Did you know that there’s a difference between a dog that is playful, and dogs that play too rough? A playful dog reads other dog’s signals well and the play is mutual. Dogs that play too rough often turn into bullies due the sheer excitement that prevents them from stopping even if the other dog doesn’t enjoy the game anymore. When dogs are playing, it can sound like a heavyweight wrestling match even if it’s just normal canine behaviour. To determine if they’re playing or not, pay attention to all the dogs in the mix. Is their body posture relaxed, curvy and bouncy? Great. Is it stiff and straight? Not good at all. Are the dogs going back and forth, taking turns as to who is on top or chasing the other? Great! Does any of the dogs look unhappy and trying to avoid the others? Not good! If you notice the play is one-sided, intervene. Here’s advice from a dog trainer in Tempe on how to calm down too rough play.
Keep an eye on the mental state of your dog!
Like I’ve mentioned many times before in my previous blog posts, dogs are situational learners. They learn to expect certain things in certain situations and they can easily learn to get over-excited as well. And any learnt behaviours can easily escalate into something much worse. So even if you think the dogs are loud but ok, it’s a good idea to interrupt them now and again. Call them over to you and have them sit for treats, calm down a bit, then release them back into play. This helps the dogs to manage their mental state better and prevent over-excitement.
Exercise Before Playtime
Unfortunately, many dogs don’t get the exercise they need. Walks on lead are not cardio exercise for most dogs. Letting them run around your fenced back yard doesn’t work, either. You can exercise your dog with activities such running, fetch or swimming. Do it before heading to the dog park so that your dog won’t un leash all their bend-up energy on other dogs.
Consistent Boundaries
Dogs should have boundaries. I know he’s the apple of your eye but that apple should have limits as well, otherwise even dogs can turn into spoilt brats. And everyone who interacts with your dog must follow the same rules, or your dog will never be consistent. No teeth on flesh, ever, even in play! No giggling or giving him attention when the dog paws at your leg! You wouldn’t want your dog gnawing or pawing at a toddler or your grandmother, right? Set clear rules and stick to them!
Eazy Dog Training Sydney – Your Dog Trainer in Tempe – Call 0493933613/Anniina
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