Is my dog showing teeth playfully or aggressively during play?

She wants to play too, is talking to the others, and it is benign. She may be a bit timid which is why she does not join, but she is clearly wanting to play (wagging tail, excited, showing teeth). All that excitement!

Hi there! I can't say for sure if your dogs are playing or not without observing them - but in general, I can tell you that it's very normal for dogs to "fake" bite each other during play. Biting and mouthing, wrestling, and chase games are all normal ways that dogs play with each other. As long as neither dog seems afraid of the other one and both are actively participating, it's likely that this is play. If you're unsure, you can always try to get in touch with a good reward-based trainer in your area who can observe the dogs in person and give you a more definite opinion.

Unfortunately it's impossible for me to tell without observing the behavior. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Unless you are very familiar with reading canine body language and training, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and I recommend to do some research. Here are a few articles on puppy teething: https://www.petcoach.co/article/tooth-eruptions-when-puppies-get-their-teeth/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-great-toys-for-teething-puppies/ It is also possible that your puppy is simply an over excited and rough player. Reading the body language will help significantly. Best of luck.

Not always, dogs can growl when playing, when frustrated, when experiencing pleasure. Of course these are all different (pitch, tone, situation). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It can be hard to tell when dogs are playing and not fighting. You can listen for deep growling or raised hackles. Also, there shouldn't be visible wounds after playing. I would also watch the Pyrenees for signs that she is not wanting to play, such as trying to get away. Common areas for play fighting are the scruff and legs. Biting on the belly or genitals would be more aggressive than playing.

Hitting your dog will likely cause the opposite effect and cause the behavior to escalate from growling to biting or snapping. If he is growling at you over objects or just in general, I highly recommend seeking out a professional trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person ASAP as aggression toward people is a very complex issue that should be addressed immediately. I would NOT continue to hit or punish your dog for growling as this will only worsen the behavior. You can find out more about veterinary behaviorists and find one in your area here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

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.