Puppies do a lot of play fighting. However, playful activities can take a turn for the worse if the dog begins to bite or play in a way that harms people or other animals. Puppies that are engaged in healthy, happy play will be loose, having bounding, bouncy, sometimes exaggerated movements with a big, silly, open mouth. Bring your puppy to a puppy kindergarten class or puppy play group where there is time for off-leash play with other puppies. Puppies Bonding Too Much. However, play sometimes scares dog owners because they look a little too rough and might result in injuries. Reward the behavior you want the puppy to exhibit as an adult dog. They will attempt to assert dominance over each other until the natural order of the pack is arranged. In general, you shouldn't discourage puppies from play fighting. It's part of their development and a normal way for them to learn limits, as in "this is how hard you can bite before you get in trouble." Puppy play consists of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting. My Two Puppies Play Fight Constantly Are They Hurting Each Other? ... option may be to let them fight, as much as you don’t want to do so. Separate puppies when one pup seems overwhelmed or things get too rough, until the puppy calms down again. Well, do not stress yourself out because this is perfectly normal. What is the "correct" way to stop two puppies from fighting/ playing too rough? Dogs may play-bite, lunge, swipe, and even bark at you or other dogs during play, but it will normally be done in a gentle, friendly manner. holding sibling pups. If two dogs are wrestling and it seems too rough to you because of the slamming, biting, and snarling, should you intervene? All too often, dog owners misread the language of dogs interacting with one another. So if the puppies are just roughhousing with each other -- and even if there's a yelp here and there -- leave them alone. 5 Signs Your Dog Is Getting Too Much Exercise ... Young puppies (especially large and giant breeds) need some exercise, “but not too much as it can result in joint problems later in life,” Jeffrey says. When your puppy is quiet and relaxed, praise it or give treats. Getting nipped by small dogs who've had one too many lab stand on them can cause some labs to be aggressive back, although I've only seen that in black labs, who have their colour as an issue too. Fighting among cohabiting puppies is a natural and essential mechanism for establishing pack structure. How can you tell if dogs are playing or fighting? ... being able to answer the question “Are these dogs fighting or playing?” can provide you with peace of mind. Fighting: In many cases where these sibling puppies have come to totally rely on each other, then frustrations can play a part in causing underlying animosity. ... so they will learn to control their play. Even though play fighting is very different from real fighting, people often feel the need to intervene. Being able to read body language and behavioral cues yourself is of utmost importance in order to differentiate puppy play from puppy fighting. Watch Queue Queue.