Hello, my Labrador, who is nearly a year old, tends to get really overexcited when playing with other dogs. They usually start off playing in one spot, but then they typically start chasing each other, and that’s when my dog tries to grab the other dog’s hindquarters and sometimes nips them. Usually, the other dog puts him in his place, or I have to step in to stop the excitement and the chase. I don't really know what this behaviour means or if I should be worried. As a result, I'm finding it hard to let him play with other dogs, even though he's very social and there are no other issues, but it’s making me anxious. Have any of you experienced anything like this? Should I be concerned, and should I keep letting him play? Thanks in advance for your advice.
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In the nearest small town to me, there's a tiny little park by one of the supermarket entrances where there are often groups of young (and not so young) people hanging out, smoking, begging, or just socialising. They’ve all got dogs that wouldn't know what a lead was if they saw one; dogs that are really well socialised and very clear in how they set boundaries for "anarchist" youngsters, like my girl was at the start. I was always worried she’d run into a genuinely nasty one because she treated every dog as a potential playmate. She’s more respectful now and knows how to ask permission from older dogs. She’s still a bit too boisterous with dogs her own age, but she’s finally okay with younger ones—even though she used to stress them out at first, my little grasshopper...
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I think it’s all just play, but I’ve always got this nagging worry that she’s being "dominant" or a "bully"... what exactly are these meet-ups you’re talking about?
Does she know the command "gentle"?
At 18 months, it’s quite normal for them to still be a bit of a "bulldozer"—she’ll grow out of it. In the meantime, keep a close eye on how the other dogs react (they need to be able to handle a bit of rough and tumble and, of course, they shouldn't be on a lead). Once those two conditions are met, there’s no real danger.
You could also try my "recipe" for teaching her some doggy manners: take her to get "schooled" by the dogs you see with the street community. Generally, they have very well-balanced dogs that give very clear signals, lol.
My Lab is 18 months old now. She’s always running after her doggy friends and trying to catch them. It’s rarely the other dogs chasing her. And when they're play-fighting, it's the same story – she’s usually the one on top and they rarely swap roles... it does happen, but only with a few dogs where I can really see that the play is mutual and a bit more balanced, which I prefer. Because of that, I’m not really sure what to make of it with the other dogs...
Generally speaking, this sort of behaviour isn't uncommon in dogs who want to play, as long as it doesn't become dangerous. If he carries on like this, it shouldn't be an issue, but if he starts doing more than just nipping other dogs, that’s when you’ll need to tell him to stop.
In the beginning, he used to nip sometimes and the other dog would let out a sharp yelp. It hasn’t happened since, but I’m still worried he’ll hurt the other dog and I must admit I’m becoming more and more reluctant to let him off the lead to play... in games of chase, it’s usually him chasing the others and sometimes he gets put in his place – I don't mind that, quite the opposite, actually... yes, I should probably tire him out beforehand, but then it's not exactly easy as I'm taking him out specifically so he can burn off some energy... it’s hard to know how to get the balance right so he’s sociable without being too pushy...
Hi Isis,
He’s a Lab; he’s just so happy to be playing that he shows his affection by mouthing (or nipping). Does he ever give the other dog a bit of a 'hip-bump' at full speed to knock them over? My Labradors used to love knocking others down when they were puppies...
As long as the other dog or puppy isn't yelping or letting out high-pitched cries, it means your youngster is controlling his strength. Other dogs will certainly let him know if he’s overstepping the mark.
You should intervene if the growling starts to sound a bit too serious on both sides, if your Lab’s tail goes up and his hackles are raised (the hair along his back), or if he starts squaring up to the other dog to charge at them and barge into their chest.
At nearly a year old, to help burn off that boundless energy before meeting up with his 'pals', you really need to tire him out with some exercise: water retrieves, swimming, scent work, or agility (without too many jumps).
Do you have a solid 'stop' or 'leave it' command?
Mine is four now, and when she’s playing with me, she still does little nips on my arms. It doesn’t hurt; it’s just quick little pinches. It usually happens when she’s 'losing'—she’ll growl, and then after the nipping, I get plenty of licks.
Thanks for your replies. I’m mainly worried that he might hurt them by nipping, and then the other dogs won’t want to play with him anymore. I’m also worried that the other owners won’t be too happy about it. It makes me quite sad because he’d made loads of mates, but since then I’ve been a bit hesitant to let him go and play...
Hi there,
This is essentially your dog asking the other dog to stop running. You won’t be able to change this behaviour throughout their life, but you can certainly step in and stop it. Some dogs love to play by having a good sprint, while others have a different idea of how to interact. Generally speaking, you can tell play is perfectly healthy when games of chase go both ways and are broken up by little pauses and other types of interaction.
