How to control rough playtime with 2 doodles !!!

[Val,Cooper and Bently]

Cooper is 17 months and Bentley is 10 months.I hate when they do the chasing around the property.They ran into each so hard the other day that Bentley cut his tongue.He must of bit it.I would rather play them in the house because they cant play as rough but it isnt fair to them.I am scared that one of them is going to get hurt really bad.Any suggestions on how to control playtime outside.

[Adina P]

For the most part, if they aren't fighting, they should be okay even when they play rough.  It's like kids, they can break their legs or arms or get scrapes, etc...but unless they are doing something very dangerous those are just parts of growing up and playing.  Obedience training will help you get them under control so you can have them take a break when you think it's getting too crazy.  What I mean is if they are getting too rough you can call them to come and lay down and stay there for a few minutes until you release them to play. But they won't obey until you've spent quite a while training them to obey commands.  Something else to keep in mind is every great now and then someone reports that their dog got his teeth stuck on the collar of the other dog....  It's not common but it can happen so some people choose to only let their dogs play when they are collar-less to prevent strangulation.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Adina is right on.  It is scary to see them play rough, but it is part of being two puppies.  They are having a good time.  Try to minimize the obvious things that could hurt them - a nail sticking out of a fence,  broken glass on the ground etc.  Generally in your backyard is great place for them to have a blast.  Yes, something bad could happen, but probably it won't.  Try to enjoy their fun and not worry.

 

Meanwhile, invest in some real training time with each of them separately.  Even ten minutes twice a day per dog can make a huge difference in their reponse to you in every day life or an emergency.  It is time well spent - for all of you.  Part of why you got dogs was to spend time with them.  The more you train them the more bonded you will be to them and they to you.

Roo and Tigger are four plus and five respectively.  I am not a great trainer, but I did spend a lot of short pieces of time with them working on sit, down and wait, come.  Every day I have occasion to practice and reward with attention at least one of those commands.  Without ever "training" it both know "enough" or "take it outside" in my "Mom" voice when things get too rough in the house.

Please just enjoy your pups - they sound like fun and you a lucky to have a private place for them to run and play.

 

[Val,Cooper and Bently]

Thank you for all the suggestions :)