When Playtime Turns into a Fight

Whether you have witnessed a dog fight in person, have only seen one online, or have never seen one and want to keep it that way, it's important to know how to prevent a dog fight during playtime. I'll discuss what good play looks like and what signs to watch for to know when to stop play.

When dog's are having fun, we do not have to interrupt their playtime. Some signs that dog's are enjoying playing with each other are:

• A lot of back and forth between the dogs. Meaning they:

  • Switch between chasing and being chased.

  • Switch being on the ground with the other dog on top of them and vice versa.

• None of the dogs are trying to "run away" from the other dog(s).

• Their movements are loose, bouncy, and wiggly.

• They perform play bows and jump/move side to side.

• When "biting" each other, no one is yelping or being seriously injured.

• They are all able to get up and move around when they want to.

• They make play fair. Ex: A big dog will lay down or lay on it's back when playing with a puppy or small dog as to not hurt them.

When a dog has not been properly socialized around other dogs, they don't learn how to read other dog's body language and how to play with other dogs. When this happens, the unsocialized dog will unintentionally push the limits of a dog that does not want to play anymore and this can lead to a fight if not stopped. Some signs to look out for are:

• The opposite of any of the good play signs above. Examples:

  • A dog being chased and the chaser not letting up.

  • A dog being pinned and the pinner not letting them move or get up.

• A dog that keeps mounting another dog.

• A dog that keeps trying to put their chin or paws on the other dog's back.

• The dog's bodies are stiff or have little movement (could be both or just one of them).

• A dog keeps slamming it's body into the other dog.

• Biting is causes the other dog to yelp or the biter tries to latch on and shake it's head.

• Vocalizations become more intense than what is normal for the dog.

• The dog's keep going up on their hind legs together excessively.

• They dogs start competing for resources (e.g. toys, water, doors, etc.).

• If a big dog is too rough with a small dog, or starts "stalking" it.

If you notice any of these signs, it's important to stop the play immediately. Even a tolerant dog has it's limits, and a less tolerant dog can cause serious damage.

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