Wrestle problem

[dantesmom]

Before we brought Dante home, Bubu really loved to wrestle with her buddies at the dog park, and all she would do is grab the ears or the skin on their faces or necks. However after we got Dante, I've noticed that Dante goes to nip on Bubu's back and limbs, A LOT, when they wrestle. At this point, Bubu doesn't actively want to wrestle with Dante any more, because I'm guessing it really bothers her that he nips at her body and limbs. He does also try to grab the skin on her neck, face, and ears, though, only sometimes. Lately we've noticed that Bubu had learned from Dante to nip at his legs too when they wrestle.

Do you guys' mastiffs nip at anywhere else other than the neck/face area and the ears? Is it normal for them to play like that? Should I intervene? It doesn't seem to be hurting anybody..YET.

 

[vadersmom]

I had to stop Brodie from going to the dog park cause she learned to grab onto a collar and not let go-ever. She plays just fine with her day care group but all collars are off. They can learn bad habits from each other...she got pulled around by her collar when she was little and now that she is 80+ pounds, it is no longer an option for her to latch on to another. She plays well-but no collars

 

[twood71]

My 4 month plays fine with my 1 year old. But when the 1 year old plays with another dog, the 4 month old hangs on to the 1 year olds tail and bites at his sack as well.

Is starnge.

 

[Smokeycat]

My guys tend to open mouth attack each other, they rarely actually nip at each other but one thing I have noticed is that you need to be aware of how both dogs are feeling and if one shows signs, even a subtle one, that they are not happy then you need to step in and calm them both down before it gets to the point of blood. In other words if they like it it's ok as long as you are comfortable with it too.

 

[DDSK]

The older dominate dog will usually teach the puppy what is out of bounds while playing with a well placed nip, the pup will learn what is inappropriate.
When Abtby went too far Zoey would give her a nip on the lip and she would get the idea right away.

 

[LizB]

Different dogs play differently together, and you have to sort of leave it up to them how they go about things. When one dog doesn't like something, usually they will "correct" this with a yelp, snap or growl, and it is important that you not interfere when that happens, as long as there's no blood or true aggression. Sometimes a correction can sound like a dog fight starting but it isn't, just one of the dogs saying, "HEY! That hurts! I'll play with you but don't do that anymore."

I've had young dogs bounce and nip and hang ALL OVER the older dog, doing anything possible to elicit a reaction or to instigate play, and it is up to the older dog to show the younger one good manners and doggy etiquette. This is invaluable training and is part of the socialization of a young dog. People can't orchestrate this, and it has to be between the dogs, since they speak each other's language, lol.

 

[dantesmom]

Thank you all for your kind replies! Bubu (a year and half) was never a dominant dog to begin with.. and now Dante is going in to his adolescence (6 months), I'm starting to see more and more Bubu getting frustrated and running away (she doesn't really correct him, she just tries to avoid him), and I figured I had to stop Dante before he annoys Bubu even more. But should I stop the intervenes and let Bubu deal with Dante on her own? I just feel bad for Bubu sometimes.. Dante drives her crazy

 

[LizB]

IMO Bubu needs to deal with Dante, but there are dogs who aren't willing to do that.

What will likely happen is Dante will become dominant, and if Bubu is truly a beta-type dog she'll be content with this, because there won't be confusion. In the meantime watch and be sure she's not stressed unduly, BUT, keep in mind that you watching them, worrying/evaluating/stressing over whether Bubu is stressed could actually make Bubu be stressed, and letting them sort things out without you watching could be the way to go, within reason, of course. Or, have a disinterested party (friend, partner, etc who isn't concerned about whether Bubu is being pestered) supervise their playtime.

 

[dantesmom]

So it doesn't matter if the younger dog is more dominant than the older dog? I've seen Bubu hump Dante a few times (only recently), usually after I give Dante affection. I know humping from a female dog is dominance, but other than this, she really shows little to no sign of dominance. She's not too submissive to Dante either. But I feel like at this rate, like LizB said, Dante will become the dominant one. I'll just keep an eye on them, and let them sort it out. (As long as it's ok for the puppy to dominate the older dog..)

 

[LizB]

It doesn't matter who's dominant, because you don't have any control over it.

I would not permit a dog to hump the other while I'm giving affection, no matter WHO is dominant, because that is disrespectful to you, the human in charge. The young pup will be pushy and is already showing dominant traits, and as long as Bubu does not fight him on this things should work out fine. If she already tends towards being beta then you've got a favorable situation. Just have to get past the annoying puppy phase first (from her perspective)