How to stop dogs wrestling all the time?

[Greyhorses]

Any ideas on this one?

I have two dogs that won’t stop rough play when on a walk. They do not do it at home or in the garden however on a walk they are constantly chasing, biting, growling and barking at eachother. It starts the second we leave until we get home and gets tougher as the walk goes on. Eventually the play gets so rough one dog takes offence and yelps/gets angry and the play stops for about 5mins then starts up again.

I would say it’s younger dog instigating it. She stands infront of older dog and bites at his neck until he relents and joins in. Saying that he also can be seen barking in her face. They also ‘race’ while barking and body slamming eachother

I wouldn’t mind so much but neither dog listens to a word I say, won’t recall and won’t stop when I ask. They also look very aggressive with all of the noise and nipping The only way I can stop it is by putting them both on leads for a timeout once I’ve managed to catch them (private land so no worries on that front!)

Indivually both dogs are fine to walk. They are very friendly, get on well and play with other dogs normally-they reserve the stupid behaviour for eachother!

Is there anything I can do with this or will I need to keep them on lead forever?
Is it normal for play to be this all consuming?

I wouldn’t mind so much but neither dog listens to a word I say, won’t recall and won’t stop when I ask.

Then why the hell are you letting them off lead??

You need to walk your dog separately.

Read the post - private land

Separate walks.

I read it. You think dogs won’t cross a boundary?

Is there anything they like better than rough play?
A distraction might work and keep them occupied with something else.

My male dog used to be like this but loves chasing a ball. I now reserve the ball for moments when other dogs appear (moments when he used to rush off and engage in rough play). Even the word 'ball' will draw his attention back to me.

A friend gives one of her dogs something to carry. ( A responsibility it takes very seriously!)

Donny it’s our private fenced land, essentially like a large garden and I don’t expect anyone to be trespassing on it. They are very friendly and wouldn’t hurt a fly even if someone was illegally on it

I specifically take them there to run around safely where they won’t be in danger or bothering anyone else.

They do behave nicely when on lead, which they are in public but thanks for the concern. If they do meet dogs (or humans) on a walk they are both very polite and well mannered just not with eachother

I’ve tried a ball but it sent dog2 mad trying to grab it from dog1. I will try and get them to carry something!

I don’t always have time to walk them separately but I will try and get them out alone more often

Take two balls, chuck one as far as you can in one direction and the other in the other direction. They are clearly competitive and all this silliness could escalate into something worse.

You could always take both of them and only let one off the lead at a time.

What breed are they btw??

Honestly? They sound like they are having boisterous doggy fun with their packmate, especially if one is still young enough to be "teenager dog". Definitely look up ways to work on your recall because thats important, but otherwise if they arent actually injuring each other, let them tussle and shove and row, like teenagers do.

My younger dog likes to wind up the older one - they wrestle and chase and mouth - they both go back for more. As long as they aren't causing any damage isn't it just dogs playing - that's what we got another dog for.

Donny it’s our private fenced land, essentially like a large garden and I don’t expect anyone to be trespassing on it.

Fair enough if it’s completely fenced. You do still need to work on recall though. Dogs can slip their leads. There was a thread last week where a dog chewed through its lead.

They are very friendly and wouldn’t hurt a fly even if someone was illegally on it hmm

Good to hear. If they slip a lead in public and you can’t get them back it could be them getting hurt. not other way round. Recall is really one of the most important commands a dog should be taught.

Let them have fun.

They know their boundaries with each other, and won’t hurt each other.

They do have recall normally, just not when wrestling. It’s like a switch has flicked and they can’t think about or hear anything else but dragging eachother about!
If one is on a lead the other winds it up by standing infront and barking so I have both on or neither.

Neither dog has ever been hurt in any way, it’s all noise, body slamming and mouthing but they do yelp.

They recall at the park individually with distractions and at dog training and I’ve done loads of work on this. They are not really chasers unless they are chasing eachother. They have 0 interest in approaching dogs or humans but if a dog comes up to them they just play rougher with eachother
When I shout dog1 seems to stop and think but then gets egged on by dog2 and they start again.

If they did slip their leads I would be sure they would come back as they aren’t in ‘play’ mode but if they were already off and playing probably not hence I don’t let them off in that situation.

They are german shepherds, ones about 7 months and the other 5.

I see now.

It does look like they are killing each other and now yo mention they are GSs Even more so.

I think it is fair enough to have a behaviour that you don't want to continue. Walks are primarily for the dogs but humans need to enjoy them too otherwise some of the joy of keeping dogs is gone.

I'd be tempted to keep them both on the lead for now when walking together - if doing so stops the behaviour - and work on giving them something else to do on a walk.

Carrying something is good, but I wonder if this is more effective with gun breeds than GSD who are built for something different? Gun dogs enjoy carrying but not many other dogs ind this more fun than a good rough and tumble. GSDs are clever dogs that are often used for search. Could you do something like train them both to 'search' for something you have already planted in the field, like a toy or two. Or treats of they are ok around food together. You would train them separately until they were both very good at this, then let them work together to find the object. The search should then distract them from this form of entertainment.

Have you thought about using a whistle to attract their attention when they are wrestling?

Mine do this and sometimes do it even when one is on the lead (we have to keep her on a long line just now because of some rabbit hole incidents).
The only thing that works is finding the older dog a big stick to carry, because the only thing he likes more than wrestling the other Dog is carrying a bloody great log around with him.

If one is on a lead the other winds it up by standing infront and barking so I have both on or neither.

Winds it up? Or is shouting "Hey! Hey! Great Mate! I'm off the lead, its play time, come and play!"

StormTreader yes exactly that It’s very annoying after an hour honestly!

I’ll try some of the suggestions. I’m not sure they won’t just try and squabble over the same ball.

If they are anything like mine they will ignore the stick and stick to the rough play.

I see now. It does look like they are killing each other and now you mention they are GSs Even more so

Oh my. And the award for the most ignorant comment on this thread goes to you!

Believe it or not German shepherds aren’t horrible beasts. They ARE capable of play fighting without wanting to kill one another, you know? I’m assuming if the OP had two little fluffy dogs your comment would’ve been totally different.

OP, personally I think it’s fine. GSD’s do tend to mouth a lot. There is a huge difference between play fighting and actually fighting. My gsd is currently in the teenage phase and loves to wind my partners dog up who is a lab. Most of the time he will humour her and play along with it and wrestle with her but when he’s had enough, he tells her and she stops.

Trust me if either dog didn’t want to play they’d let the other know. That’s how they learn. You’re on private land, they’re not harming anyone or each other, and if they seem okay I’d leave them to carry on.
Yeah work on your recall but if someone was trespassing your land with their dog they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if anything happened

Oh my. And the award for the most ignorant comment on this thread goes to you!

Oh please, lay off.

I don't think they are. I know they are not horrible beasts, and that they capable of playing and that's what they are doing. The wider public, esp. people stated of dogs and who only know of GSD, and who don't know then might think that.

I have large playful dogs, and even with their play fighting it does look like they are killing each other.

To be fair they do look like the hound of the Baskervilles mauling eachothers throats and can be heard roaring from a mile away, hence why it would be nice for them to tone it down

My teenage dog & her teenage friend do this a lot (though before anyone tells me, I'm not concerned about their recall when together & we only allow them to play in appropriate areas) I've wondered what it's all about too, as they only do it with each other! Assume they might eventually outgrow it?

the 5 year old needs to put the 7 month old in his place. that is the dogs rules not mine.
once they have established this they should be ok imo