What is safe play between a standard doodle and a mini doodle?

[T Eaton]

I have a 27 pound miniature golden doodle who is very social and loves to play. We are fortunate that every day we walk off leash and play with other dogs. My concern is this however...one of our friends is a 110 pound golden doodle. He is a year younger than mine and 90 pounds heavier. He also is not very well trained so he plays out of control, runs, jumps, everything out of control! When the doodles play and wrestle and bite each other's necks, should I be concerned that my dogs whole neck is at times in the large dogs mouth? It doesn't seem wise to me and so I correct the other dog myself (rather than the owner) and I also separate them. Sometimes I leash mine, or request them to leash theirs. 

Now I have a friend who I dog sit for every day who has a goldendoodle puppy that will be about a 60 pound dog, currently she is about 20. She also plays very rough with my doodle. Her sharp little puppy teeth have left a few bloody spots on my boy. I work with her daily to correct her from agressive biting of my dog. If I feel she is getting carried away, I leash her and make her relax.

My question to all of you who have more than one, how did you handle this play/wrestling issue during puppyhood- particularly if you have a mini and a standard? I am concerned because my dog is very VERY submissive so he seldom corrects any dog himself. Should I be concerned? Should I be intervening? I definintely don't want the new puppy to be out of control at 60 pounds so I need to know how to train her now. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our big dogs are all gentle - playful but gentle so there is absolutely no problem.This is our daughter's 70 lb lab and our 18 lb foster. And our 64 lb doodle and the same foster. Ned, our 27 pound dog has gotten 'nailed' a few times when the bigger dogs have run into him, but there was no damage. The big difference sounds like maturity because our big dogs are not puppies and our big dogs are calm dogs.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also have a mini and a standard, and on occasion they get a little rough.  Most of the time they're fine and I keep my eye on them but don't interfere.  Once in a while my big Dood gets a little too carried away and that's when I stop the play and separate them until they calm down.  Enjoy that puppy!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Stuart is 70lbs and 1 year old - Rooney is 22lbs and 2 years old - and they play rough!  Rooney was very submissive to begin with but as Stuart started to grow - Rooney started laying down the law and claiming the dominant position.  We let them work it out - once in a while Stuart will t-bone Rooney and then he gets a time out. 

Due to Stuart's size we could no longer go to "small dog" time at the dog park and Rooney was going at "big dog" time with Stuart.  We have 140lb Irish Wolf Hound and a 115lb Great Dane that they are friends with.  The Great Dane is bitey and can be rough but only with Stuart - little bitty Rooney bosses her around and will run her off of Stuart.  Safety needs to come first so I'd keep a watchful eye but as our trainer tells us - the dogs will work it out.  Dogs play and the wrestling and play biting is all a part of it.   

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think if the dog is well trained there shouldnt be any problems. You can train your friends puppy, reprimand it if it is too rough etc, but you cant the dog at the park.

Cooper (60lbs) plays with out kitten (now 15lb but he was 5 lb when we got him as a kitten) and is very gentle, though she is rather submissive around other animals (I think my older cats whipped her into shape when she was a puppy!).

[T Eaton]

Thanks everyone for your comments. You confirm what I have been thinking. Let the dogs sort it out. I am trying so hard to do that! And, I am hoping that my sweet, submissive boy learns to stand up for himself! He has gotten a LOT better. But in the meantime, I will continue my watchful eye to intervene as I feel he needs it.

 

I know the new puppy will be fine - she is a sweetheart and and he will correct her, a little bit.

It's the big guy at the park that worries me the most. I really like the peope who own him and have tried so hard to encourage them to do some dog training for safety purposes. Please God....just a little training?? I have been t-boned by this 110# dog twice and that's what made me think "this guy could hurt Hunter!!"

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yep, they will be fine.  Just be around to monitor.  My mini dood (25 pounds) and chihuahua (6.5 pounds) play all the time and they are SO GOOD together. Peri totally plays down and is gentle with Taquito the chihuahua. But when she is around big dogs, she plays up and is more assertive.  They figure it out on their own.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I don't have two dogs but this question came up when Tara was in puppy class. The trainer said that if you question whether or not the play is becoming too rough for your pup/dog to leash the more dominant/aggressive player and leave the other (in your case your doodle) loose. If the loose dog returns to the other for more play then it is fine. If the loose dog does not return for more play with the leashed dog then you should end the play time because the loose dog is being overwhelmed and doesn't know how to handle it.

[GBK]

That's a great suggestion!  When my Kona is uncomforable with rough play or too many dogs at once at the park, she willl come and stand between my legs.  When she does this I know she has had enough for a while.  She decides when she is comforable enough to come out and play again. 

She is never uncomfortable with her big brother who is twice her size, they play perfect together :) They sound like they are killing each other, but never a wimper or pain.

[T Eaton]

Thanks! This is the best advise!

 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My doodles are 80 lbs (Oliver) and 50 Lbs (Sasha).  They both play pretty rough with each other when they are in the backyard.  I usually don't get involved because both dogs respect each other when one is done playing.  When either doodle is finished he/she will just lay down and take a rest,  the other will stop and respect that.  Sasha is much smaller than Oliver but she is much faster and more vocal, where Oliver is bigger and slower.  They have been together since they were puppies and really know and respect each other.  If it did get too rough for my liking I would remove the agressor.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I have a mini doodle and a standard doodle.  My "mini" is 40 pounds, and my standard is 60 pounds, so they're not that much different in weight.  I was a little worried at first to watch them wrestle because I've never had 2 dogs before, so wasn't used to that rough play.  They are fine, though.  If ever I get worried, I either yell and they stop or I start throwing the ball around to get them occupied and their mind onto something else.  That is hardly ever, though, they just work things out and overall are very gentle and get along great.  Good luck!

[T Eaton]

Today was a great doodle day! On our off-leash walk today, Hunter and the new puppy had a great time. It was all fun play and no excessive biting! And to top it off..we also ran into the 110# doodle. He got a little too agressive with the new girl puppy and lo and behold my submissive boy threw himself between the two of them and growled and pushed away the big boy!!! yea!!! Made me so happy!!