Boxer Puppies aggressive playing

sashadog · 06-24-2009, 08:03 AM

We just got 2 boxer puppies, 9 weeks old. One boy and one girl. They are litter mates. We notice that when they play it always ends ups very aggressive behavior. Is this normal and how can we nip this in the bud.

Ron · 06-24-2009, 08:16 AM

when tie plays with his doberman buddy, it can sound pretty vicious. But usually you can tell if they're playing or if it's getting out of hand.

Are they hurting each other?

whitedaisy · 06-24-2009, 10:24 AM

Boxers play loud and do a lot of face fighting, open mouth and biting. I would doubt they are being aggressive but playing rough like boxers do.

Ron · 06-24-2009, 10:25 AM

When i had two boxers we called the face bitting game "Face Face"

haha

Actually Tie taught my brothers doberman "Face Face" too

sashadog · 06-24-2009, 02:12 PM

Yes, they do hurt each other.

whitedaisy · 06-24-2009, 03:52 PM

are they drawing blood or yelping?

AussieGirl · 06-25-2009, 05:06 AM

If it is the odd yelp with no blood drawn it is normal puppy behaviour and a way for them to learn bite inhabition ie how to play without hurting. Young puppies do play rough and the odd yelp is letting the other pup know it is being too rough - does the pup that has been bit too hard then go off and ignore the other one for awhile or does the pup who bite too hard seem to stop for a second after the yelp? Bite inhabition is very important for a pup to learn and in a way you are lucky to have two - they will teach each other, but I would recommend that you also do a bit of bite inhabition with them both. It is a very important you teach bite inhabition NOW while they are still small before their jaws become too strong. Please read the article below to understand more and to learn how to teach bite inhabition. But as I said what they are doing is they are already teaching each other doing some of the work for you

. Don't worry I don't believe they are aggressive pups - they are pups that are learning

http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm

sashadog · 06-25-2009, 01:40 PM

There has been not blood yet, but when one yelps the other does not stop. They continue the hold until we intervene.

AussieGirl · 06-25-2009, 06:15 PM

Do the bite inhabition with them individually do not skip any of the steps involved, the first part is addressing painful bites. Give it a few weeks and there should be an improvement. But even when you do see an improvement please make sure you finish ALL the steps.
Our girl had bite inhabition training and even when her daddy plays rough with her you never feel her teeth against your skin. She also has a lab playmate who was not trained in bite inhabition in the begining both pups would make each other yelp now Ruby can rough play with this dog and she never causes it to yelp, it however can not control itself and it has gotten to a point that I no longer seek out playdates with it. Put in the time and it will work - remember to do it individually with them.

bruinsBoxers · 06-29-2009, 07:29 AM

I have to agree with aussie girl .

I have seroius doubts that any 9 week puppy is truly aggressive . Unless it has been abused by people and left without any socilazation from the day of birth .

This is the way puppies learn , by interacting with their littermates . And also by interacting with the breeder as they grow . they are not born with knowing biting hurts they must learn it by experiencing it .

Usually when they play too rough the dam ( mother ) will step in and correct the puppies . This is also very important for the puppies .

All puppies play roughly but boxer tend to up it a notch . they are extremely vical and rough while playing . And this is totally normal for a boxer , as they get older they sometimes sound like they are killing each other while playing .
Again , totally normal for a boxer .