when is it considered playing and when is it considered fighting??????

[SissaYSU]

First off...sorry for all the recent posts!

Second...how many of you have more than one yorkie that either play/fight together?

My question is..how can you tell when it's fighting rather than playing? I can't even decipher it with the different noises they make when playing/fighting! I stand there and tell others to help me get them apart (one hold one i hold the other) and they stand there and go "aw they're just playing, let them be" but I swear...sometimes they look like they're fighting

I like to see them playing. Tyke has had past health problems with arthritis and an injury and to see him playing like this makes me kind of happy cuz he can move (as opposed to a month or so ago when he would walk all hunched over and hide and shake a lot...don't worry he was taken to the vet and on medication now). So to see him playing with Bubba is something I never thought I'd see again. And at times it seems almost good for him because if Bubba weren't here to play with then all he'd do is lay around. It's almost like Bubba keeps him young (I know I sound crazy)

My question is...when is enough enough? As in when can I let them keep up with the playing and when do I step in and break them out? It's so hard to tell sometimes Sometimes they make noises that sound like they're squealing and I think they're in pain and I break them apart and they look at me and go back at it. Maybe I'm slow...but I honestly can't tell when is an "ow I need to stop" cry or just a cry of them playing.

Thanks
Melissa

[Patti]

It is hard to tell. I have a 9 year old 13 lb pom who is a snippy dog which doesn't stop Cali from trying to play with her. I always supervise their "playing". Sometimes Maya gets mad and snaps at Cali but never has bitten her. I can usually tell when Maya has had enough by her body language and then I stop them.

[shoechic]

I have a Bulldog (75lbs & 5 years old) & a Yorkie (10lbs & he is 6 months). When I first got the yorkie, I was so worried because I thought that one of them would get hurt (my yorkie can take on my bulldog ). The vet told me that they are learning their place in the "pack". She said "what goes on between the dogs is between the dogs". My yorkie was quite the tough guy at first, but now they really love each other & get a long well. We just let them have at it & now it is over & they just play. I am sure this wouldn't work for everyone, but it worked for us!

[Lacy's Mom]

I have three Yorkies and they are all pretty much the same size. They do get pretty rough while playing and make all sorts of noises. The barking, chasing and growling seem normal with play. They also make an excited high pitched sound (like they make when I come home and they are excited to see me). I only reprimand them when I hear a sharp yelp like I would hear if I stepped on one of their toes.

[MyTrixie143]

I can never go by the noises they make. All of mine are very vocal when they are playing, they sound like they are mad at each other and are trying to kill the other one, but they aren't. I usually go by the body languange and expressions and that too can be tricky. If they are smiling, wagging tail,body is in a relaxed position, no tense bodies or evil glares they are ok. Usually when they fight it is very fast and one dog will always be stronger than the other and will be all over the other dog while it is yelping and trying to get away and this will not stop, the only way it will stop is if the dog is down or if someone breaks it up. If they are playing they won't be all over each other every second and you would have a hard time breaking it up and would probably get bit if you tried to break it up if they are fighting. I have seen alot of dog fights and they are not pretty, you can definatenly tell the seriousness and intensity of it.

[Rem&Silkmom]

there is more high pitched cry and they break themselves apart very quickly. they have never hurt each other. Usually it is over a toy...never when they are playing with each other.

[Sugar's Mom]

my three play all the time. When I hear that 'yelp' that is clearly a painful yelp, I put a stop to it or if I see one of them trying to get under something to hide from the other, I know either it is tired or someone hurt it.

[pitrpat]

My jack russell and yorkie fight, well actually, my yorkie hangs on my russells leg and he drags her around. But when hes had enough, he growls and nips her scruff, then she goes on her back and licks him like crazy. In a few shes at it again. But really Ive noticed mostly they take care of their own pack order. It really all depends on how you raise them and if they have good temperment.

[sneri13]

My two play fight all the time. Occasionally they will go after each usually over a toy. I can tell the difference by both the growl, and the tail. When they are playing the tails are going a mile a minute. When they fight the tail goes down, the growl becomes deeper. A stern "knock it off " works 99% of the time.

[SissaYSU]

lol thanks for the replies!
It's so hard to tell sometimes. They make weird noises when they play. Last night i caught Tyke pinning down Bubba and humping him...I got them seperated fast. I will not let them hump each other. It was just the differences in noises that they made when playing that I couldn't tell if it was fighting or playing. They make such high pitch sounds it's hard to tell what is a "HELP!" and what is a fun yelp =)
Thanks =)
Melissa

[whispersmom2]

They have to sort out their pack position but when you have a dozen, you just cannot let the play-fighting get started cause someone will go over the line and a fight will start. I have learned the difference in their sounds, especially the growly ones, and break up those skirmishes immediately. My hubby has ZERO control over the dogs so I have to do double duty-sort him out and them!!!
I have on a couple of occasions grabbed 2 or 3 by the scruff of the neck in a rough manner and broken up the tussles. This mama is the boss and I need to keep it that way. I bet it is the same with others who breed and keep their younguns in their house like we do...I try to mimic the behavior of a doggy mom when I am disciplining them..
But, I HATE it when friends say they whip their babies with a newspaper...I mean, actually HIT the dog..

[SissaYSU]

Originally Posted by whispersmom2

But, I HATE it when friends say they whip their babies with a newspaper...I mean, actually HIT the dog..

I hate that too. I could never hit my dog. I used to have to spray water on them with a spray bottle to break them up at times and then they caught on to it being water and then when I would spray they would try and drink it. Now when I have the spray bottle out threatening them they get excited
-Melissa

[whispersmom2]

You can add the smallest amt of white vinegar to the water in the bottle. I tried it and sprayed my own eyes and I didn't like it but it did not hurt. I just wanted to make it unpleasant-not hurt them. So, that worked for me...

[SnowWa]

My five-year-old Bichon and my 9-month-old Yorkie drive me nuts playing in the house.....especially in the evenings when they really go to town.

Occasionally, I am sure that the little Yorkie has a little too much energy for my Bichon - so, I put him on my bed and close the door once in a while just to give him a break.

But - more often than not, I can tell he is having just as much fun as the pup.

**** I'm pretty sure I could tell the difference - if my dogs were fighting or playing. There really is a big difference... For this reason, I suspect that your dogs are playing. And - "yes" - they can play rough and make a lot of noise and commotion.

Carol Jean