Any behaviour experts out there who could clarify my dogs' behaviour? I have a 12 year old neutered springer who is not renowned for playing with other dogs in fact he actively discourages any play from dogs nearby. I also have an 8 month old mini daxie, Reggie, who was neutered a few days ago. Reggie loves to play - with any dog who will play with him, big or small. I have noticed that Hoaby, the springer is trying to play with Reg - I think! I was hoping someone could tell me if this is maybe more a power struggle going on between them. Hoaby's idea of playing is normally a head over the shoulder of the other dog & lots of wrestling. Obviously he can't do this with Reg although he tries the head over the shoulder bit. This usually evolves into trying to roll on Reg, closely followed by humping. Reg's response is to roll over on his back & go all submissive. Hoaby always looks very excited by it & Reggie will run around in circles trying to get him to play if he stops. If I take Reg away he always goes back for more though so he's not bothered by it but Hoaby has always played so infrequently I always presume that its not entirely play. They also like to play tug of war together. Hoaby always looks murderous to the point that I used to stop the game but he barks for more if I remove Reg so I just keep an eye on things now. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it but Hoaby is usually such a bad tempered dog round other dogs, I can't quite believe that he is really playing. I should have got him a playmate years ago!

Can't help apart from to say I have a grumpy older dog who doesn't really 'do' other dogs and I also have 2 dogs under 2 and although it has taken a while the grump older one now thouroughly enjoys a game with the younger 2. I think its because she trusts the other 2 and knows where she is with them.

Great to hear your old man is mucking about with your 8 month old. I would not worry at all about this play as the daxie is so little he will be no threat to your old springer as he will not get taller than him Ever lol... so Hoaby will naturally be the leader with his age first and then his size. I had a Belgian Shepard bitch who would blank other dogs completely and would never play only with people & a ball but with small pup's I could get her sometimes to have a little muck about and play tug of war too.  

Sounds like normal pack behaviour to me.  If anything having the daxie around has brought out the puppy in him.  I have had dogs in the past both big and small that are not keen on playing with other peoples dogs but are really playful and wont stop when at home or with one of the dogs they have lived with.
Also dont worry to much about your bigger dog hurting your little daxie, I often find it is the other way around. :-)

Emma and the mini sausages

Awww....it's so cute your Springer has a new lease of life and a new buddy :-)
My Springer isn't a doggy dog at all. We have other dogs in the family that we see regularly. They are always pleased to see him and wag their tails and greet him, but my dog just blanks them!

Thanks all for your replies. I'm pleased to hear that you all think its only play. I chose a dachshund for Hoaby's playmate because I really couldn't see him getting on with another springer, especially as I wanted a male, although that is what I would have preferred . Reggie came about as I spotted a daxie puppy a few years ago & all my childhood memories of owning one came back & I've been hankering after one ever since. My Mother died last year & left me some money so using it to get a puppy seemed a good way to remember her as she always loved daxies. We did have 2 mini long hairs at one stage but that was over 30 years ago so I really don't remember any of their behaviour together although we introduced a 3 year old bitch to an 18 month old male so there wasn't going to be too much tension between them. Reggie & Hoaby do seem to like one another. Reggie is always in trouble with Hoab; he's always being snapped at, but they always kiss & make up after a spat - its very cute!

:-) I'm sure your mum would have approved of Reggie.....and by the sounds of it, so does Hoaby :-)