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Imagine that you have two male dogs, one that is two years old and another that is three years old.  They both get along great, and they are very close to each other.  When they go to the dog park, they have a lot of fun with each other.  Since they were puppies they have always played roughly by wrestling, play-growling and biting.  The younger dog will also show his teeth during playtime.

Would you interrupt them if their play seemed to be too loud or rough-looking?  While they are not actually aggressive, their play sounds and looks aggressive to other owners around the dog park.  If you would interrupt, what would be your next step?

When a reader presented me with this situation, my first thoughts were hoping that both of the dogs were neutered.  If not, I think that is something to consider.

As for rough play, keep in mind that we play rough sometimes.  Just like when you watch a group of children playing.  If you observe them, you will notice that they run around with their arms swinging while screaming at the top of their lungs!  In many cases, that is also what we are doing when we play.  Unfortunately, a lot of humans do not understand the vocal part of dog play and the lack of tools to play with, when compared to a human child.  I agree that it can sound quite alarming, but our barks, growls, play nips, and play bites are usually not serious.

In response to stopping their play, you can do anything that you like, because YOU are the alpha.  It does not matter if they are just playing, if you decide that you do not want to hear any more playing, then you simply step in and stop the play.  For those of you that may not know how to stop them from playing, then you can just grab him by his collar and command him to LEAVE IT.  Keep in mind, that if you are not familiar with a dog, grabbing his collar may present a danger to you.

Just the other night, Tax and I were playing roughly in the living room.  After Mom had seen and heard enough (about ten minutes of REALLY rough play), she told us to cut it out!  We toned it down a little, but we were still playing loudly.  After another ten minutes or so, we got really loud again and Mom had enough.  She broke up play time and told us both to go to our PLACE.

If you are worried about what other dog owners seem to view as aggressive, do not worry.  As long as you are not harming your dogs in any way and the rough play does not become aggressive toward their dog, it is none of their business.  Any raised eyebrows just show their ignorance of dog behavior.

The most important thing for you to take away is that YOU control everything.  If your dog is eating and YOU decide that he has had enough, take the food away.  Why?  Because you can!  Mom says that is the only reason we need, because you can.  Over the years, Mom has done quite a few things that I really did not understand, but I do not have to understand.  She did those things because she could, and it continued to support her position of alpha n our pack.  For example, Mom does not like for me to drink out of the toilet, and she says that when people start to drink out of it, then she could accept a dog drinking out of the toilet.  Basically, Mom closed off the bathroom from Tax, Molly, and I because she could.

Another example of her exerting her position is when she takes a favorite toy away from Tax.  Why does she do it?  Because she can.  Other times Mom might come over and tell me to get off of the couch.  I do, because the alpha (Mom) said so.  When I want to sit on it, I make Tax get off of the couch.  Why do I do it?  Because I can.

It is all about the order of things.  If YOU want your dogs to stop playing and SIT, then you make that happen.  You should stop the play sometimes just because YOU are the alpha, and you are letting both dogs know who is in charge!