Am I Being Over-Protective?

[scrofford]

What would be the best way to tell someone that having a dog intentionally hurt another dog is not funny.

Yesterday as I pulled in the driveway after work, I get out of the car and my other half has Lincoln and Dallas outside. We're talking saying hello and I see Lincoln run full tilt to Dallas and body checks his rear end and takes out both of his rear legs. Poor boy fell hard with a loud thud. Dallas is a big boy and when he falls; he falls real hard. OH lets out a small chuckle, and I ask him what's so funny. After I gave him the look of death he calls Lincoln off of Dallas. I don't see what's so funny about the whole scenario.

I just don't like to see any dogs get hurt during play time. I don't let any of my boys go over board when it's play time. I let them wrestle and play bitey face all they want, but when they get over-excited I get them to bring it down a notch or two.

Am I being over-protective?

I don't think you are being over protective at all. It's not good to allow dogs to hurt each other even if it is playing. Your other half should understand that, and if one of your dogs gets hurt, maybe the other half should foot the vet bill?

 

[Linds]

Well, Traveler and Kaylee's idea of a good time is Traveler body slamming Kaylee has hard as he can. And while he weighs half of what she does he's like a freaking missal when he runs at her.

Today he ran into her and something happened and she hurt her leg, that wasn't funny and I instantly made sure he got away from her and checked her out. But for the most part I laugh a lot when they run into eachother. Half the time when he runs at he ends up flipping over her because she's like a wall and he just bounces off her.

But like anything, know your dogs. I know what's too rough and where it's not safe to be that rough. So if you aren't comfortable with it you aren't. I pretty much let them do what they want as long as they are happy as far as playing goes.

 

[Taqroy]

I think it's all personal preference. I also don't really think you're being over protective. Tipper and Mu like to run full tilt at each other or Murphy and body slam their head/neck region. I don't if it hurts but it LOOKS painful and I call them off when I see them about to do it. Plus Murphy is the worst dog ever to keep them in check...he's like the over-indulgent parent who goes "Oh they didn't mean it! The little daaaaahling!" LOL. So I step in on his behalf when I think it's necessary.

 

[Ivy]

I guess I find it more on the manners side of things. Playing rough is one thing (and fine with me) but to knock down another dog hard and running away kind of makes me think of a bully (not the breed, lol)

 

[Greenmagick]

I guess I find it more on the manners side of things. Playing rough is one thing (and fine with me) but to knock down another dog hard and running away kind of makes me think of a bully (not the breed, lol)

and thats the part where I think you are being oversensitive and anthropomorphisizing a bit. The dog is not being a bully here, he is just doing what dogs do. They tend to play really rough.

Again, if a dog had issues or is really sensitive etc there is nothing wrong with not allowing it but dont make the assumption the dog is doing it on purpose to be mean or a bully

 

[Taqroy]

and thats the part where I think you are being oversensitive and anthropomorphisizing a bit. The dog is not being a bully here, he is just doing what dogs do. They tend to play really rough.

Again, if a dog had issues or is really sensitive etc there is nothing wrong with not allowing it but dont make the assumption the dog is doing it on purpose to be mean or a bully

Eeeeeeeeeh. One of my dogs actually IS a bully when she can get away with it. She will run across the room just to snark in a more submissive dog's face. I think it's just knowing your dog well (which Ivy does of course) to know the difference between playing rough and being a jerk. /shrug

Going off Ivy's description it does sound like Lincoln was just playing. But without seeing it firsthand or knowing the dogs really well how would we know? And there are dogs that are bullies - I don't consider that anthropomorphizing.

 

[Ivy]

I don't think dogs will do something to be mean and vindictive, but I do think they can be jerks at times. Even the sweet dogs have their moments and get snarky.
Moods can change and fluctuate from time to time.

 

[Greenmagick]

Oh I agree....and thats why i said I thinkl...IMO from the description you gave and the reaction of your husband my assumption would be that its just play and that yes, my opinion was you were being a bit oversensitive in that situation (since you asked for opinions)

But yes, dogs can be rude and obnoxious too for sure...just didnt sound like it to me in this case.

 

[Ratboy]

King is fairly gentle with Molly now, her hips are pretty bad at this point, but with other dogs more agreeable with his style of play, it's pretty rough, and he does a lot of bumping with his butt as he runs by, hard enough to knock the legs out of under the other dog. He has one buddy, Ted, who likes it rough as King does, and it sounds like they are killing each other and they have a good time "fighting", but inside the house, it's just asking for stuff to get knocked over, etc. King's going to be 13 in 4 months, and he still seems to really enjoy the really rough play.