Hi everyone, I have a little Jura Hound who is 8 months old. She is absolutely lovely with people and not at all aggressive, but when she plays with other dogs, she has a tendency to play nicely for a bit and then tries to dominate her playmate. She doesn't do it with every dog, but mostly with puppies aged one and under; she growls, pins them down and grabs the scruff of their neck (without breaking the skin) until the other dog submits. After that, she starts playing again, but if the other dog does something she doesn't like, she starts all over again. The other dog never yelps and always comes back for more, but I'm worried she'll end up becoming properly aggressive and that things will get out of hand. Does anyone have any advice for me? Usually, when she starts behaving like this and doesn't settle down, I separate her and don't let her play again until she's calm, but she always ends up doing it again.
Thanks in advance :)
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At 8 months old when facing another puppy, the theory that it’s a correction or even dominance seems quite plausible to me, based on the limited information provided.
Yes, that’s also plausible given her breed and size; she’s already fully grown, but she’s still young. She’d be showing a great deal of maturity in that case. In any case, it’s true that I got her age wrong because I was so focused on her behaviour, which really looks like she’s teaching the other one some proper doggy etiquette...
At 8 months old, when facing another puppy, the theory that it’s about setting boundaries or even dominance seems perfectly plausible to me, based on the limited info provided.
Yeah, the other dog keeps coming back for more, but in my opinion, at 8 months old, it’s not a correction, it’s just over-excitement during play. 🙄 I’ve just seen that... if the other dog is asking for more, you can let them play on 👍
I don't think Aggie was talking to you, she was talking to me. And yeah, my mistake, I misread it and thought it said an 8-year-old dog, not 8 months 🙄 So I agree, it’s not a correction, just excitement. And at that age, it’s up to the owner to step in if it gets a bit too much...
Yes, the other dog is coming back for more, but I reckon at 8 months old it’s not about putting them in their place, it’s just over-excitement during play. 🙄
I’ve just read... If the other one is asking for more, you can let them keep playing 👍
Hi everyone!
Angie98, your puppy plays and gets really over-excited, and she also tries to call the shots when playing. That’s normal, it’s just her temperament, and it’s also normal for other dogs to put her in her place.
If we’d had to rely on other dogs correcting ours, we’d still be waiting... It didn’t really happen; they all just let her rule the roost. It was a shame... for us! In almost three years, she’s only been told off by other dogs about three times. Basically, we were lucky because there were no fights, but unlucky because it meant we had to do the work ourselves so we didn't risk ending up with a pup who could never switch off... the extreme excitement, the frustration, etc. Anyway, it’s not good for anyone, and even worse for her.
Without banning play altogether, here’s what we did:
A few sprints before seeing other dogs (unless we bumped into them unexpectedly), and one or two recalls with treats.
Let her play, but just occasionally call her back to give her a reward (it might seem a bit "hands-on", but you just need to find the right balance... and it really works on the recall during high-stimulation moments).
As a result, she started leaving the dogs who didn't want to play alone; she wouldn't pester them for the whole walk.
I’d also recommend going on group walks rather than just standing around in one spot. That allows yours to run about, do her own thing, and burn off some energy.
Play some games with her yourself, too, to help her gradually learn how to manage her emotions.
If yours doesn't know when to stop and is being really pushy... in my opinion, you have to step in, and ideally just using your voice.
Then again, all dogs are different and they change as they grow, so it might just settle down on its own!
But I’ll just add that other puppies or dogs shouldn't have to put up with that excess energy. Some don't have the confidence to put another dog in its place, so why should they have to suffer just because "it's only play"? If we weren't there, yes, they’d sort it out themselves, but we are here! 😅 You just need to get the balance right with your interventions—stay calm and avoid scolding her so you don't increase her frustration.
Yeah, the other dog is coming back for more, but I reckon at 8 months old, it isn’t about him setting boundaries; it’s just overexcitement during play. 🙄
I see what you mean, Flip, but the pup is only 8 months old. Isn't she a bit young to be acting as a "teacher", especially since according to Angie, she’s the one who gets overexcited so easily...
Hi there,
Based on your description, this sounds like perfectly normal behaviour to me. Some dogs expect younger ones to have "calm-down" moments during play. Pinning a dog to the ground by the neck is a typical way for a dog to signal that they want the other one to settle down. Playtime needs breaks and moments of calm. When a dog lies down during a play session, it’s a gesture intended to signal a break to the other dog, and it’s a sign of respect and a good relationship.
Not all dogs do this, of course, but mine has been pinned to the ground several times by older dogs. Usually, once the younger dog is on the ground and has calmed down, the other one lets up.
If your dog only does this with younger dogs, I wouldn’t worry too much. She’s just teaching the puppy some "manners". This is the kind of canine interaction that we can sometimes find a bit hard to read. Keep an eye on things just in case, though...
