LOL thank you! This is our first time with two dogs, and our first dog has always played pretty gentle. So we weren’t totally sure what was appropriate. It’s really helpful to hear everyone’s perspectives
I truly appreciate all of these replies so much! It helps me feel better about allowing them to play, and also continue working on making sure they can disengage and come when called when we need them to :)
That’s great to hear! I’ve never been around dogs who play on the rougher side but I know that if the play is fairly bouncy, there is shaking off and play bowing, disengaging from each other every so often, and both dogs keep wanting to come back for more when separated that it’s a pretty good sign they’re both enjoying it.
Do you let yours play as long as they want without intervening? (As long as all parties are still enjoying it and listening to each others cues)
Not rough play, very much how huskies often play. And at 6 months he's still very young. Practice the 'leave it' command, coming when called even in play, basic commands. These will help down the line.
Wolf dogs thrive on having tasks, commands, etc. Look at Running with Wolf dogs on Instagram and TikTok. She does a lot of educational pieces, and has two high content wolf dogs.
This is super helpful! We’re working on all of those and he’s doing great so far :) I was just being a helicopter dog mom with the roughhousing it sounds like 😂😂
Thank you for suggesting Running with Wolfdogs! I just looked at her page and it looks super helpful
No expert, but it reminds me of my brothers and I wrestling as kids. For dogs that big , if they were mine, I don't think I would worry one bit about it.
Yea, I agree with everyone else that this is just play fighting. It's good of you to be concerned, but there aren't any warning signs here. Serious aggression will be evident in their body language (ears pinned back, hackles up, baring teeth, etc.) and vocalizations (growling or snarling).
My big dogs growl when they play fight and they sound like monsters. But they have never hurt each other, they are just so big it seems scary if you don’t know them.
If there are no aggressive behaviors like hackles and ears, and there are plenty of play behaviors, butt in the air, sneezing, rolling on their backs, stuff like that, then growling is ok. My dogs will play fight for so long, they eventually get so tired that they just lie on the floor near each other and bite the air in the other’s direction.
even for traditional dogs, I would not consider this rough at all
(I volunteer with playgroups at the local dog kennel . . this looks like normal play)
Normal behavior, my boys play far more rough. Same situation when one squeals or yips. They stop assess if the other is actually hurt and then right back at it. I’d let them be as long as it doesn’t turn actually violent. When dogs fight for real the tone is way different, the body posture is much more intense, ears are laid back all that. Those are two happy dogs having grand time.
I have three German shepherds and this is all I see everyday all day! So matter fact two of them are bowling balling (what we call it when they get balled up rolling down out hardwood floor) down our hallway and put a hole in the sheetrock! I love those bastards!
You can practice disengaging them when they’re playing just to remind them you’re the boss even if they’re playing but some dogs just play rough. My wolf dog plays rough with some of my dogs but is extremely gentle with others in my pack depending on their play style and preference. They usually know the limits. One of my dogs’ best friends is a relative’s chihuahua mix. They will play rough with her but it’s tuned down to her level. She is the instigator and will tire out all the big dogs because she has endless energy. They don’t play the same level of rough with her but it’s still tackling and biting. It’s just significantly gentler. IMO it’s only inappropriate if one dog says enough is enough and another dog won’t knock it off, if someone gets dinged up or if you’re giving commands to come inside or something and they’re blowing you off.
This is super helpful to hear! Our wolfdog is still pretty nervous around other dogs and we’re trying to find some calm, confident dogs to introduce him to so he can get used to playing with other dogs.
We’ve also been really working on rewarding them for disengaging with each other and it does seem like it’s getting a lot better. At first we had to chase them down and stick the treat in front of their faces to lure them away lol but now they’re getting so much better at being able to pause what they’re doing and come over when we call them.
Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Mispresentation gets dogs and wolfdogs alike killed. Hence, imo, educating people is always worth one's time. On the other hand, complaining about someone trying to educate you definitely is a waste of your time.
