Labradoodle Wrestling

[Faith]

My two labradoodles love to fight and wrestle. They are only play fighting but they both really snarl at each other. Straight after the game they are best friends again. Usually it means they just have too much energy and need a walk but I was wondering is this type of playing common for labradoodles? Is anyone experienced the same thing?

I was never worried about it until I took the little one to puppy school and she went to play fight with another poodle. When the teacher saw her raise her lip, she over-reacted and made out like she is a dog with behavioural 'issues'. I said that is just how she play fights with her brother at home, but she said its because she's not socialised. Which I know is not true because she is a very friendly dog normally.

I would love to hear from others who have seen this behaviour. What do you do when they start fighting? Or do you just think it is amusing like we do?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This is totally normal! My mini doodle and chihuahua even do this. And if Peri starts this with other dogs at her obedience class, my trainer just says it may be time for a "time out" if they get too rough. But your dogs have do not have SOCIALIZATION ISSUES! Don't worry!

[Faith]

Ahhh too funny, thanks for all the comments and photos. It is obviously a doodle thing, I do think it is funny. And mine do also run around the tables (all over the house really), chomp their teeth and wrestle on the sofa. But they are funny little things.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You mean like this?

Or do you mean like this?

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Totally normal behaviour. What I would like to know is do they chase each other around tables at home? My two chase like crazy around the coffee or dining table. It is hilarious! They also wrestle on the couch whether you're on it or not.Check this out:

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

I have a goldendoodle and a labradoodle and they look just like that when they play. Ferocious looking, but really great big wussies! They play great with other dogs and never get in fights (and we go to the dog park at peak time almost every day). We actually joke about the alligator chomp that mine do to each other where they click their teeth together. I've never been concerned and neither has my trainer or the trainer that runs our dog park. I wouldn't worry about this if I were you. It might just be a doodle thing, but I'm more inclined to think it's a rough play thing, which mine do all of the time!

[Cheryl & Matey & Checkers]

I have a 2yr old 45lb labradoodle and a 23lb 8 month old golden doodle. They love to play fight. They bare their teeth and make lots of noise and fight and wrestle, but then take break and chew on their bully stick together - one on each end. My guys have a lot of energy too and love to play. I don't take it as anything else. One of their favorite friends is a 100 lb bernese mountain dog and they all play the same way together. I don't believe that your dog has any behavior issues at all, the girl just wants to have fun!

[F, Calla & Luca]

My two are always going at it. Sometimes they look so fierce it's frightening but nobody gets hurt usually.

[Christy and Yoda]

This is a picture of Yoda and his buddy Oliver. They are both big pussycats who wouldn't hurt a fly, but when they get together, they go at each other biting and wrestling. Yoda is at the dog park all the time and doesn't do this with any other dog except Oliver. We just let them fight since they both seem to be enjoying themselves!