I'm not sure this is the same situation, but when we got our second girl, Thekla, she and Hilda were fighting a lot. It would start off as play, but then it would escalate into something more than that. We got a dog trainer in (I like to say that we had family therapy!) She watched them play and fight for a while and then she said--the trick is that there can only be one head of the pack and that head has to be the human. She suggested that we interrupt their play before it became too rough. She also suggested that we do it even when it wasn't rough, just to establish who was in control. We used the word "chill" said in a high, commanding voice. It seemed to work and we haven't had problems since.

I'm not sure this is the same situation, but when we got our second girl, Thekla, she and Hilda were fighting a lot. It would start off as play, but then it would escalate into something more than that. We got a dog trainer in (I like to say that we had family therapy!) She watched them play and fight for a while and then she said--the trick is that there can only be one head of the pack and that head has to be the human. She suggested that we interrupt their play before it became too rough. She also suggested that we do it even when it wasn't rough, just to establish who was in control. We used the word "chill" said in a high, commanding voice. It seemed to work and we haven't had problems since.

Thanks buku for the encouragement....I get more and more in love with them every day. I look at max sometimes and think what will I do if the worse happens to him....it will be so heart breaking....but I tell you something...he is not aware that ANYTHING could be wrong with him and thats the important thing....you wouldnt believe how much energy and spunk this little guy has.

I cant wait to see the two of them curled next to each other sleeping. In the mean time....supervised playtime is on the menu.

Thanks again for the kind words

barb

Thanks buku for the encouragement....I get more and more in love with them every day. I look at max sometimes and think what will I do if the worse happens to him....it will be so heart breaking....but I tell you something...he is not aware that ANYTHING could be wrong with him and thats the important thing....you wouldnt believe how much energy and spunk this little guy has.

I cant wait to see the two of them curled next to each other sleeping. In the mean time....supervised playtime is on the menu.

Thanks again for the kind words

barb

I also have a brother and sister.  I also have an 8 X 8 pen in my garage.  I put all of their play toys in their, so they son't be bothered by the other dogs who are bigger.  I let them stay there together for only a short time as their playing got rougher.  I used to listen for the growling, wrestling, etc. when that started I spearated, as for leaving them unattendede together, I wouldn't, they could hurt one another, unintentionally.

I also have a brother and sister.  I also have an 8 X 8 pen in my garage.  I put all of their play toys in their, so they son't be bothered by the other dogs who are bigger.  I let them stay there together for only a short time as their playing got rougher.  I used to listen for the growling, wrestling, etc. when that started I spearated, as for leaving them unattendede together, I wouldn't, they could hurt one another, unintentionally.

Ellie Mae and Max are two lucky dogs!

I don't think that either one of them would hurt the other intentionally. However considering the size difference, I would supervise them until you are relatively sure that Ellie Mae isn't going to use her weight against little Max. You will know when you can trust them together unsupervised. If they are together for longer periods, they will play for a while and then curl up and rest together.

I think putting them together is a very good thing and they will be best friends and great companions for each other. I have a Boxer and she towers over my Bullie. When I brought Punkie home, Maggie wanted to play with her immediately and I was a little apprehensive to leave the two alone because they played so rough...lots of biting, growling and barking. It's been 10 months and they have played like crazy together and Punkie hasn't been hurt once. Maggie, on the other hand is always yelping when Punkie bites her on her ankles...but she has never retaliated on Punkie. I think dogs know the limits of their playmates.

I'm so happy that Max is doing well...it makes my heart sing. You are an angel for taking him and loving him...they have a wonderful mom.

Donna ~ Punkie Brewster's Mom

Ellie Mae and Max are two lucky dogs!

I don't think that either one of them would hurt the other intentionally. However considering the size difference, I would supervise them until you are relatively sure that Ellie Mae isn't going to use her weight against little Max. You will know when you can trust them together unsupervised. If they are together for longer periods, they will play for a while and then curl up and rest together.

I think putting them together is a very good thing and they will be best friends and great companions for each other. I have a Boxer and she towers over my Bullie. When I brought Punkie home, Maggie wanted to play with her immediately and I was a little apprehensive to leave the two alone because they played so rough...lots of biting, growling and barking. It's been 10 months and they have played like crazy together and Punkie hasn't been hurt once. Maggie, on the other hand is always yelping when Punkie bites her on her ankles...but she has never retaliated on Punkie. I think dogs know the limits of their playmates.

I'm so happy that Max is doing well...it makes my heart sing. You are an angel for taking him and loving him...they have a wonderful mom.

Donna ~ Punkie Brewster's Mom