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Wyrd
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21-05-2010, 03:15 PM

Puppies playing with puppies?

Is it a good idea?

Cooper my Dali pup just constantly wants to play and I think he is bored with playing with me all the time, he just tried to play with my Retriever x Sam in the garden but Sam wasn't keen. My 14yr old Border Collie Becka tries to play with him but she is a bit rough for my liking and tends to knock him over or knock him into things.
Someone my mum works with has a Weimaraner pup around the same age as Cooper, and she suggested letting them play together, but apparently he is quite a sturdy little pup and Cooper is quite small for his age, would it be a good idea to let them play together, or should I try and find someone with a slightly older more playful dog?
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Labman
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21-05-2010, 03:24 PM
Although puppies have most of the dog socialization they need by 6 weeks, it is still better if they have have ongoing contact with other dogs. However, immunized or not, disease is a real danger. Take advantage of every chance for your puppy to play with other well cared for dogs. The younger, the better. They love it.

There is a good explanation of why immunizations may not protect them at http://www.avma.org/animal_health/br...o_brochure.asp
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Wyrd
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21-05-2010, 03:34 PM
Cooper has had all his injections now, so is free to enjoy the outside world

I am not sure how much socialisation he has had with other dogs as he was in rescue.
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cintvelt
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21-05-2010, 03:45 PM
pups playing with pups is absolutely great!!!!! As long as the other pups are also getting their jabs as required there is no problem at all.... it's a great learning experience and loads of fun for them.... it's also very important in building their confidence... and as long as the play sessions are not too long they are generally very gentle with each other... usually they rumble and tumble about emitting not a single sound... when it gets too rough of they start making sounds you know it's time to go home.... why not see if there are any puppy classes or puppy playdates in your area.... some vets even offer this.....
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cintvelt
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21-05-2010, 03:51 PM
just read your 2nd post..... if he's had all his jabs go for it.... the more the merrier! Tess has played with all shapes and sizes and never had a single problem.... small breed pups playing with large breed pups is also good.... gives the pups a good perspective of what size means in a non-threatening environment!
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Labman
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21-05-2010, 04:52 PM
I guess some of you aren't going to take the AVMA's word that even with several vaccinations, puppies can still die of parvo. You still need to be very careful about the other dogs your puppy is exposed to.
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Wyrd
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21-05-2010, 06:26 PM
I'm still not 100% about letting him play with other pups as he is very small for his age and breed and I worry about them bouncing around with no coordination and injuring him or scaring him, but I really want him to be able to play properly.
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Helena54
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21-05-2010, 06:32 PM
I let my puppy play with my older dog, they were always playing when she was a matter of weeks, then months old, although my breeder didn't like the fact that she was playing with an older dog, they can hurt themselves. Then my breeder came down with Zena's sister, and she stopped them playing just as they really got going, much to Zena's disappointment! I've always let her play, but then I have heard of some real horror stories, a friend of mine's flatcoat playing with a lab and he got severely damaged and ended up with 3 month's crate rest! It's a chance you take, but I'd much rather they socialise, and you can always stop it if you think it's getting too rough can't you.
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Labman
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21-05-2010, 08:01 PM
We frequently have different age puppies playing with each other. There has never been a problem. We do keep an eye on things and step in if the smaller seems to be getting the worst of it.

I have heard enough stories about breeders doing things like separating the puppies to have a great doubt about breeders in general.
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cintvelt
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21-05-2010, 08:24 PM
I agree you shouldn't let pups play without supervision, and when one of them gets tired playtime is over....

but I think playtime with other pups is sooooo important for their own sense of being!!!! When they're really young all adult dogs will be careful with them... but there comes a transition moment during adolescence when older dogs no longer think they're pups and adult dogs no longer take any slack... if they play with other pups of around the same age they will come face to face with this transition period in a much friendlier setting.... therefore I totally recommend pup playgroups and the same pups socializing on a regular basis.... I see it with Tess' group... they've been training together since they were between 9 and 11 weeks, some new dogs have been added and some dropped out, so now she's in a group of 6 dogs ranging between 8 1/2 months (my Tess) and 11 months..... the males are getting hormonal but because they're all friends there is no real aggression between them, just a telling off now and again.... a real lesson during adolescence! And it's all under the supervision of a very experienced trainer... the whole experience teaches the dogs what's ok for other dogs, and what is not.... and teaches us owners about the signals to watch out for in our own dogs.... when is enough enough?
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