? about play - kinda long

[pitbullmamaliz]

Not sure if this belongs here or in the training forum...quite frankly, I'm not even sure how to phrase what I'm asking!

Inara's yellow lab buddy (Lily) came over to play yesterday. It'd been probably 2 months since we'd been able to hook up, so both pups were excited. They are only 8 days apart in age, and the lab is 15 lbs heavier than Inara.

When they play, I have Inara on her 30 ft leash attached to her springpole so she doesn't hurt herself when she reaches the end, and then I put her harness on so it's not yanking on her neck. Lily is extremely obedient (so not fair!!!) and will stay close to her mom so she's not on-leash. They play very roughly, lots of chasing (Lily's fave) and wrestling (Inara's fave). Inara is always the submissive one. Yesterday Lily had her pinned on her back, and Inara actually yelped for the first time EVER - I immediately rescued her.

My question(s) is/are: I get very frustrated for Inara having to stay on leash as she'll get tangled around trees, or Lily will run out of reach and Inara will get sproinged backward by the springpole, but if Lily is also on a tether it's just delicate puppy legs getting tangled in ropes. Any ideas? We can't afford a fence, so don't suggest it! Also, how do I know when to separate the two? Inara always flips on her back to play, but yesterday her tail actually tucked several times while she was on her back, and like I had said, she yelped. Obviously the yelping is cause for separation, but should we separate them if Inara's tail tucks between her legs? I just have such fears that Inara's going to get hurt, or become dog aggressive. Am I just being overly paranoid - should I just let them play like they have been?

Thanks for any assistance!

[Maryellen]

me personally will intervene and separate if the dogs tail is tucked and they yelp, i give a time out for both to relax,then let them play again. its possible that the leash/harness set up could have hurt inara in a way ... can you both go to a tennis court that is completely fenced in to play?? or maybe another friends hous that has a fenced in yard? this way, the leashes could come off and the harness, and they can play with their collars on onlyl

what about your basement or hers? can you let them play in the house together? this way there is no leashes involved...

[SisMorphine]

I definitely suggest no leashes, just a collar to grab just-in-case. She could have been acting super submissive because she felt threatened since she was tied and the other pup was not.

Frankly, I don't seperate for one yelp. That was just Inara saying "Hey man! You're playing too rough!" I just keep a close eye on the dogs after that because if it continues to happen there is a problem.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Thanks for the feedback - although I laughed 'cause ME said she would separate after a yelp, and Sis said she wouldn't! Ahhh, the lovely world of dogs!!!

Sadly since I'm in the boonies and she's in the hood ( ) there are no tennis courts, and neither of us have basements. I only have one friend with a fence, and she lives 30 minutes away from both of us and has two dogs of her own. Grrrr....I just don't trust Inara off-leash. *sigh* I don't know, I'll figure something out. I guess they can play in the house - it's just awfully small for two rambunctious puppers to go crazy, but at least they're both off-leash inside.

Thanks!

[Maryellen]

sorry, i usually do what Sis does, after a few times then i separate. with a new pup i separate in the beginning after the first yelp, then i let them play again, i should have made myself clearer.

ok, since you dont have a basement, how about letting them play in your living room?? thats what i do with new pups when they come here, rufus and the new pup can only play in the beginning in the house in the tv room or living room, then i see how they play and gradually let them outside to the deck, then after they play good a few times on the deck they get access to the yard.

[msvette2u]

I don't separate for anything (with pups) except snarls. And even then usually step in and make sure things don't continue to escalate.
But I don't have pit bulls. Not sure if you should then, or what.
I think Inara is being submissive and the lab is being dominant, Inara is making sure, with her body language, that the lab knows she's submitting. But I agree, she ought to, or needs to be off lead to truly show how she's going to play.