What is considered good play? I have 7 month old Boston. Have just brought
home a 7 week old puppy. The youngster is quite vivacious. Very outgoing,
eager to interact with EVERYTHING and everybody. I also have an old dog who
is content to just lay around and do nothing, so she is a non-issue, she
just blends in to the woodwork and she's really happy like that. The old
dog nevers gets in the "play"scene or interacts with the other dogs.
The puppy loves to play with the 7 mo. Boston. The Boston is very well
behaved and so far has not given me cause for alarm, in that she would get
the upper hand and wig out.
The puppy, (a mixed Rat/Boston, not related) however, is like a 2 pound
Cujo. Very aggressive in her "attack, shake and kill". Her puppy
growlings, you can listen and her "tone" changes as she lets herself get too
wound up. When I hear the tone go beyond what I think is play, I remove her
from the Boston, say "no, ma'am" That is usually enough to settle things
down. The Boston will lay on the puppy or put a paw on her to settle her
down or hold her at bay. The Boston loves the play, she does skittly little
circles with the puppy and rolls around, and is just really happy to have a
young energetic playmate. (The old dog wouldn't play with the Boston
either, so the Boston was bored)
As the dogs grow up, the pup and the Boston are going to be pretty close to
the same size, so there won't be any size/weight disparity.
How much do I run interference, so healthy play habits are established? Do
the dogs know better than I do? (I doubt that) They each are given their
own individual time to interact with me by themselves and do independent
activities, so it's not like I'm trying to make them blend and be just
alike)
Thanks.
Perry