A mutual play fight is different from play agression. Just playing ruff taken all by it;s self isn't the problem either.
Hyzzie has play agression. She was feral when I got her having been dumped at a young age and fending for herself. She didn't know the difference between play and real fighting. She just had fun fighting. She still needs reminding.
Even just jumping all over another dog that's minding it's own busness and doesn't want to play is bad enough, though wasn't her issue really with strangers dogs. She had it real bad. She'd attack Quasi thinking it was play then try to correct her and she'd turn on me. I'm just lucky she found me most any other owner would of had her put down. She has drawn blood on me, in play!
She's a lot better now. She's always been sweet but she's still a big bully. She'd never want to hurt anyone. We call her our little nurse. She worries over everyone. She doesn't draw blood now and knows which people to play more gently with and who'll allow more.
Play agression is play to ruff. If a rottie pics up a chi and tosses it around that's to ruff. If it draws blood or makes the other dog yelp it's too ruff.
Play agression is using seriouse growls and not play growls but you need to know your dog to know the difference.
Play has gone to far if hackles are raised.
Play agression is being to forcefull. Trying to make another dog play when it doesn't want to. Hyzzie will pester Quasi and be all over him then if he snaps at her it actualy just eggs her on because now to her he's playing or she's is just being a bully and thrilled for a reaction. She's better with that now too but we have to be the ones to correct her for pushing him. Another example is the little dog running after the big dogs barking and nipping wagging it's tail the second it sees them at the park.
It's play aggression to run up to another dog, mainly strangers, and start playing ruff with no warning or work up to it. Some people play fight with friends or wrestle ect but it wouldn't be okay for a stranger or casual aquantince to run up to you and suddenly start doing it to you.
It's play agression to not take no for an answer. If the victom dog snaps at you or growls or says enough in some way and you just come right back for more.
They do have play fights and Quasi now just snaps at her when he's decided he's done. I don't like that but she does stop now when he does that. Since he started doing that he has trouble getting her to play sometimes because she doesn't know when he'll just snap and say enough but he couldn't get the point across before. He does get in trouble for that anyway. There are more exceptible ways to say I'm done and she'll get in trouble if she ignores them. Actualy he doesn't do it so much any more.
Play fighting is fine. Heck her favorite game is keep away and growling and snapping at us over a toy. That's fine too now that she knows her limits, with reminders. to ruff we stop. and if she's just played to long or we say stop she has too.
Hyzzie was a little mess she had just about every type of agression known to dog, play, food, possesion, territory, fear, redirrection, dominance A regular handful of fun.
Play agression is a real problem for anyone dealing with it. some play agression is linked to dominance and some is from being taken from mom to young and or not being taught what was to ruff by people and or other dogs at an apropriet age. Really it is linked to dominance to try and force another dog to play, while playing to ruff is mostly from not knowing better. Both are a problem, together it's worse.
Originally Posted by bckrazy
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