My 10-month-old and 3-month-old puppies play rough. Is that okay?

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.

As long as Dallas is healthy, it should be fine for Phoenix and Dallas to interact with supervision. Try to avoid or limit any time the puppy spends outside, and do not go to dog parks or pet stores with him until he has received several sets of vaccines. Phoenix is a cutie! Good luck with puppyhood and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is definitely OK for them to interact, and it will actually help socialize your younger puppy. Your younger dog will learn their boundaries and what behaviors are acceptable and not. Before bringing your young puppy out to play in public with any other dogs, be sure that he/she is fully vaccinated (finished with his/her puppy vaccine series). This will give them the best chance at fighting off any potential infections in the environment. I hope this is helpful!

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.

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.