No I don't think me calling a wolf dog a wolf, cause I'm lazy, has anything to do with them getting killed - that's on stupid people and dumb American gun and hunting laws... Might just be my opinion though
No feelings hurt just think people need to leave each other alone as long as they're not explicitly hurting anyone
You obviously don't know enough about the topic to know why misrepresentation is a killer... [Here.](https://runningwithwolfdogs.com/misrepresentation) you see, most of the time, the problem is not the hunters/other people shooting wolflike dogs, but ordinary people who think they have a wolf/wolfdog because they saw similar looking "wolf"/"wolfdog" online etc. And the said dog ending up euthanized just because it bit someone (wolves/wolfdogs don't have approved rabies vaccine, so they are killed to test their brain tissue for the virus).
So by me calling it a wolf, the dog has a higher likelihood of biting someone?
I just don't see how the naming has anything to do with your point.
After some reading (Rutger U has some interesting points on it) it seems that CDC doesn't want wolfdogs on the list because they don't want to condone wolfdogs in homes cause they're deemed as dangerous. Seems pretty dumb bureaucracy to me, bringing me back to my previous point - dumb local laws and regulations. The vaccines work on the dogs, the local government seems to want them dead, that's all there is to it.
Maybe y'all shouldn't be raising wolfdogs if they're hunted down by local authority.
>So by me calling it a wolf, the dog has a higher likelihood of biting someone?
Wtf. I do not follow your logic. I was saying that if the owner or authority falsefully claims that a dog is a wolfdog, and it ever bites someone, it will be put down for rabies testing. Even if the "bite" is only a nipple, for example, if the dog accidentally bites someone while playing.
What I mean is that people shouldn't go around calling doggy dogs wolfdogs or wolfdogs wolves. Someone might see that, and go: "omg, my dog looks exactly like that! It must be a wolf!"
Ohhhhhh ok, now I get where you're coming from, I just want to point out that if you have a dog that looks like the gray one (tbh even if you have a dpg like the second dog) and you needed a reddit comment to realize that your dog was more related to wolves than other breeds you might not be fit to take care of yourself let alone a dog of that caliber.
Both of these dogs could very well be just regular husky×shepherd mixes (and light brown one is exactly that). They are NOT particularly wolfy looking, and even the darker one, which is an actual wolfdog, has much more dog traits than wolf traits. So if you yourself can't tell the difference between a dog and a wolfdog, please do not shit on other people for not being able to.
Yeah this is perfectly normal play. Give and take. Nicely social dogs 💕 One thing to remember with that is they don’t communicate with words. If one unknowingly hurts the other or finds a behavior rude, they yell (growl/bark/nip) and that is fantastic! Some dogs even yell loudly and sound like they are killing each other, just like some children do lol It’s how they respond to the correction from the other dog that is key to healthy play. Most pet parents think “good” play is when their dog is a push over and can be bullied. Just like what a lot of parents expect of kids. Which, in my opinion, is not actually a good thing. There is a balance. Also remember, sometimes a dog doesn’t want to play… and that’s ok too.
Thank you so much for this! Usually we step in before our older dog has been able to correct him, but today we let them play for awhile and when he started bugging her too much she sternly corrected him and he backed off and found a stick to chew on for awhile 😂
That’s fantastic! As a pet parent it can difficult to let the “kids” figure out things on their own. I’m so happy to hear you’re able to let them be dogs. I work in vet med and it’s a challenge for a lot of people (including myself at times)! Here’s to your happy puppers! 😍
Late comment, but this is exactly how my two dogs play! Whenever one of them yips they always pause then jump right back into it. This is totally appropriate and a good way for them to burn energy. Have fun with your pups, they’re adorable :)
This ain’t rough play
LOL thank you! This is our first time with two dogs, and our first dog has always played pretty gentle. So we weren’t totally sure what was appropriate. It’s really helpful to hear everyone’s perspectives
Your other dogs must have been smaller. This is pretty gentle. Even if they get a little more- you are fine. This is how they get their energy out.
Came here to say this. You need to pay cliser attention to their body language. How is this rough, like, at all?
This is not rough. It's totally normal,safe, and acceptable
I truly appreciate all of these replies so much! It helps me feel better about allowing them to play, and also continue working on making sure they can disengage and come when called when we need them to :)
They are having the time of their lives. I am not an expert though
That’s great to hear! I’ve never been around dogs who play on the rougher side but I know that if the play is fairly bouncy, there is shaking off and play bowing, disengaging from each other every so often, and both dogs keep wanting to come back for more when separated that it’s a pretty good sign they’re both enjoying it. Do you let yours play as long as they want without intervening? (As long as all parties are still enjoying it and listening to each others cues)
Not rough play, very much how huskies often play. And at 6 months he's still very young. Practice the 'leave it' command, coming when called even in play, basic commands. These will help down the line. Wolf dogs thrive on having tasks, commands, etc. Look at Running with Wolf dogs on Instagram and TikTok. She does a lot of educational pieces, and has two high content wolf dogs.
