Two Corgi question

[Jeni D]

How do you keep your corgis from not harming eachother? Dudley plays so rough with Maya, and most of the time, she goes right back at him or even instigates it. They obviously really enjoy each others company, but sometimes Dudley gets too rough. He tries to pull on her back leg and has actually made her limp once. I try to calm them down, and they will stop for a few minutes, but as soon as I turn my back they're back to it again. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Jeni

[milles2]

Mine play pretty rough too. When I see it escalating, I have a level that is my comfort zone, and when they cross it, I make them take a time out. And like yours, they go right back to each other.

I too, don't want to see them hurt each other but I was also advised to, within limits, let them work things out themselves.

Tucker is small for a Corgi so when Lulu was tiny, it wasn't like she was wrestling w/ a huge dog. I worried about all the bumps to the head they take.

Interestingly, somehomw playing rough together doesn't make me too uncomfortable because I know they are playing. Seeing them play that way with other dogs is really disconcerting. I want to say "they are just playing" but I don't have the confidence they will "break it up" when I tell them to.

[Chip's Mom]

I am so glad to read this thread because I have the same concerns with the Chipmunks. There is also a little jealousy thrown in when I play with the two of them, Chip gets a little rough with Dale and Dale gets a little rough back with Chip. They are together most of the time and Chip watches over Dale, they eat together, sleep together, etc so I can't figure it out. Chip grabs Dale's neck sometimes and gets rough and that worries me. Maybelle used to do that to Chip all the time and pinched him to the point a bruise would appear. Now Dale has one. I get after him when he does that so it isn't as often now and we have finally taught Maybelle to quit it most of the time. I am looking forward to the responses. I must add that I am so glad I am not the only one with this concern.

[ZdogZ]

Zip and Zia also play rough with each other. It is usually Zia who gets rough. Usually Zip will let her know that he's had enough, without it getting too ugly. I have broken them up before and like everyone else, they go right back to it.

[Clogs]

Rosie has always been around, and played with, much larger dogs - 2 German Shepherd/lab crosses at home and our daughter's dog, a very bouncy rottie/huntaway cross - and for what it's worth, she only really got hurt once, and that was a well-deserved roll and bite to the ear, when she wouldn't leave one of the old dogs alone. Her level of respect rose on the instant. Sometimes I cringed too, but they seem to have a natural point at which they cut off violence levels when at play with dogs they know well. But if they are stepping outside your comfort levels, maybe a "No more play" command could be taught?

[Jeni D]

Well, thank goodness I'm not alone. I'm trying to teach "Enough" and it seems to work about half of the time. It seems to be, for the most part, that Dudley is the one who ends up whining because Maya will bite his foot after he pummels her one to many times. I'm just concerned because Dudley does always go for her back leg or her tail. He's so huge compared to her...the big bully

[Chip's Mom]

Jeni:

Dale doesn't have a tail but Chip has a little nubbin and Dale will bite his nubbin and hold on for dear life. Chip has dragged him across the floor like that.

[manymuddypaws]

Wicca and Sam play rough aswell. When I am walking them at a dog show and they are playing at the end of their flexis, people always look around to see where the dog fight is!! They sound really horrible but they are to the point now where when I tell them enough they will walk away from each other. With my two play starts out innocent enough but it only takes one of them to get a little heated and then it gets really rough. Wicca is usually the one who will tell Sam off but it does rotate. I let them work it out for the most part but lately Sam has been quite the little jerk so I have been limiting their play time and no more wrestling in the house. It has calmed them down a little bit anyway!
Good Luck!

-amanda

[Mvons]

This all makes me feel better knowing that two dogs can get rough just as a child and dog can. When my child was 2 and our dog was 6, I could tell there were times our child was rough and other times our dog tripped our son and he landed badly. The offender got a time out of 2 minutes. Other times I could yell out, HEY or KNOCK it off and they would take a break or I would give each their own toy to distract them.

Merrie

[darci]

Well we have had Egan for almost a yr now.
And sometimes the WWF gets too rough and we as well use the enough command and they back off.

It seems I worried more when Egan was little, Darci seem to get too rough, now the tables have turned and Egan is the bad boy more often.

Lucky for us the really rough times are not very often. They have never broken the skin or injured each other but I am always quick to but them in the crates ( the cooler ) for a break.

[Dillydoodle]

I am the worst one to ask on this question, I am the biggest worry wart...In the very begining i was breaking up all the "fights" most of which were play. I was starting to let them play a little more and just breaking up what I felt was getting out of hand. Since this weekend's corgi fest, I was able to see acceptable play with multiple corgis and get owner input as to what is normal and what is getting too heated. It was really helpful to me to know as a first time two dog owner what is ok and what is not. Now, while i still feel a little tense at times, I rarely have to break anything up, I only stop them if Dillon is just pestering Gus and Gus doesnt want to play, or if things are really getting out of hand. Gus is starting to stick up for himself a little and even instigating the play which is great. Gus listens well to my saying "enough" but Dillon is less inclined to stop, and at that point i put him in a down stay for a time out for a few minutes. That usually does the trick. I still worry - Dillon is much stronger than Gus and I dont want Gus getting hurt..

[Chip's Mom]

Well it sounds like I am doing the right thing because that is what we tell them. I haven't tried the time out, usually just a stern "stop" will do the trick.

[Jeni D]

I guess I must be good to go as well. When "Enough" doesn't work, I try splitting them up in two separate rooms for a while, or I get out the treats for a training sessions...you know corgis and food

On a side note: Dudley, who once had a pretty mild appetite, has turned into a voracious eater since getting Maya...she is an absolute chow hound!!

[tandemgal]

removed by T-Gal

[milles2]

For me, it is a hard line to draw. Lulu makes the most horrific face and sounds when she and Tucker are engaged in one of their favorite passtimes: One is up on the couch, the other is down on the floor and they are snarling, growling, barking, and snapping at each other's mouths. They do it several times a day. Most of the times they break it up themselves when Lulu leaps off the sofa and takes a lap - inciting Tuck to chase her.

It's a pretty scary face! Just ask Miss Jackie Fluffy Pants!