Playing or not?

[GAIA]

Gaia (10 week EM) and our Border Collie (4 months) really love to play with each other. However, at times they really like to bite each other. It isn't real rough but can get out of hand. What I do, is just yell with a firm voice, "NO BITE" and separate them. Will this be effective enough over time and eventually will they stop their rough play or do I need to do more? Of course, they are never left unsupervised when together.

Thanks

 

[Mongo]

They are getting over-aroused, which since they are still puppies they havent learned self control yet. Teaching stay, sitting before you give them their dinner, sitting before putting their leash on, drop it, leave it all helps teach self control. What your doing is good except I wouldnt use the command "no bite" as its most often used for when the puppy is nibbling on your arm. I would either say "gentle" or "calm" or "time out". Just seperate them for a couple seconds to let them collect themselves. but only when things are getting close to out of control. Puppies bite, thats how they play... when it goes from both having fun to one isnt having fun any more - then break them up. When dogs are older(and properly socialized and have self control) when they play, chasing each other around they often just stop in their tracks and look at each other. This is them keeping things from getting out of control and to keep the play going.

Hope that makes sense

Good Luck

 

[morrigan05]

my two puppies are morrigan and melia which are both english mastiff puppies. 5 and 6 months old. morrigan will sometimes start growling and nipping. in this case, i make morrigan sit in front of me. my partner, will then play with melia for 10 minutes or so. during the time, morrigan watches but i dont let her move. after the ten minutes, i let her go play again. then she wont be as rough. it teaches her that rough play gets her no play.

 

[GAIA]

Thanks for the replies. The "time out" command is really working. The Border Collie is usually the one who will stop and get out of the situation first. I have been holding Gaia for a few minutes when I do this just to make sure she begins to understand what "time out" is.