My dog and puppy play rough, causing cuts. Is it normal? How to stop?

Hello, rough play is ok as long as they are not showing teeth or biting each other. It is also ok, as long as both of them want to play and not one picking on the other. If you think they are showing some aggression or if it is getting too rough, you can separate them for some time. Also ensure they have enough toys, especially chew toys so that they can redirect their rough play to those chew toys in particular. Hope this helps.

Puppies love to play but often do not know when it is too rough. When they start getting too rough and hurting on another it is best to tell them no and separate them. They will eventually learn the appropriate level of play!

It is very normal for young pets to want to play a bit rough. If it is getting to be too intense, taking some "time outs" and having everyone settle down can help to reduce the behavior and give everyone a chance to relax. This can be done by removing them to different rooms, distracting them with a shared toy, or giving each a treat and letting them chew on it in different parts of the same room. Once calm, play can then resume. Playing with toys, combined training sessions, fetch items, or puzzle toys can also help encourage the two to work together and enjoy company without getting too rough.

This sounds like puppy play to me. When they bite, is there any blood or wounds visible after play? If so, it may be best the separate them. If not, let them work it out! I would be more concerned if the biting was occurring on the hind or along the legs. I would also be concerned if there were other signs of aggression, such as during feeding time or potty time. If you are uncomfortable with the puppies play biting each other, try to throw some puppy toys in the mix, maybe even some that have treats inside to distract them.

It's true that play between two dogs can sometimes get out of hand and become a more serious fight. It can be hard for many owners to distinguish this from rough play, so feel free to request a one-on-one consultation if you wish - you can take a video of the behavior for me to look at, so that I can give you a better idea of whether this is normal play or something more serious. In the meantime, I would recommend distracting the dogs from their play session and redirecting them to something else if you are concerned that things are getting too intense. You can do this by shaking a treat bag, and asking both dogs to sit for a treat when they come to you. This helps to bring their arousal level down a bit, so that they are calmer when they go back to playing.

Dogs are generally good about regulating their own play and not pushing it too far. Even large dogs and small dogs can play nicely together. Supervise the play and if things do get too rough, separate them for 30 minutes to allow them to calm down. Both dogs will benefit from additional exercise (a tired dog is generally better behaved) and the aggressor dog would benefit the most. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, this is normal puppy play. Try not to get him riled up to the point where he is biting and growling. If he starts, stop play until he settles down. It is up to you to teach him what is appropriate behavior and what is not. If he bites hard, a stern "No!" Shouls stop/distract him. Offer an appropriate item to chew. Praise and reward rewatd him when he complies. If he doesn't, stop all interaction until he settles down. Be firm and be consistent.