i love to wrestle with my dog. its both of our favorite games. i get on my hands and knees and since shes still a puppy its easy to just flop her over. but its kinda scaring me because i realized she is a very very good fighter. she sometimes will make me bleed with her sharp teeth. no matter how rough i get with her she still comes back with a big smile and ready for more. i was wondering what shows more dominance if i take my hand and pretend to bite her more then she bites me. or just get her on her back and keep her pinned. another question. is wrestling like this sending the wrong message? am i telling her its ok to bite? because everytime i have company over she always wants to play and will start biting there hands (playfully)
showing dominance when wrestling
- Thread starter Nebis
- Start date
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dogs use their teeth when they play. Wrestling is going to encourage that, unless you don't want her biting you, redirect her to something else like a tug toy. I can wrestle with my dog, she looks for a toy now when I do so she can bite it. Pinning her or using your hand to "bite" her more than she's biting you will not do anything.
Ouch, puppy teeth. As the owner of the mouthiest dog in the world, I have to say that any dog who uses their mouth to initiate play with humans will be regarded with a certain level of distrust by company. So I'd discourage her from using her mouth on people to get attention. Teach her to sit and offer a paw instead.
In most cases, you can continue to wrestle with a dog while emphasizing that certain behaviors are not allowed. Jaws will get gentler when she realizes that being too rough will end the game.
You'll probably get an earful about dominance being the art of leadership, not a contest of strength/wills. I agree with most of that. A lot of the subtler methods for 'establishing dominance' are really useful for slowing down a wild dog - making them stop and let you go first through doors, having them sit or lie quietly beside you, etc. I'd be cautious about the pinning though. Most dogs will simply put up with it, but some will fight like hell, which could end up with you getting bit, and will definitely end up with the dog distrusting you.
In most cases, you can continue to wrestle with a dog while emphasizing that certain behaviors are not allowed. Jaws will get gentler when she realizes that being too rough will end the game.
You'll probably get an earful about dominance being the art of leadership, not a contest of strength/wills. I agree with most of that. A lot of the subtler methods for 'establishing dominance' are really useful for slowing down a wild dog - making them stop and let you go first through doors, having them sit or lie quietly beside you, etc. I'd be cautious about the pinning though. Most dogs will simply put up with it, but some will fight like hell, which could end up with you getting bit, and will definitely end up with the dog distrusting you.
I am not a fan of Alpha rolls by any means. In fact I downright hate them and my tummy churns every time someone metions using them or advising the use of them. Dogs do not force other dogs on to their back!!!!! It does nothing but make the dog fear you wish is NOT submission!!! Yes dog will bump another dog with their chest and dominate them by being over top of them, but the other dog actually going on to it;s back is a move the other dog makes as a way to get the dominator to stop dominanting. Kind of like "Yes, I get it, you''re boss, now please leave me alone!" It''s ok to gently encourage a dog on to it''s back for belly rubs, but not actually flip it!! What happens when you wind up with a 180Lbs dominant dog and aren''t able to physically flip it? Then he retalliates and you end up in the hospital!
Wrestling with your dog is ok so long as he clearly knows who the boss is. You should always start and stop the games, he shouldn''t wind up winning. If he ever bites you harder than you would like yelp a loud "ouch!" and end the game ignoring him. After a bit of time go back to hime again. He will learn that biting hard ends them game and he will learn to soften his grip or not bite at all.
Wrestling with your dog is ok so long as he clearly knows who the boss is. You should always start and stop the games, he shouldn''t wind up winning. If he ever bites you harder than you would like yelp a loud "ouch!" and end the game ignoring him. After a bit of time go back to hime again. He will learn that biting hard ends them game and he will learn to soften his grip or not bite at all.
I think there is a huge difference between an alpha roll and rolling your dog when you are playing with it. The dog knows what's going on by your attitude and body language. When Gunnar and I or Bruzer and I wrestle around they always let me roll them over. They go to their backs with each other too.
The redirecting of biting onto toys sounds like a really good idea. I would not encourage any sort of biting of hands or body parts in a puppy - game or not. A biting puppy is one thing... but a biting adult of ANY BREED is a very bad idea in my opinion.
That being said...
I don't wrestle with my Mojo. I also do not allow anyone to wrestle with him in a way that would put him on his back. We prefer to do tug of war - which is another "no-no" game in the eyes of others - but with very specific laid out rules.
I start the game.
I end the game.
And if he gets too rough with me then that means the rings are picked up and put away. That is an INSTANT game ender.
Perhaps these are rules you can apply to your wrestling?
That being said...
I don't wrestle with my Mojo. I also do not allow anyone to wrestle with him in a way that would put him on his back. We prefer to do tug of war - which is another "no-no" game in the eyes of others - but with very specific laid out rules.
I start the game.
I end the game.
And if he gets too rough with me then that means the rings are picked up and put away. That is an INSTANT game ender.
Perhaps these are rules you can apply to your wrestling?