Is sweet Shiloh a bully?

[CherylHampton]

Well I'm back and have a more serious question but first I thank you again for your patience. Perhaps you can add a separate topic under the forum titled "if you're training a new pup don't do it this way" and post all my questions. Anyway I've been reading as many posts as I can and have gathered a lot of info, some I totally identify with. One post dealt with puppy behavior when playing....it spelled out what could be potential Problems depending on what I will call "play style". There's a dog(very familiar to me) who has been coming over to play with Shiloh and they do well together but I noticed some of the behavior that was spelled out as concerning. i.e. he seems to always prefer to be on top(at 11wks. He's the size of this grown  pup) he gets his front paws around her neck and just hangs on and when they tumble he goes for her ears and neck almost always. There's no growling or snarling and the other dog doesn't seem disturbed by it. However when she's done with play Shiloh will give chase relentlessly. I can tell by sounds he makes with me when he's frustrated but  haven't seen them come out during play time. Just want to confirm that this isn't going to be a harmful play tactic when he gets  bigger . He's a more expressive pup than my last shepherd/lab mix as noted this morning when he was laying down and I asked him to sit.(he did it but the exasperated half bark half something else tells me he really wasn't in the mood) leash training meh,,,,,got to get another leash he chewed the red one in two. Well......Happy Holidays!

[Adrienne]

Hi Cheryl, 

You are very dedicated to helping your dog and it shines through your posts and loads of reading you are doing. Those play behaviors you describe can be problematic, but usually when dogs are super focused on just carrying those behavior out without shifting much, with no small breaks in between and with no meta-signals (play bows) which are meant to inform the other dog that despite the play is rough, it's stil just play and nothing to worry about. 

Now, your puppy is very young, so he still has a lot of learning to go through. If he's too rough playing, the other pup will likely provide feedback by yelping or withdrawing from play. A general good way to tell if your pup's play it too much for the other puppy is trying to remove him from the pup and see if the pup comes back to Shiloh to play more of if she seems relieved. The fact your other pup doesn't seem disturbed by it is a good sign. 

However, if she is giving signs of having enough play, it may be worthy putting Shiloh in a little time-out zone. Just in a place where he can drink some water and maybe enjoy a little calm activity like chewing on something tasty, while the other pup gets a break. You can divert his attention for now with a tasty treat or toy and take him to a little separated area until you can train him to respond to a positive interrupter.  Here is how to train it: 

Given the opportunity, dogs would over play sometimes to the point of exhaustion and the other pup on the receiving end may not be too happy about it. It may also help providing a long tug toy so each pup can attach to one side and this can help shift rowdy body contact play to a calmer type of play. 

Shepherd dogs and shepherd mixes in general can be quite controlling in their play styles, something that not all dogs are willing to tolerate. Some may also enjoy nipping heels of running dogs. When it comes to playmates, you'll therefore have to monitor for signs of the playmate dog getting tired of having their movements controlled and therefore intervening to prevent defensive responses from the playmate and persistent behaviors from your dog. It goes without saying that play should be something that both parties are seemingly enjoying.

[CherylHampton]

Thanks for the info that helps a great deal.Given that Shiloh is still so young I'm hoping that he will continue to have a sweet disposition. I was primarily concerned because of the way he could actually wrap his front paws around the other dogs neck he was simply play nipping at the time and the other dog didn't seem to mind. Shiloh is already as big as his full grown playmate. They do well together in the yard and so far I haven heard any protests from his play mate so feel good there. Next on the agenda is getting him to enjoy the car. He will do have s best to get on then when I help him he whimpers and whines the whole time. We are doing short rides to the end of the driveway and back so hopefully that will help. I've seen the info included in the program for this and will implement them post haste as very soon I won't be able to lift him, he's gonna be a big guy(but so handsome)😊 thanks again!

[Adrienne]

It's great that you are focusing a lot of preventing future problems, that can save from a lot of headaches later on. I imagine that he's likely sending enough meta-signals that the other dog isn't intimidated from this form of play. Keep monitoring their body language. Any tails between the legs, attempts to get away and hide behind people or furniture is a sign that it's too much. Of course though, things can change with a different playmate, so just because things are going well with this play mate doesn't mean another dog will do fine. Dogs have different play styles and some may find some components too overwhelming. Also, as dogs mature, they may start getting more picky on what dogs to be-friend. 

When it comes to car anxiety in puppies, it's sometimes mixed with some motion sickness. Slow and steady wins the race so you are doing the right thing with doing short, fun rides for now. If you are up for some reading, there are some threads tackling car anxiety. I pulled a couple here for you which may have a little more details to specific situations: