Is it play? Or something else?

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pogopup

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I think I have an easy question, but maybe not...either way I need some help.

For the most part, I can tell the difference between dog play and dog aggression. But there is one thing that Samson does that completely unnerves me and need to know if it's play or if I need to correct this behavior (and if so, how?) :uhoh:

Sometimes, when they play, Samson will grab a hold of Pogo's neck (Granted, Pogo has a full collar and I have no idea exactly how much he's grabbing a hold of) and shake :eek2:. Now, it's not a violent shake, but it's enough to make me take notice and think WTH and scold Samson and make him stop. He does and moves on to some random toy on the floor and both of them play with it together.

Pogo never yelps, screams, bark or anything else that would indicate that he doesn't like it; however, he's not a very vocal dog to begin with and doesn't "talk" much when he plays.

If it is budding aggression, how can I stop it? Do you think neutering will help? :confused2: :dead:

Thanks!
 
My first question is Pogo neutered ? I would think that if Samson is intact and Pogo not,then it might be assertive. Samson attempting to be the dominate one. Get him neutered and the odds are if it's aggression it will stop . But it doesn't sound aggressive because he stops when told. I'd get him neutered unless you plan on breeding or showing.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention that...yes, Pogo is neutered-that was part of the adoption contract. Samson is still intact, but will soon be neutered very very soon (also part of the adoption contract).
 
It doesn't really sound like aggression, rather just inappropriate play. Some dogs just play more rough than others, I don't think he is trying to be nasty on purpose.

But, regardless, it isn't acceptable play to grab a dog and shake. So stopping the behaviour is probably for the best. Normally, dogs police themselves during play quite well. If one dog crosses the line, the other dog will yelp to let them know that the behaviour wasn't appropriate. But if Pogo isn't giving those cues, then you should. Get Samson to stop, either with a verbal "hey!" or a light touch to draw his attention away from Pogo, and stop the play for a short moment. Ask Samson for a down or a sit, wait for a count until he has himself under control, and then allow him to get up and continue playing. It should only be a minute or so, nothing long as dogs don't have the same concept of time as we do. It isn't so much as you are scolding him, but just getting the point across that play time stops if he plays too rough.
 
I agree with GeeRome, sounds like inappropriate play, nothing more. Just keep doing what you're doing and discourage it when it happens. Definitely keep with the neutering plan!
 
Layla grabs Bits' neck, Bits grabs Layla's, and they body check each other, too! These are tough little dogs, folks! :lol:
 
I also agree with geerome. I am raising black lab currently, he is 5 months old, and he does the same thing to my shelties. I know he is playing, but it makes me mad because he will rip out their fur. what the trainers at pilot dogs told me to do is to keep him on a long line and correct rough play or use a squirt gun and squirt him in the face when he does it.
 
I'm having lots of laughs watching Bacca and Indy "play". So far their play consists of stealing toys from one another. The favourite toy to steal is a small while frisbee. All night last night they stole it back and forth from each other. It never turned into direct confrontation, but there were a few moments I wasn't sure how it would turn out.

So today I brought home an identical white frisbee and put the two on the ground in front of them. What do you suppose happened......? The second frisbee lay sadly abandoned, and the two of them played "steal" with the first! Too funny!
 
My two do the same! I have two of some toys, but it does not matter, whatever the other has, THAT is the ONE that the second wants. And they steal it from each other. Maia usually wins and ends up with it in the end. She's only 3 months old, but she gets her way with Chinook! You should see her run after him and take hold of his fur around his neck, or body or tail and she just holds on until he stops! (Sometimes, I wish Chinook would stand up for himself a little bit more with her. I try not to interfere, as there is no yelping or anything, so I figure it's just play) But they are so much fun to watch, especially in the deep snow now!
 
Ah, it's good to hear you say this, but I root for Bacca sometimes, because he's my "first born"! :smile2:

Like you, I just stand back and take pictures, though. They have to sort it out on their own! As long as it doesn't get nasty, then I'm good! And as long as I'm still pack leader too, then all is good! Yes?
 
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