Is this puppy playing?

[kid]

My puppy occassionally meets up with my sister's puppy. There is quite a difference in size, mine is the older pup by 6 weeks.

The bigger of the two (A) always ends up pinning (B) smaller and older one down. That doesn't bother me, but I am concerned at the way it happens. (A) puts its mouth arounds (B)'s neck at the front on throat.

There is no yelping, but (B) just attempts to get (A) off using paws, but never manages. (B)'s neck always ends up very wet and very red and sore looking. (B) doesn't complain at all though.

Does this sound like normal puppy play for dogs or is it too rough?
I've never had been brave enough to let my dogs near other dogs due to a very nasty attack several years ago.
I am overcoming this fear really well and but I dread to think this play fighting could turn nasty. Particularly if its not normal play.

My puppy is pretty much like my baby. Which is why I am probably being totally nuerotic!

Sounds normal to me. We had staffie puppies that used to scrap all the time. The growling was so cute!

Yep, t'is normal! My 3 year old and 11 month old labs are outside this very minute taking turns to pin each other down by the the throat, apparently it's the funnest game in the whole world! Pinned-down dog gets up, waggs tail, licks other dog ferociously on the face, and then other dog lies down with her legs waving in the air until previously pinned-down dog returns the favour, and they repeat this for about half an hour. All with a look of sheer joy on their faces! I believe it even beats their other favourite game, who can pull the biggest branch off the trees

Have I misunderstood the op? Do you never let your dogs near other dogs?

Thanks for the replies.
rainbowinthesky
I didn't make my post very clear. I was just referring to my sisters dog as thats how they 'play' together.

My dog meets other dogs every single day when we go for walks. He even has 2 or 3 friends that he sees several times a week.

I haven't stopped the pinning down by the throat as I wasn't sure if it was play, it doesn't look very friendly! But, the fact that my dog goes back for more should reassure me that he isn't getting hurt.

My old dog was really badly attacked by another dog several years ago. That fear is always there that it could happen again to this dog. Hopefully it never will, but the fear will always be there.

My puppy is starting puppy classes in a few weeks. I can't wait even though I am convinced he will be the naughtiest dog they have ever met!

Dogs sound and look very aggressive when playing.

My one does all the growling but is so sweet looking he can't be taken seriously!
He is a springer X cocker spaniel. He has the biggest ears ever and beautiful blue/green eyes.

kid, I'm glad you posted about this. We 'acquired' a 9 month male lab 48 hours ago after the previous owners sold him to someone TOTALLY unsuitable (my Dsis ) who works for 10 hours a day and is renting???!!!

So she clicked that she couldn't look after him and asked us to have him as we already have a 4 year old female lab and I work from home. They already get on brilliantly (new younger lab curls up between the legs of our older lab to sleep - ahhhhh sweet) but they started doing exactly as you describe.

So glad it's normal and sorry about your previous experiences.

I have just finished puppy classes with my Staffy pup. The teacher told us the whole aim of the game is to pin the other pup down by its throat!

It only becomes a problem if one dog isn't as up for it as the other one, as long as the pinned dog comes back for more its only play!

So glad its not just my pup that gets pinned down like this. Its not nice to watch as I assumed he was getting mauled! Imagine if an older dog was doing it to him, that would terrify me.

He met a new playmate the other day. He doesn't cock his leg yet but when this other dog did, he stuck his head underneath to see what was going on. Lucky he didn't get wee'd on, but it was close. He was really calm around this other dog (it was 2 years old). Its funny how they act differently around different dogs.