I have a 2 1/2 yr old spayed akita bitch and a 4 mth old male GSD pup.  They get on well together, but my concern is that they play fight and whilst I know the akita is playing because she could do the pup serious damage if she wanted to, the pup can really get "stuck in", getting very vocal and quite hyped up.  I stop them as soon as I see the playing is heading in this direction, but I'm not sure whether I'm doing right or wrong??
At the end of the day I want two happy dogs living in harmony with one another - what is the best action?  should I not allow any play fighting?
all advice gratefully received!

I have two boys.  The older one was neutered and was 4 years old when my pup came along.  Mine was a different dynamic than yours but I do feel it's important to give each dog some 'time out'.

Even though it's just 'play fighting' the situation can differ depending on mood or timing.  Sometimes the older one got bored or irritated with the pup, or the pup got overtired and silly, or I needed to leave the room and couldn't watch them.  For a variety of reasons it's sensible to provide some distance between them.  If I was watching I could usually separate them with the command 'enough'.  If that didn't work for long I'd distract one of them, take it outside, or use baby gates.  Sometimes I'd put them both to bed for a while, particularly if the pup needed a snooze.

There are times when it's good to let them have a play but I see no harm in intervening when it gets too full on, and is likely to cause a drama!

Personally I just leave my dogs to get on with it and always have. Pups are only separated when I'm not in the house and that's purely for housekeeping purposes - if pup isn't fully house trained it is confined to the kitchen. The older dogs will tell the pup off when they've had enough and this way the pup learns very good doggy manners. I've never had a pup injured by an older dog. Play fighting can sound awful and pups can get very carried away and serious about it, I leave it to the older dogs to sort them out.

I feel I do need to add a warning though, I've never owned an akita or bull breeds or any breed of dog known to have problems with it's own species ;-)

> The older dogs will tell the pup off when they've had enough and this way the pup learns very good doggy manners.

I was told this by sooooo many people, including pups breeder and a behaviourist. But when I brought my Mastiff pup home, I would panick and stop play before it escalated to the older dog (male lab cross) needing to telling pup off.
I found by stepping in all the time, the pup learnt nothing atall so I had to continue to keep them seperated for fear of things getting out of hand (me stepping in only seemed to teach pup how to be a bully and to stop adult dog learning the most effective way of getting pup to back off). When I finally listened to all the advice, I let the adult tell pup off (still supervised) and quickly pup learnt what he was & wasn't allowed to do with oldie and they were soon left together all the time :)

I allowed my older dog to control the pup (now 4 and 2) under our close supervision.  He took all she had to throw at him.  It was so funny.  Poor Barney didn't know what had hit him.  They are miniature schnauzers, and the pup used to hang off his beard and he still took it, occasionally shrugging her off.  He obviously enjoyed it and 'egged' her on, because he lay on his back very invitingly (still does when he wants to). 

The first time he 'put her in her place' was when she nipped his bits (entire male).  He growled in a very deep 'voice' and charged at her, stopping immediately before her and towered over, staring her down.  She was contrite and didn't even look at him.  It was so funny to watch.  But she knew then that he had his limits and even now she is very careful about his areas.  They still love to play fight though, it's great exercise.

I have 2 GSD's one 11 and the other 18 months and both bitches, my older one is a very well behaved and patient dog, great with kids and other dogs lol So I just left them to it when Holly got too much Lana just gave her a good telling off. They still play fight now and when Holly goes too far Lana tells her off and that is the end of the games.
Just got problems walking them together!!! lol

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2060/8/37/647454459/n647454459_1963809_4234.jpg

Old puppy playfight pic lol

> Old puppy playfight pic lol

Fanatastic pic :) I love the look on pups face :)

thank you all for the advice! :)
Great photo Xanshea - your pup looks just like mine!  My 7yr old daughter thought it was actually ours!!  :)
I guess I should just let them get on with it - supervised of course.
Reason I am so weary is because years ago I had 2 bitches that lived quite happily together for well over a year and then one day that was it - all hell broke loose.  Tried everything to stop them fighting - separated them for sometime, tried reintroducing them, etc etc but in the end I got bit and we rehomed one - worst experience of my life - dont want to have to go through that again.  Ever since we have been a one dog family until recently!