My 2, 8 wk old pups look like they are fighting but I'm told they are playing. Is this normal..how do I tell?

Question

My 2, 8 wk old pups look like they are fighting but I'm told they are playing. Is this normal..how do I tell?

Answer 1

It is normal. Lots of people think a puppy is "aggressive" when he's just rough-housing normally. If one gets pinched too hard, he'll squeal, and the other one will back off.

Dogs yelp & squeal to say "that hurts" and other dogs, unless they are grown and vicious, stop doing it.

Don't interfere with the puppies. As they grow up, they'll learn to tussle with toys. If you have a Goodwill or other thrift store, buy them plenty of stuffed animals to destroy (cut out the squeakers, plastic eyes, etc) and let them be as destructive as they want to. Growing teeth need lots of stimulation.

Answer 2

The easiest way to tell it's getting too rough is if one yelps and tries to get away. If that happens sit the aggressor to the side for a few seconds. Puppies play and so do dogs. Quite frequently the worse it sounds (vocally) the more fun it is for them. A true fight is usually fast, quiet and you can see their body language change completely. Fluid motion is normal; stiff or blocky movements are not. Calm down and watch, you will soon learn their play vs. not play body language.



ETA: Two 8 week old puppies are NOT fighting for 'dominance'! Good lord people do some research. Dominance issues are very rarely the actual answer for any dog let alone PUPPIES.

Answer 3

Well there is definatly a difference in fighting and playing.

They could definatly be fighting, trying to be the alpha dog.

They need a "pack" leader, so they are fighting over who gets to be the leader. Start now, and show them that YOU are the boss! I had this issue with my 2 Chi's. I could definatly tell they were fighting. So I just had to gain control! At 8 weeks old, they are prolly just playing, but if YOU think it is getting out of control, then you need to put them in spearate kennels when they being fighting, tell the NO! and keep them in there for 10 minutes...no more or less. Do this every time, and they should quit after a few times in the kennel.

My Chi's still fight every once in a while but over jealousy issues. If one is sitting on my lap, and the other wants attention, then they will snap at eachother.

It is very rare for them to get into it anymore, but if they do, I do the kennel thing once and everything is fine.

Answer 4

this question is asked for all time around here. even in spite of the undeniable fact that, definite, for sure you won't be able of introduce them off your components (by way of fact an 8 week old puppy won't have been vaccinated - to the guy who suggested doing this!!). What you do is have a crate set up to your puppy so, after he's completed his biz exterior once you first arrive living house (and it helps genuinely in case you're taking your older canines with you for the %. up, having the puppy in the crate for the form living house so your older canines can see the recent arrival top from the initiating - if this concept is accessible), you could deliver the puppy indoors, and pa him into his crate while you get yourselves in and regarded after out. Have the crate someplace the older canines can see him. Then as quickly as you provides you them your interest, enable the puppy out of the crate, so as that they are able to be mutually. Your older canines needs to have his very own area so different than for having the crate to your puppy, set up a separate area, yet another room with a babygate throughout could be perfect, to your older canines so while he needs to have a snooze he has a quiet place remote from the undesirable interest of a puppy. it rather is thoroughly as much as you to regulate. And the time-out aspects are needed. maximum adults won't injury a puppy, and consequently on my own, will look to their proprietor to handle any subject they are able to't cope with/do no longer pick. do no longer depart them mutually, before everything, unattended and don't feed them mutually before everything - foodstuff is a series off factor! Adults won't injury a puppy, yet there is often a decrease - puppy won't have any admire to your old boy and he will purely take lots with out reacting. the relationship is unquestionably no longer shaped in one day - and my journey while bringing in a clean puppy with my old boy suggested they could no longer genuinely play mutually, according to se. however the puppy will learn from the older canines so there could desire to be some degree of inter-action. have exciting - yet be there to your old canines so he knows he can place self belief in you to repair issues out and positioned the recent upstart in his place, if needed!

Answer 5

Puppies that young do not fight, they play. If one puppy is visibly trying to get away, looks totally afraid and has it's tail between it's legs, then it's fighting. As long as those tails are wagging and neither one is being injured, it is fine. This is what puppies do.



Congrats on the little tail wagging additions to your household.

Answer 6

Yes, puppies playing is normal. You can tell if they're fighting if there's blood everywhere or they are scratching and hitting each other. It is quite obvious.

Answer 7

very normal.

you can tell because they are not actually biting each other... if it looks like they are and they continue playing they probably just closed their mouth and did not intend on hurting the other dog.

also they keep their mouth's open when play fighting, never snapping at each other.

Answer 8

yes it is normal for pups to play and they play fight cause how else are they soppost to play well besides with us humans playing with them with toys or what not with dogs its totaly differnt

Answer 9

yes it is normal. play fighting is normal in a puppys developement and if one is more persistent then just watch them and seporate them if it gets too ruf

Answer 10

they are just getting to know each other. you can tell if they're fighting if one of them gets hurt or if the are growling and barking alot.

Answer 11

Very normal. Don't allow any weapons, though.

Answer 12

yes very normal

Answer 13

it is normol if u think it is geting to ruff split them up