Play Time - how rough is rough?

Woody has always been great with other dogs, so good in fact that we have had several requests to use him for socialisation purposes. We worked really hard with a rescue staffy who is now great around other dogs because of the confidence she felt with Woody.

A few times lately though he has been playing with other dogs and the owners have stepped in and taken their dogs away after a few minutes looking abit embarrassed and muttering. It happened yesterday with a retriever who I thought was being quite jumpy with Woody but otherwise the play seemed fine to me.

Now, I can understand if their dog is poorly, old, frail etc then they might want to control it but should they not say so? We were very confused yesterday and it's got me wondering if perhaps my idea of good play is different to others.

So, for what are the signs that would make you want to call it to an end and break your dog up?

Ah, that depends! I have a breed who play very rough... lots of biting legs and faces, growling, hanging off ears and faces etc... and the sound! Sounds like they are killing each other (or other dogs!)

I think if an owner isn't happy with how their dogs are playing with others, they should actually SAY something, rather than muttering and just removing their dog

I have noticed though, a trend towards not letting dogs be dogs together and actually play. We've met a few larger dogs who are about the same age as M&M, and who are perfectly friendly, but whose owners won't let them play, and after a cursory sniff, they are dragged off

Same here, these 2 play just like yours, but if it starts getting on me nerves I jump in and stop it...I just say 'time out' and it stops...Poppy loves hanging off Bens ears and neck and Ben likes to bit her legs, never had a drop of blood, they love the rough and tumble, but it can get on your nerves esp when your trying to watch something on the telly
When there out they don't tend to do this, Ben is fixated on his ball and Poppy is fixated on him, will run with him and give a quick chew on his neck but he just ignores her.

I think if the owner of the other dog doesn't want this then they should say so...Howeever I won't normally let Poppy, coz it's 9 times out of 10 her as I think that some dogs may see it as aggressive but she just wants to play and that's how she plays Or she will just circle them and try and round them up

Well that's what I thought. How am I supposed to know what's wrong if they don't say.

I wonder if perhaps it's the pinning thing he does that puts some people off but if that gets abit too much I always just call him back to me and chill him out to break the cycle.

Pinning another dog down can be seen, by the other dog, as being dominant I suppose

Well my NI likes to bite other dogs tails and jump on the back of their necks. He is rough but is happy to be told off by other dogs and clams down. Not many dogs we meet like this but they willl tell him off. I have met with other NI and they all play the same and do nothing but wrestle eachother and love it.
He loves dogs to run away so he can chase them as well he thinks its great fun.
Part of me thinks if you don't want your dog to play like a dog put it on the lead.

jake plays differently with different dogs lol. as he is only 13 weeks he is very excitable and jumpy. he has a wee doggy friend who has just turned 2 and she is still very puppy like so the two of them jump on each other, and bite each other and just play quite rough and love it . but jake also has 4 year old doggy friend who doesnt like playing like that so the two of them just chase each other, not nearly as fun for jake lol.

i think if owners arent happy with how they are playing they should say and not react like they did. jake always tries to jump on dogs to instigate play but if the dog doesnt like playing like that they either just ignore him or put him in his place, all owners i have met just leave the dogs to sort it out but thats probably coz jake is so small he wont hurt their dogs lol

A lot of owners treat their dogs like children and expect them to `play nice`. I`d let the dogs get on with it unless one starts looking worried, afraid or angry. On the other hand a dog can usually say enough is enough perfectly well on their ow and dogs communicate very well if left alone. .

I wouldn't be too happy with a dog pinning mine down I have to say, at that point I also would stop play..I stop it if Tango pins another dog too.
Tango is nuts around other dogs and is only vocal when playing (she sounds fierce)most people know us now though so sort of trust us to step in if play is too rough. I constantly watch body language and other signals they give off...just to make sure it is play and not squaring up to each other.
Cosmo just isn't interested in playing when we are out...quick sniff and he's off.
Together they wear me out watching them.

I have often seen a larger dog let a smaller one pin it down. Don't worry about it. Watch the hackles coming up, quick short snaps, low rumbly growls, and one dog not coming back for more when it gets away.