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Is my puppy's biting and snarling with my dog normal play or fighting?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 30 days old | 33 lbs
Is it normal and alright for my pup—Kuro—to bite my 2-year-old dog—shiro—who (fake?) bites my pup back(he doesn't actually bite)? or should I stop them? Shiro snarls at Kuro but without sound. Are they playing or literally fighting?
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on February 14th, 2018
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.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful