. We spoke with a number of people about this including a trainer and a person who worked with a local pit bull rescue and were told that although now it is not a problem because he is small but you should still not allow it because the habit will be very hard to break and trust me he won't be small very long by the time you realize he is bigger and stronger than your other dogs he has already developed the habit. It's just not a good idea.
2007-03-28 20:30:00 · answer #4 · answered by Petra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let them continue to do this unless the pitbull really starts to get to rough. I have a golden retriever an I had a lab. They both wrestled with my next door neighbor's little terrier. After my dogs started getting bigger they realized they were too big too wrestle a little dog like that. It was all fun and games, and like I said, they grew out of it. Your dogs might do the same.
Luv Ya!
2007-03-28 20:59:16 · answer #5 · answered by Rich 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Puppies play. BUT, just make sure you stop them when you want them to stop. Try your best not to let either dog win.
I would also suggest to anyone owning a pit bull and having multiple dogs to make sure, once they are full grown, to never leave them together unattended, regardless of if they were raised together and seem to get along well. With or without rough play pit bulls have a very high chance of being dog aggressive. You definitely dont want to come home to a dead lab.
Good luck with your new pups!!
2007-03-28 20:38:55 · answer #6 · answered by Abby_Normal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it shouldn't hurt anything by wrestling they are also bonding. you are going to have the occasional mishap every now and then when they wont get along but the pitt should know when to back down since the lab will more than likely be the dominant one but for a straight answer let them play if you separate them and never let them play together they will fight later on when they do get together because they wont have a chance to bond and establish dominance
2007-03-28 20:25:09 · answer #7 · answered by guitarking1982 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch it closely and make sure to assert yourself and tell the dogs how far they can go. If you see them getting a little too into it and too much actual fighting then stop them and correct them. Do it quickly though and they'll be able to put two and two together to recogznize that what they were doing was wrong and passed the boundaries that you set.
2007-03-28 20:26:20 · answer #8 · answered by Eric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a staffiexlab and a staffiexbulldog. They are respectively 7 months and 11 mnths. they playfight all the times, you can hear them going at it from morning till night. they get on great together, its only playing. Let them do it, its good to have a friend to share "games" with. Just make sure you take the pit out to make friends in a park or something to get used to being with other dogs. My staffiexbulldog is a very shy and timid dog and thats what i do to let her have friends to maybe avoid problems when she grows up.
2007-03-28 20:28:45 · answer #9 · answered by Val® 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont think it will matter much but i wouldnt take a chance try to stop the play fighting.unless the lab is very nice and knows when enough is enough then i wouldnt worry about it to much.
2007-03-28 20:24:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I used to own labs and I know for a fact they are friendly dogs i heard that pit bulls were mean. But if i were you I wouldn't allow it.
2007-03-28 20:42:40 · answer #11 · answered by Amber G 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