First time playing with another dog!!

Greydusk · 12-15-2011, 08:37 PM

Tonight was the first night I've EVER seen Blitz play with another dog (I've had him for 2 years)! My friend and her 8 month aussie puppy went out to the forest to let the pups run around in the snow. Now Blitz knows this pup well, we go hiking all the time together but whenever she'd try to get him to play he'd usually just turn around and ignore her. Blitz used to be very reactive towards other dogs, especially males, he still has some issues but has improved leaps and bounds with the help of our trainer. Prior to training all interactions with other dogs have not gone well.

Any who, we were just running around and throwing snow at the dogs, I think it might have triggered some puppy playfulness in Blitz, because the two of them were legitimately playing! I don't think he really "gets" it yet, he's still figuring how to interact with other dogs, maybe because he's known Olive for so long now that he's just starting to come out of his shell. I hope the relationship can stay positive and they can continue to grow together and he can continue to improve.

I was just so excited to see him engage in play.

PaddyD · 12-15-2011, 08:46 PM

Congratulations! Try to keep the 'friendship' current. I think that once they find a friend that it is permanent. But, being GSDs, they are slow to find 'friends'.

Greydusk · 12-15-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaddyD

Congratulations! Try to keep the 'friendship' current. I think that once they find a friend that it is permanent. But, being GSDs, they are slow to find 'friends'.

It's been such a long road...
We offleash hike together frequently, with all her puppy antics and jumping on him he has never once snapped at her. That's more than I can say for the random dogs who run up on us.

He's ridiculously patient with her and puts up with her nonsense, I think they'll become even closer after she mellows out a bit.

PaddyD · 12-15-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greydusk

It's been such a long road...
We offleash hike together frequently, with all her puppy antics and jumping on him he has never once snapped at her. That's more than I can say for the random dogs who run up on us.

He's ridiculously patient with her and puts up with her nonsense, I think they'll become even closer after she mellows out a bit.

He probably enjoys her jumping on him. Abby plays with dogs of different sizes and the ones that jump on her are part of the fun. She, too, is very slow to make friends but she adapts to the size of the dog.

Greydusk · 12-15-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaddyD

He probably enjoys her jumping on him. Abby plays with dogs of different sizes and the ones that jump on her are part of the fun. She, too, is very slow to make friends but she adapts to the size of the dog.

He tolerates the jumping, when he's had enough he walks away.

I had to monitor the play as there were times he seemed a little intense for my liking...I don't know if it's just the way GSD's play or what. Olive didn't show signs of distress and was happy as a clam, I just didn't want things to get out of hand.

Here's a pic of them from ages ago...Probably 5 months ago.

PaddyD · 12-15-2011, 09:19 PM

Cute pic. Abby plays with dogs that weigh 75, 30 and 13 pounds. She normally doesn't befriend dogs but when she does, watch out. They play very physically. Abby pins all of them but dogs have very good bite control and know when to be gentle so that they can play another day. It's chase, chase, wrestle, pin, get up, chase, etc. They have a GREAT time.

Greydusk · 12-15-2011, 10:12 PM

Well that makes me feel better then, there was a lot of growling, chasing, pinning-repeat. You can tell though he's not very good at the whole play thing, honestly I think this is the first time in his life he's played with another dog.

PaddyD · 12-15-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greydusk

Well that makes me feel better then, there was a lot of growling, chasing, pinning-repeat. You can tell though he's not very good at the whole play thing, honestly I think this is the first time in his life he's played with another dog.

They can get very vocal and it can be unnerving. I am lucky in that my last dog (mutt) played with my son's dog and they sounded like they were killing each other but there were never any injuries or hard feelings. Abby (GSD) is more vocal than the others and it does make me pay more attention but the other dogs are as happy as can be.

Greydusk · 12-15-2011, 10:20 PM

I've always heard people say that GSD's are very vocal when playing. However having seen him being very vocal and clearly not playing with another dog, I'm extra vigilant.

PaddyD · 12-15-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greydusk

I've always heard people say that GSD's are very vocal when playing. However having seen him being very vocal and clearly not playing with another dog, I'm extra vigilant.

Vigilance is smart. Just watch the other dogs, if they are OK then everything's OK.

12-15-2011, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Greydusk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 488	First time playing with another dog!! Tonight was the first night I've EVER seen Blitz play with another dog (I've had him for 2 years)! My friend and her 8 month aussie puppy went out to the forest to let the pups run around in the snow. Now Blitz knows this pup well, we go hiking all the time together but whenever she'd try to get him to play he'd usually just turn around and ignore her. Blitz used to be very reactive towards other dogs, especially males, he still has some issues but has improved leaps and bounds with the help of our trainer. Prior to training all interactions with other dogs have not gone well. Any who, we were just running around and throwing snow at the dogs, I think it might have triggered some puppy playfulness in Blitz, because the two of them were legitimately playing! I don't think he really "gets" it yet, he's still figuring how to interact with other dogs, maybe because he's known Olive for so long now that he's just starting to come out of his shell. I hope the relationship can stay positive and they can continue to grow together and he can continue to improve. I was just so excited to see him engage in play. __________________ Blitz~ 7 (ish) year old GSD, adopted 1/1/10

12-15-2011, 09:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Cute pic. Abby plays with dogs that weigh 75, 30 and 13 pounds. She normally doesn't befriend dogs but when she does, watch out. They play very physically. Abby pins all of them but dogs have very good bite control and know when to be gentle so that they can play another day. It's chase, chase, wrestle, pin, get up, chase, etc. They have a GREAT time. Last edited by PaddyD; 12-15-2011 at 09:29 PM.

12-15-2011, 10:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Greydusk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 488	Well that makes me feel better then, there was a lot of growling, chasing, pinning-repeat. You can tell though he's not very good at the whole play thing, honestly I think this is the first time in his life he's played with another dog. __________________ Blitz~ 7 (ish) year old GSD, adopted 1/1/10

12-15-2011, 10:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
Greydusk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 488	I've always heard people say that GSD's are very vocal when playing. However having seen him being very vocal and clearly not playing with another dog, I'm extra vigilant. __________________ Blitz~ 7 (ish) year old GSD, adopted 1/1/10

12-15-2011, 08:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Congratulations! Try to keep the 'friendship' current. I think that once they find a friend that it is permanent. But, being GSDs, they are slow to find 'friends'.

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