Can they play quietly?

[Gempress]

I'm having a problem with my Horsemen of the Apocalypse. When they start playing rough, they get loud. And I mean LOUD. They bark, growl, snarl and roar at the top of their lungs while they go careening around the yard. It only lasts about 15-20 minutes at most, but during that time it sounds like we have a dogfighting ring in our yard.

Is there any way to get them to play more quietly? I'm sure it must be disturbing to the neighbors. I also don't want people to get the misconception that my boys are vicious.

 

[Herschel]

Maybe throw a couple of toys in there? I think it is natural for them to make those sounds when they are playing.

 

[Gempress]

They have plenty of toys, but it doesn't seem to help the noise any. I don't mind the noise, but I'd rather do something to help curb it before the neighbors get upset. It sounds like World War III out there!

 

[RD]

Dakota gets loud when he plays with some of his BC friends and all I have been able to do was intervene, sit him down and make him relax. When he calms down a little, I take his snoot in my hand and tell him to HUSH. He seems to understand that when he gets too loud, his playtime ends and he has to go back on the leash.

 

[tinksmama]

i sympathize,your guys look HUGE, so they must make a racket! Scrappy is beagle sized,and Tink is chihuahua size,and they make so much noise at morning playtime I can't hear myself think!

 

[PFR01]

I have two beagle sisters who are just over 3 mnths old and the racket one makes when she is playing with her sister, wants to make you think she's gonna really hurt her. What I've been doing is when she gets like that is to shush her. Then if she keeps it up, I take her away and calm her down. So far she's starting to understand to play quietly.

 

[colliewog]

No quiet play in my house. If they have toys in their mouth, they still play growl (and Smidgen has found a way to bark with a ball in her mouth - pretty funny!). You might try different LARGE toys, to fill their mouths, but what usually happens is one dog picks a toy and runs, and the other chases while barking!