My year old bitch  is very playful with all dogs and likes rough and tumble play, one of her friends plays like this with her and they get on well but some times he play snaps at her head and neck and grabs on to her collar and won't let go. I don't really like this way of playing but she can look after herself ie she is very strong, quick and agile so can get away if she has had enough. My main worry is that she will learn this behaviour and bring it in to her play with other dogs.  I don't want to stop her playing with this dog as they both seem to enjoy playing so much. Does anyone have any views on this?

I think you are right to be concerned that she is learning to play rough.  Perhaps you should limit the play time with this dog so that it doesn't get out of hand and also make sure that she has lots of other freinds too.  :)

I agree with Sally - excert your authority as her owner to take her out of the situation if you think it's getting too rough.  Allowing too rough play session is one of the best ways of teaching a dog to use it's teeth to get it's own way with other dogs..........

Thanks for replying. You have confirmed what I was thinking. Now I'm going to do something about it.

Going on from here do you think that there is any way to teach a dog not to play rough once they have learned?  My GSD has no 'manners' so to speak when we meet another dog and just bowls straight in.  We are working on it but sometimes it's difficult to know how to attack the problem!

He used to play with an older GSD when he was a pup and they used to go mad with each other, in hindsight we should have stopped it but ....

We work with dogs like that here.  They have either learnt to play rough or they have little experience with other dogs and just haven't learnt how to interact properly.  We use a long line to slow down their approach.  Not holding them back but slowing them down.  The line must be kept loose and it takes a bit of practice to master the technique.  Also the stooge dogs that we use are very good.  They will show another dog by example how to chill out and if necessary they will 'have words' with a rude dog.  The initial greeting is calm and then the stooge dogs may take them off for a play telling them to mind their p's&q's if neccessary. You should be able to do this Jayne but you would have to choose with care the dogs that he meets but then I expect you are doing that already. ;)
Sally

My own dogs rough play is I thought 'acceptable' ie lots of running and chasing - and I always check with the owner of the other dog that their dog is ok with it and stop her before she approaches small dogs or elderly dogs or dogs on a lead.  My issue with this particular dog is with one aspect of his play which is like a crocodile running at my dog with his teeth literally snap snap snapping so you can hear his teeth snapping together!!! And as I said he grabs her collar and keeps hold of it.  I am going to reduce her time spent with this dog because even though I think she on the whole enjoys it - I want her play to calm down in the long run not escalate and have this added 'play' aggression dimension.

Thanks again for all the replies