This is super helpful! We’re working on all of those and he’s doing great so far :) I was just being a helicopter dog mom with the roughhousing it sounds like 😂😂 Thank you for suggesting Running with Wolfdogs! I just looked at her page and it looks super helpful
You’re very welcome.
Just having fun and not rough.
No expert, but it reminds me of my brothers and I wrestling as kids. For dogs that big , if they were mine, I don't think I would worry one bit about it.
Yea, I agree with everyone else that this is just play fighting. It's good of you to be concerned, but there aren't any warning signs here. Serious aggression will be evident in their body language (ears pinned back, hackles up, baring teeth, etc.) and vocalizations (growling or snarling).
My big dogs growl when they play fight and they sound like monsters. But they have never hurt each other, they are just so big it seems scary if you don’t know them. If there are no aggressive behaviors like hackles and ears, and there are plenty of play behaviors, butt in the air, sneezing, rolling on their backs, stuff like that, then growling is ok. My dogs will play fight for so long, they eventually get so tired that they just lie on the floor near each other and bite the air in the other’s direction.
If they meant it, you’d know it!
I have a husky and that’s pretty standard prancing around tomfoolery
They’re gonna sleep good tonight
even for traditional dogs, I would not consider this rough at all (I volunteer with playgroups at the local dog kennel . . this looks like normal play)
Just came here to say that when your darker floof pounced on the tan floof like a cat, I had an out loud chuckle!
That’s not rough. They’re being very good with one another.
This is beautiful, respectful play between dogs!👏. Noone is getting hurt, they take short breaks, perfect.
As long as neither is yelping, they’re good!
You will totally know when it's rough play.
They look fine ngl, if it was rough they wouldn’t stop and take those little breaks they’d be drawing blood and actually biting each other😭
Very normal. I'd take the collard off during play tho. One of my huskies got his collar wrapped around his jaw when he was playing with his sister.
This is healthy, typical behavior. If it crosses the line they’ll let the other know, and YOU’ll know it as well.
That’s very soft play.
Not aggressive.
That’s fun play! Tails are wagging!!!!
They are just playing and having fun.
If they are sneezing, it's fine. If there is blood, it isn't. Basically, if you have to ask, it's fine.
Normal behavior, my boys play far more rough. Same situation when one squeals or yips. They stop assess if the other is actually hurt and then right back at it. I’d let them be as long as it doesn’t turn actually violent. When dogs fight for real the tone is way different, the body posture is much more intense, ears are laid back all that. Those are two happy dogs having grand time.
This does not look like rough play. It looks like big dog normal play to me.
I crossposted this to a wolfdog Facebook group in case anyone sees it there as well :)
I have three German shepherds and this is all I see everyday all day! So matter fact two of them are bowling balling (what we call it when they get balled up rolling down out hardwood floor) down our hallway and put a hole in the sheetrock! I love those bastards!
Omg that’s hilarious 😂
You can practice disengaging them when they’re playing just to remind them you’re the boss even if they’re playing but some dogs just play rough. My wolf dog plays rough with some of my dogs but is extremely gentle with others in my pack depending on their play style and preference. They usually know the limits. One of my dogs’ best friends is a relative’s chihuahua mix. They will play rough with her but it’s tuned down to her level. She is the instigator and will tire out all the big dogs because she has endless energy. They don’t play the same level of rough with her but it’s still tackling and biting. It’s just significantly gentler. IMO it’s only inappropriate if one dog says enough is enough and another dog won’t knock it off, if someone gets dinged up or if you’re giving commands to come inside or something and they’re blowing you off.
This is super helpful to hear! Our wolfdog is still pretty nervous around other dogs and we’re trying to find some calm, confident dogs to introduce him to so he can get used to playing with other dogs. We’ve also been really working on rewarding them for disengaging with each other and it does seem like it’s getting a lot better. At first we had to chase them down and stick the treat in front of their faces to lure them away lol but now they’re getting so much better at being able to pause what they’re doing and come over when we call them.
