i have to female dogs a terrier mix and a german shepard/rottie mix both about a year old..the german shepard mix is bigger than the terrier mix every day i see one of them do the little playful pounce and then the terrier mix starts growling when they play, ther german shepard mix always has her tail up when they play and so does the terrier mix is that a bad thing? how do i know when they really are going at it?
2007-11-26 16:53:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
my german shepard/mix always nips at my terrier mixes legs when shes not looking and thats causes her to growl
2007-11-26 17:02:35 · update #1
O.B.S.E.R.V.E.............
1. When you hear a growl, that "may" be a clue.
2. Extreme biting, holding down with teeth in tact on ear,neck, other. Hair on back and/or neck being up is a warning.
3. Whimpering.
Again.................OBSERVE, very closely.
Note: Tail up......happy, fun, good nature, play. Tail down or between legs AND hair standing up on back especially near neck......not a good thing, warning, scared, angered.
2007-11-26 17:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by Pilot ~ canine son! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dogs are friends. They will never get into a really serious fight. Most of the growling is play growling. But if one is annoyed with the other, it will probably growl and maybe snap (without making tooth contact). It is possible that if one of them becomes EXTREMELY annoyed it may NIP the other, and cause a few of blood to flow. This is a very strong rebuke, but it does not signal the start of a serious fight.
Some of the play fighting may seem too rough to you, but the dogs are enjoying it.
2007-11-27 01:38:15 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will know. It is natural for them to growl & yip when playing, but if it changes into a fight you will know right away. The agressor dog will be showing it's fangs and the tone will change from barks and yips and even growls to snarls. And I'm guessing the tone will be completely horrible with dogs of the size you are talking about. Fortunately for me my alpha agressor was only 15 lbs. and I was HIS boss even if he was everybody else's. I was able to pick him up in the middle of a fight. I DO NOT advocate this though if you feel your safety is in danger in any way. My spouse would not even go near the 15 pounder during a fight. He didn't trust him, and he was probably right. Go with your gut feeling.
Also keep in mind that the way they assert their "pecking order" or "chain of command" is by though growling and sometimes snarling. If a snarl ends after just one or so that is probably a pecking order display and that should be fine. If the snarl and bared fangs continues unabated (and if another dog is wimpering--although even if not) I'd consider that a real fight.
2007-11-27 01:14:12 · answer #3 · answered by yip yip yip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trust me, you will know. Watch their body language. When dogs are playing, they have that big doggy grin, they adopt the "play stance" (with the chest on the ground and butt in the air), their tails are wagging, ears are pricked up and the atmosphere is very easygoing and laid-back. In an unfriendly dog, the ears flatten, teeth are bared.
Growling during play is fine. When you hear your dog give a real angry, menacing growl, you will be able to differentiate it from her play growl immediately.
But, even if they aren't getting excessively rough, then you should feel free to stop them whenever you're not comfortable with it. You become the "hall monitor" to step in and say how intense play can get.
2007-11-27 01:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by ninjaaa! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like many have already said, there is a distinct difference between play-fighting noises and real-fighting noises. For instance during play they might growl or bark now and then, but when they're really going at it the noise will be more constant and much more vicious. A growl does not always mean anger. I've known dogs who sound downright frightening, yet they're just playing around. You just have to get to know what the different sounds mean for your dog.
2007-11-27 03:02:09 · answer #5 · answered by Tinkerbell 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Female dogs in heat Do NOT like other female dogs.
Get them fixed, before there is real trouble.
No-Kill animal shelters sometimes offer coupons to the vets they use, for people who need help to pay for neutering their animals. Check on the internet to see what might be available in your area...
If they begin drawing blood, & continue drawing blood, they are really fighting. One might accidently break the skin on the other dog, & that's just really rough play. Such a break can partly be caused by the bitten dog trying to get away, more than the biter trying to bite hard enough to break the skin.
Both having their tails up sounds like they are both 'alpha' dogs, & may be more apt to really get into a fight, especially if one or both of them come into heat! Get them fixed!
2007-11-27 01:03:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they really start going at it, you WILL know the difference.When the terrier starts to growl, correct him. Just keep an eye on their play and never allow it to escalate to trouble.
2007-11-27 00:59:48 · answer #7 · answered by DP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Trust me, you'll know if they really start to fight. The whole atmosphere changes - their bark changes and goes from playful to down right serious. They aren't 'play' attacking anymore - they just ATTACK! If they have never had a fight before now, they may never, but if they do, you will know, trust me.
2007-11-27 00:58:20 · answer #8 · answered by Shanna 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