Need info from multi bullie owners

Submitted by Vern-Rory-Teresa on March 5, 2012 - 7:04pm

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Okay, with the addition of the foster who is about Vern's age, 1.5 years, I need to make sure their behavior is okay and appropriate. I think it is.

Every evening they got pretty hyper and play. Usually the foster is on my ottoman or on the couch and they paw and chomp at each other, never really biting, just mouthing and making eachother's necks slobbery. They pounce and chase each other. I usually stop them after about 20 to 30 minutes because I swear they are gonna pass out.

Is this normal play?

Also, today I was working with Vern....had him in a down stay and was using a treat to lure the foster over Vern and around making him stay down. The foster is very excitable when she sees a treat, so she was hopping and trying to sit on him to get my treat. Is this okay or am I going to cause issues with Vern by doing that? I praised him thoroughly afterwards and gave him a yummy treat. Initially he broke his stay, but after a couple corrections he stayed.

Thanks.....I just want some feedback to make sure I'm doing stuff correctly. These two are really pretty good together and I just want to make sure I'm okay. I've never had two young dogs at the same time, so I'm not accustomed to this energy level. Right now they are playing, one second ago the foster had Vern's ear in her mouth then they were lying across from each other on the couch pawing at each other

Sounds fine to me

Submitted by Jacinda and the... on March 5, 2012 - 7:53pm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AiDLRisrf8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I hope the video works. It's a few months ago when Kix was maybe 4-5 months and Trace was 3. You can tell Trace was being very tolerant and careful with the baby.

Bulldog play

Submitted by Stephanie and David on March 5, 2012 - 8:15pm.

A few years ago, I ran into another bulldog owner and his dog in a local dog park. The dogs, who rarely engaged other dogs at the park, geave each other 'lets play' looks and engaged in noisy play-biting and 'rasslin'. They had a great time, but a lot of other dog onwers would make comments as if oru dogs were really fighting. Their dogs were racing off into the woods, chasing each other and swimming in the river, something bulldogs don't do as well.

I think this is pretty normal. Yes, it's tiring for you, but they won't hurt each other. I grew up with two bulldog who played this way until they got too old to do so. However, if at any one time, it becomes a problem (they're getting too excitied, you have guests, etc.) you can put a stop to it.

Lol!! Sounds cute, but I

Submitted by Vern-Rory-Teresa on March 5, 2012 - 10:07pm.

Lol!! Sounds cute, but I could understand how people might be confused. Funny that they knew they could play together!!

Kippah and Gabe

Submitted by Redflame on March 5, 2012 - 8:27pm.

Although Gabe is not a bulldog, he is a Boston--and they have a few similarities. When those two play--every night when I get home, it is LOUD and seems to be fairly aggressive from a distance. But if you watch them closely----or if they are in your lap doing this--you see that they have their mouths open and making growlie noises and their faces are side to side, but they are not chomping down at all. They come away with wet necks sometimes, and I think that is more from drool and panting tounges than anything else.

But after awhile (15-20 mins) we use this as a training opportunity....to reinforce the "leave it"....oh man how she hates those words!-20

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Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)

Sounds like normal play

Submitted by LynnKing on March 5, 2012 - 8:55pm.

not sure that luring a dog over top of another is a good idea.

Your description of their play sounds perfectly normal, glad they are getting along so well.

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Lynn King CPDT-KA

Thanks everyone for the

Submitted by Vern-Rory-Teresa on March 5, 2012 - 9:42pm.

Thanks everyone for the responses.....Jacinda, the video was really cute and Vern & Angie (formerly Piggie) playing is very similar to Kix & Trace....although a smidge less tame!

They crack me up when they are playing....so snorty and I love it when they paw at each other. Angie often initiates the play session, she'll see Vern walking by and assumes the bow position and the game is on!

I do the same thing, Annette....when I feel like its gone on long enough, I'll have them do a couple commands & then it's time for water and an ice cube.

Lynn, I felt like maybe I wasn't doing the right thing having her walk over him.....she's plenty of a distraction for him without doing that, so I won't lure her over him any more.

I too am glad they're getting along so well...she'll be with me for another two weeks before her adoptive parents can make the treck down here from Canada.

Thanks so much everyone!!!

Ozzy and Jax

Submitted by blondiek237 on March 6, 2012 - 8:01am.

Play this way--usually it is Jax on the couch and Oz on the floor. If you listen to the noises, you can tell if it crosses the line. Ozzy will sometimes just stand there and let Jax zoom around. If he really is done he will leave the room. If Jax follows him--then we put a stop to it.

Lyn

Sound just like my two.

Submitted by karonelaine on March 6, 2012 - 8:41am.

Bubba and Loulou play like that twice a day. I think bulldogs needs to play just like that . I also have to. Break mine up of they will past out also.

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Karonelaine