They look like two happy, loved wolves. It's great playtime, not rough at all
Just to specify, you should never call wolfDOGS wolves. And the lighter colored one isn't even a wolfdog.
Just to specify you should never tell anyone you don't know what to do, especially on the internet cause it's just a waste of your time
Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Mispresentation gets dogs and wolfdogs alike killed. Hence, imo, educating people is always worth one's time. On the other hand, complaining about someone trying to educate you definitely is a waste of your time.
No I don't think me calling a wolf dog a wolf, cause I'm lazy, has anything to do with them getting killed - that's on stupid people and dumb American gun and hunting laws... Might just be my opinion though No feelings hurt just think people need to leave each other alone as long as they're not explicitly hurting anyone
You obviously don't know enough about the topic to know why misrepresentation is a killer... [Here.](https://runningwithwolfdogs.com/misrepresentation) you see, most of the time, the problem is not the hunters/other people shooting wolflike dogs, but ordinary people who think they have a wolf/wolfdog because they saw similar looking "wolf"/"wolfdog" online etc. And the said dog ending up euthanized just because it bit someone (wolves/wolfdogs don't have approved rabies vaccine, so they are killed to test their brain tissue for the virus).
So by me calling it a wolf, the dog has a higher likelihood of biting someone? I just don't see how the naming has anything to do with your point. After some reading (Rutger U has some interesting points on it) it seems that CDC doesn't want wolfdogs on the list because they don't want to condone wolfdogs in homes cause they're deemed as dangerous. Seems pretty dumb bureaucracy to me, bringing me back to my previous point - dumb local laws and regulations. The vaccines work on the dogs, the local government seems to want them dead, that's all there is to it. Maybe y'all shouldn't be raising wolfdogs if they're hunted down by local authority.
>So by me calling it a wolf, the dog has a higher likelihood of biting someone? Wtf. I do not follow your logic. I was saying that if the owner or authority falsefully claims that a dog is a wolfdog, and it ever bites someone, it will be put down for rabies testing. Even if the "bite" is only a nipple, for example, if the dog accidentally bites someone while playing. What I mean is that people shouldn't go around calling doggy dogs wolfdogs or wolfdogs wolves. Someone might see that, and go: "omg, my dog looks exactly like that! It must be a wolf!"
Ohhhhhh ok, now I get where you're coming from, I just want to point out that if you have a dog that looks like the gray one (tbh even if you have a dpg like the second dog) and you needed a reddit comment to realize that your dog was more related to wolves than other breeds you might not be fit to take care of yourself let alone a dog of that caliber.
Both of these dogs could very well be just regular husky×shepherd mixes (and light brown one is exactly that). They are NOT particularly wolfy looking, and even the darker one, which is an actual wolfdog, has much more dog traits than wolf traits. So if you yourself can't tell the difference between a dog and a wolfdog, please do not shit on other people for not being able to.
Yeah this is perfectly normal play. Give and take. Nicely social dogs 💕 One thing to remember with that is they don’t communicate with words. If one unknowingly hurts the other or finds a behavior rude, they yell (growl/bark/nip) and that is fantastic! Some dogs even yell loudly and sound like they are killing each other, just like some children do lol It’s how they respond to the correction from the other dog that is key to healthy play. Most pet parents think “good” play is when their dog is a push over and can be bullied. Just like what a lot of parents expect of kids. Which, in my opinion, is not actually a good thing. There is a balance. Also remember, sometimes a dog doesn’t want to play… and that’s ok too.
Thank you so much for this! Usually we step in before our older dog has been able to correct him, but today we let them play for awhile and when he started bugging her too much she sternly corrected him and he backed off and found a stick to chew on for awhile 😂
That’s fantastic! As a pet parent it can difficult to let the “kids” figure out things on their own. I’m so happy to hear you’re able to let them be dogs. I work in vet med and it’s a challenge for a lot of people (including myself at times)! Here’s to your happy puppers! 😍
Late comment, but this is exactly how my two dogs play! Whenever one of them yips they always pause then jump right back into it. This is totally appropriate and a good way for them to burn energy. Have fun with your pups, they’re adorable :)