Puppy rough play ever an issue?

[Maryam & Picasso]

Hi everyoene,
My 12 week old labradoodle (Picasso) loves playing with our next door neighbour's Cockapoo. We think they play great together but lately my neighbour has been preventing them from playing because he fears that Picasso might break his dogs bones! I am a little surprised especially since my dog is probably only 3-4lbs heavier than the Cockapoo. I don't think this could really ever happen, even if he gets bigger (I think dogs have a way of knowing when to stop). Does anyone think this is an issue or has any experience with injuries from rough play? How can I tell him it is ok?

[Chris & Boys]

Sorry, I thik it is a more an owner issue than a dog issue. My 30 lb GD plays with a 10 lb daschaund....... no trips to the ER yet.....

[Yvonne, Riley, Murphy and Luca]

I agree, I think it an owner thing and him not knowing how dogs should play. I think you might have to find a new playmate for your pup.

[Tammy & Gracie]

My 1 year old has always been a rough player. Even as a young puppy, (Gracie is a mini, only 30 lbs now,) she always had to play on the "Big dog" side of the dogpark. However, she has never hurt anyone, unless you call rolling around in the dirt an injury. I always judged by the individual dog. A smaller dog that keeps coming back for another "attack" is not being injured mentally or physically. Gracie plays with giant Great Danes and Shepherds, they do not hurt her either. They all know how to communicate with each other. Unless the cockapoo is acting timid or seriously angry, it should be safe. I do sometimes, if Gracie's play seems a little over the top, pull her away by herself for a minute to calm down. Usually this is enough to calm her play down a bit. Very often, if I seperate her from a smaller dog in this fashion, it is useless because the smaller dog just follows and instigates a new game! However, I agree that as a neighbor, you might just accept his fears, not take it personally, and find a playmate and happier owner, to play with. I included a funny dogpark pic as an illustration. Gracie is the one attacking the Rottie!

[Maryam & Picasso]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes I had a feeling that it was totally normal and it was really the neighbour who didn't know. Thanks for confirming. It is just such a shame because the puppies love playing together, seek each other... and could have been just a perfect set-up. Oh well...thanks anyway...

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

You didn't say how old the cockapoo was. If they are both pups maybe the neighbor will get used to his dog and normal play. I know I cringe when Lucca is playing and they're biting the neck and ears but I agree... dogs have a communication and they will let the other dog know (usually) before either one gets too rough.

[Maryam & Picasso]

The Cockapoo is 6months old - 3 months older than my doodle ;-)

[Kyoko]

My 15 weeks doodle has a year old shih-tzu friend who is now smaller than her... They started playing when Charlies was may be 10 or 11 weeks, at that time she was smaller than Gizmo ( Shih-tzu). Now she is taller than him, but they still play together and Gizmo is fine. Gizmo also plays with his neighbor's huge pittbull, who is a marshmallow sweetheart...

[Stella]

Our 15 month LD was a rough player from day one. I always worried about him being a bully at puppy classes, but we would separate him from whoever the latest 'victim' was and the other dog always came back for more. From a very young age he always sought out hte biggest dog at the dogpark to play with and id great, even if they were considerable bigger! We now have a 15 week old doodle puppy as well and we have had to do a lot of supervision to prevent him from getting too rough with the puppy. But, gerenally when it gets too much, the puppy yelps and he lets go. you are absolutely right, they do generally know when to stop. It is a shame that your neighbour doesn't feel the same way. Hoepfully, you can find another buddy for your boy.

[Yvonne, Riley, Murphy and Luca]

Check at Petco the one by my house has a puppy play group the first 3 Saturdays of the month.

[Megan]

I think goldendoodles and labradoodles just play hard/rough in general. I'm a first time doodle owner and I noticed how hard they played when they were 8 weeks old in play area together - bite, tackle, chase, nip! It is just how they play and sometimes people don't know if its normal or not, but I've always been told that you would "know" when its getting out of hand.

It is hard to explain to people sometimes that its normal doggy play...all the growling, barking, biting, tackling does appear to be rough at times....I'm glad I'm not alone in this! At first I was questioning whether he was too rough...but he sounds exactly like your pups! :)

[Julianne Hanak]

We introduced our 8-week-old Goldendoodle (10 lbs) to our German Shepherd/Dobie mix (60 lbs) in a common area and watched our puppy’s response to our 60 lbs dog rough play. As long as the puppy comes back for more and does not cower and tuck his tail around our other dog we know that it is health dog play. Occasionally, our 60 lbs dog will get a little rough and the puppy will squeal. Our 60 lbs dog would stop and let our puppy get away. I think a dog is more likely to jump off the bed and break their leg than rather dog crushing them.