Need additional help/info-dominance submission

[jenn D]

Does anyone have video of your dog playing with another dog in the family? I can't tell if Brisby and jake are playing or if they are both at about the same level of dominance and its dominance ordering. And yes, they are still technically "older pups" at almost 11 months and 8 months. Both are neutered. I've had multiple dogs before but never 2 so close in age or what appears to be close in dominance level .
They will stop when or if I think it has gone too far. I tell them to knockoff off and they do. No bite marks but a lot of mouthing, pawing and humping going on here. Jake definately dominates over food and treats. Brisby doesn't really care. He has treats hidden everywhere and is like "whatever". Same with food. He knows there is a limitless supply. No growling from jake in these areas, he just takes Brisby's chewy or he makes it to the bows first. Brisby doesn't seem to care or fight him.

However, jake does not get on the furniture and I don't think he was allowed before but Brisby is allowed on the ottoman and 1 part of our couch next to where I sit. Brisby WILL not let jake have these spots. He growls and is like "you can have first dibs at toys and treats but these spots are mine PERIOD. No negotiating!"

Is it possible for dogs to be dominate in some areas and not others? I'm not sure how it will all shake out as far as Who is on top. I know to follow the "don't baby the beta" rule but how do you handle when beta shifts due to circumstance?

Again lots of humping and pawing etc. but it doesn't seem like it goes down a bad path. The fact that there is no clear cut leader emerging makes me think this could be a drawn out battle.

They do flop down together when crazy play time ends. And they are always in the same room.
Still it's like hump-a-doodle fest here.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I don't have a video but I ask the same questions with my two.  Sasha is 4 and Oliver is 3 1/2 both, Sasha is very vocal when they are playing and you would think she was seriously trying to kill Ollie.  And Ollie is like yeah what ever Sasha !!!  The only time Sasha will growl is if she has a high value item and Ollie wants it.  The second Sasha growls even if he is just walking by I correct her, if it continues I take it away.  Sometimes Ollie does things to dominate then other times Sasha has dominating behavior.  Ollie really dose not hump Sasha, I caught him maybe 3 times but Sasha will hump me (LOL).  In the long run both know I'm the boss :)

[jenn D]

Ok here's a video of their play. Minus the humping. I guess they knew I was video taping. Jake uses his paws more than Brisby, Brisby goes for the neck with his mouth more. Humping although not shown here is about equal and both boys do not put up with it from each other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vAI95WAJVI

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Looks mild to me. My two boys get rough. If I saw either of them play with another like they do at home it'd scare me.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This looks extremely mild to me. I once wrote about the regular world wars in my yard.
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/world-war-iii

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Loved that!  Especially the last frame!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

It looks mild to me too! Tails are wagging, they are both going back for more rather than one wanting out, looks like good play!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

This looks like very mild gentle play to me, too. Are their temperaments similar? Here, we have one highly spirited, loves-to-play-and-will-instigate-most-play-sessions type (Lucy), and one very mellow, will-put-up-with-a-lot-before-his-switch-flips type (Oscar). Once Oscar's switch flips, things get quite rough, quite fast. I usually don't break it up unless they're knocking into furniture or people. Its just their style of play.

[BG and Gavin]

I don't see anything unusual in this instance.  Gavin plays with a lot of mouth and paws just the same way when he has a willing combatant.

[Gail and Bailey]

Looks totally normal to me!  As a matter of fact it looks very mild!  They are both so handsome and look great together!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I see happy tails in the video so I wouldn't worry.  We were just at my daughters and Meg and my granddog had to take it outside when they got active but we let them 'have at it' out there, the neighbors might have thought they were fighting, very vocal, but those tails were going to town so we let them go...makes for great naps later.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Saw the video... they look like they are having fun playing, not rough at all :)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

My dog has a best friend who she has been friends with since about 10 weeks old.  The other dog is very dominant and Luna is very submissive even though Luna has about a 15 pound weight advantage.  

They play VERY rough.  Growling, grabbing of ears/collars, crazy wrestling... from an outside observer it might look like they are fighting but they are not.  If one of them goes too far a little yelp immediately stops the play and they take a short break.

Looking at your video, Luna and her friend (Sammy) play a LOT more rough.  Imagine the way your two play, accelerate the speed of play by about 5x and add some ear tugging and body slamming.