Playing with smaller dogs

[jessesnewperson]

This is more behavior I guess, but a question nonetheless.

I have had big dogs the entire time I've had dogs so this really never occurred to me until Jesse took an interest in my friends small puppy. When my female was a puppy, my older dog was kind of out of the rough playing stage. My question is, Jesse is big and he likes to wrestle and play pretty hard. He's not mean or vicious, just big and strong. How worried should I be that he may hurt the smaller puppy? She's not small bred like a shih tzu or anything, she's just 6 months old. She's a mix breed of some sort with probably some shepherd in her. So far it's not been a problem. I always watch him when he's playing with the puppy. I know he would never intentionally hurt her, he does not have a mean bone in his body. Just curious how ya'll handle your big boisterous puppies with smaller dogs.

[charliebbarkin]

In puppy class we would just let them play. If the small dog showed signs of being overwhelmed we would call the bigger pup off, or pull him off, and if the small dog approached the bigger dog wanting to play then they'd be allowed to play. If the small dog didn't want anything to do with the bigger dog we would keep them separated. Signs would be backing up or cowering, hiding behind the owner, growling or baring teeth, stress panting or stress drinking.

Some of Charlie's best friends in puppy class were the smaller dogs. In particular a teensy 5 lb something that would have Charlie on his back after several play bows to one another.

In Burton's puppy class several of the dogs that loved him were the smaller ones. But all he wanted was to run with the big boys (I think being used to having Charlie around made him more inclined to want to play with the mastiffs in class). But the little dogs all went to Burton because he was so relaxed near them.

I think teaching good manners to your pup will help you go a long way. work on sits and downs so you can ask your pup to do these things to allow the smaller dog to approach your dog in a non-threatening way.

The dogs will usually work it out themselves. but if you feel you need to intervene for safety precautions, by all means just call your pup off and see if the smaller pup still wants to play. It might help just to break things up now and then to keep things calm.

[jessesnewperson]

The little one wants to play, that's for certain. I just wonder if she knows how much bigger and stronger Jesse is than she is.

[Kain's Mommy]

I think big dogs can decipher which small dogs are safe and which are not. Normally Kain doesn't give small dogs the time of day but he does with my friend's dog. Kain is a BIG boy and his best friend is my friend's 6lb chihuahua. Kain is super gentle with him and even makes baby noises to initiate play time.

[Snowshoe]

I think they will all be different in their relationships and you'll just have to observe and maybe intervene. We had it both ways. When Oban was 6 months he met an 11 month old BMD twice his size who was not nice. But the BMD was clumsy, could not keep up, was actually the one who was injured when he tripped over his own feet and skidded his nose down a paved road. We also met a little Cockapoo who could not possibly have weighed more than 10 pounds and she was also 11 months old. Peanut has some special air about her, much bigger dogs play with her, respect her, she doesn't get hurt, when they are too rough she lets them know and they heed her. It's quite remarkable. I just watch carefully. I'm more worried about mine being too clumsy than too rough with little ones.

[arentspowell]

Daisy is really gentle with Lily our 8lb doxie. They play bitey face which is hilarious to watch - Daisy rolls onto her back and let's Lily jump all over her. I would just supervise carefully, especially if the dogs don't know each toner that well. Lily likes playing with Daisy because she's gentle but I've watched her bare her teeth and growl bigger dogs that were playing too rough for her.

[jessesnewperson]

I think they will all be different in their relationships and you'll just have to observe and maybe intervene. We had it both ways. When Oban was 6 months he met an 11 month old BMD twice his size who was not nice. But the BMD was clumsy, could not keep up, was actually the one who was injured when he tripped over his own feet and skidded his nose down a paved road. We also met a little Cockapoo who could not possibly have weighed more than 10 pounds and she was also 11 months old. Peanut has some special air about her, much bigger dogs play with her, respect her, she doesn't get hurt, when they are too rough she lets them know and they heed her. It's quite remarkable. I just watch carefully. I'm more worried about mine being too clumsy than too rough with little ones.

That's exactly it. Jesse is very clumsy. He knocked my shepherd over without meaning to, just being a big goofy puppy.

[voodoo]

I dont get nervous with Chili and smaller dogs, but I sure do get nervous when chili IS the smaller dog. I saw a great dane make my chili disappear once...I wasnt happy with the great dane or his owners...So I would see how the owner of the smaller dog felt as well.

[ZoeysMommy]

Zoeys bff is my 20 pound corgi who is the same age. She somehow just knows she is alot smaller and adjusts. Ive never seen Zoey come close to hurting her. Also when my corgi plays with my 5 pound chihuahua, she plays differently than she would play with Zoey, she is gentle and lets my chi do most of the biting and rough housing which is not her normal playing style. I think dogs just know when another dog is smaller, at least I think mine do

Keep an eye on them and separate when it bothers you. also there is nothing wrong with letting your shepherd correct the puppy if gets out of control. Dogs learn that way. Zoey was bit in the nose a few times by my brothers older border collie when she was pup, she learned manners real quick

[jessesnewperson]

The puppy came over last night and I let them play until poor Jess fell on her and she cried. He jumped up like he'd seen a ghost and was kind of afraid to play with her anymore.