bradpattison.com

Hi there
My 2 dogs get along very well when they are inside. So much so that they are angelical. The pug is a male 9 years old and the x breed is a 13 week female. When I walk them together they do OK. When my wife and I walk them, the female pulls a little. Being a pup she has a short attention span and is easily distracted. That\'s OK cause she shows improvement every time we go out. Both dogs have Martingale\'s
My concern is when they play chase in the backyard. The pup will out run the pug. The pug ends up chasing the pup and gets frustrated. I usually give them a time out for 2 to 3 minutes. Then as dogs do they play using their mouths. Next thing I know the pup has lodged her teeth in the pugs side.
Here\'s the funny thing. It\'s happened twice, yesterday and today. After they are separated and calmed down they lay beside each other and fall asleep or they lick each other.
This is the first time I\'ve had more than 1 dog at the same time and haven\'t had a pup since 1990.
Any suggestions on how far the the rough and tumble play should go,,,if at all at this stage.
Thanks

ps
the vet told me the pup will be 60 to 70 lbs
The pug is a large very solid boy at 29lbs

I should clarify that the teeth issue has only happened twice.

Sorry, can't answer when rough play is too rough, but I've gone through what you are experiencing right now. We have a 2 yr old lab(80 lbs) and we got a lab/springer 4 mos. ago when she was 4 mos. old. I used to be worried when they played in the backyard. My 2 yr old would get frustrated with her and start to chase her. She would also chase my 2 yr old and bite at him on his side, front and back legs etc. We used to stop the play, too. We figured out that if they had a toy, like a rope, they would both hang on to it and run around. They would also play keep away which seemed to stop all the biting.

Now, 4 mos later, and our pup has grown(65lbs) there is no more biting other than the usual play(like dog's do!!) They have settled down alot with the rough play. Guess it just takes time.

Hope someone else can help you, just wanted to say good luck.

Have a question for you..Are the teeth puncturing the skin of the Pug?
I have a young dog and an older one with big weight differences as well...I usually dont interfere unless someone is hurt. You can tell when it is playful or fighting..if the play is not causing and damage to either dog I would stay out of it.

wen

At 13 weeks the pup likely would still have baby teeth and it really doesn't take much for those little needles to break skin. I'm sure the pug would let the pup know when he's had enough. I would say if neither draw blood, then let them work it out.

Wen,
The pups teeth are very sharp, so yes but more like scratches.That\'s when the pug goes into his high pitch sounds.
When we go inside the pup will be licking the pugs wounds as to say sorry.
In the past I did let then go at it, but the pug makes this sounds like he is being tortured. I feel like the SPCA is on their way.
Pugs are very nasal and I find it hard to tell what the different sounds mean.

I\'ve tried Pete\'s idea, but the pug won\'t grab anything in his mouth to play tug. I even sent multiple balls in different directions. Where one goes the other follows.

Like I said this only happens when they go out to play together other than that ,,,as I type,,,they are sleeping together.

Hi I agree with pete- find the puppy something else to play with. No biting the pug.
puppy teeth can puncture soft insides of belly on pug.
Try to get the young whipsnapper to know not to bite the pug-that it is unacceptable. I haven't had 2 dogs in a long time but thru some experience I know that wrestling /biting can lead to injury. Abcess on my one dog from playing with pup.Vet said it was from puppy teeth.

If the pug corrected the pup - I would say let them work it out--but it sounds like the old dog doesn't know how. they look like pals.
When pup gets older -it will stop this rough play. I am trying to think of some games they could play with no mouthing of each other cause pup is just playing. So for awhile you have to referee. and it is only out side that it gets wild.
I could be off track here-just my thoughts out loud.
I hope someone out there has some ideas of games to keep them active but not rough housing til puppy is more gentle.

We had a awful time with Kobe mouthing and chewing on us and correction seemed to make him bite harder-if you said "OWWWW" he would fly in closer and bite harder. I shoved my hand sideways across his mouth-that didn't work so I would grab bottom of his jaw-thumb on inside -telling him NO Biting-nothing real stopped him til he got older.
Hes 10 months now and if he grabs our hands -it is gentle. so I think its age difference and here and will pass but in the mean time -I would try to not let pup latch on a third time.

Good info everyone,,,,,being a ref is a little exhausting, but I know the time spent now will save vet $$$$ later.

It can be unsettling- all that rough play. My little Emmy (32 lbs) plays very rough sometimes with her brother (+65 lbs), or her friend (+70 lbs). Their necks actually get all gross and gooey from grabbing eachother's neck fur and pulling, draggin etc. It goes both ways. I've actually seen them stretch it! But if I grab her by the scruff she screams like I'm poking her with a hot butter knife. For the most part they'll work it out, and the pug will let her know when it's too rough. But don't worry about steppin in if you think it's too rough. Just go in a redirect the puppy to a more appropriate game.

Another game my husband and I play is "Doggie-in-the-middle". Just toss a ball back and forth. My dog's love it. Not only do they get alot of exercise running back and forth it keeps their focus on the ball and not each other.

I'm sure I can hear them "giggling"!!