hi i have two dogs, one a 2 year old english bulldog x bullmastiff and a nine month old english bull terrier x akita.

I have had them for about a week now and both get on realy well, but they like to play together but they are a bit rough, I have noticed that my english bulldog x bullmastiff has some bite marks on her legs from when they have been playing. Can anyone advice me on how to stop this please!!!

Break it up if they get too rough. I just tell mine to lay down or I split them up for a while to calm down.  Dont let them play unsupervised for the time being.

When I got a new adult dog I didnt leave them alone together either until I was sure they would be ok and not damage each other :-)

Karen

I have the same thing with my 2 staffords, when is it enough?!

I usually let them play until the teeth are flashing and if they are getting more excited (zoomies :) ) I will stop it and tell them to leave each other alone, if they keep going on after theyve been told they are crated to calm down for 10 mins and then let out and they hardly never start again (at least for 15 mins lol) they usually just go and chew a bone or have a cuddle, di you have a crate? If not buy one, it will be the best purchase you ever made and its ideal for dog to have time out in as its their den in their eyes and they dont mind being in there rather then being shut in a room alone and no way of seeing through you know?

You have to stop them when you feel its needed unless the time calls beforehand, its not when the dogs decide to finish it but you as you are in charge and control, it also proves your 'top dog' to seperate them same as a alpha wolf would etc and just shows them you are in control not them.

If you go on when you feel comftable then they will usually learn the limit their allowed and stop there, our girl is 2 1/2 and our boy is 6 months so they do get pretty rough still but Im always there to stop it and thats the most important thing, a few scratches here and there wont hurt but if you find proper bite marks (IE teeth marks top and bottom and any open wounds) closer supervision is needed but with bullbreeds everything looks and sounds so much worse then labs for example fighting together and it can sound scary, its all brazon and loud with bullbreeds and that doesnt help judge the level of excitedness does it!?

Maybe try distracting them with a toy when they get too rough for your liking and then get them playing a game of tug together, works a treat for my 2 :)

Hi Amanda,
You say you have had them for a week- is that both dogs or the 9 month old? What sex are they also? You say the bull terrier x Akita is causing damage to your 2 yr old that does not surprise me at all having a bull terrier x Akita to me sounds like a very dominant mix indeed One I would not ever dream of owning way to much mental attitude there! I own a bull terrier so I know how they can be with other dogs and my breeder who I brought my boy from told me they do not really do well in a multi pet household, saying that I do own 2 cats and another smaller bitch of 4 and since I've had him neutered at 7 has calmed down a lot Knowing terriers they are a very feisty indeed. I have not owned an Akita but from reading about there personality they are not an easy breed to own.. both being fighting dogs in there history they will not necessarily start a fight- but will want to to finish one and be the boss, I would recommend a good dog aggression specialist to come to your home and help you out before your 9 month old becomes 18 months old... do not let them play fight together as this will only escalated into a serious barney's between them.

You could try and cope with these two living together but the stress of a serious fight breaking out and having no way to stop them to me sound' s way too stressful...They most probably will be fantastic dogs to own- but to only be an "only dog" in the home. Sorry to be so negative of your situation only if you did try to break up a fight you might get bitten. Best of luck

Hi  Magica,

my nine month old is a male and the two year old is a female, as I said both dogs get on realy well together but somtimes get over excited when playing.

I have found that a rattle bottle works well to stop them if they get over excited and then separte them for a while to calm down, this seems to be working and they are slowly learning not to take it too far!!!!

Hi Amanda,

Glad to hear that there a male & female anyways! also that you can put a stop to their over exuberant play. :) just going to have to make sure you socialise your young man a lot with strange dogs rather than him just having his lady in his life as he could end up a handful when out walking and meeting other males...
I'm all into mutts of any kind- shape and size and have had many in my life- and I have mostly been interested in there different characteristics and personalities. It will be interesting how your bull terrier x Akita develops into a full grown dog. Personally the owner of the mother of this dog should of been shot for letting this cross happening in the first place. Hopefully I will be proved wrong and he will turn out a steady well mannered lad... maybe doggy classes would be a good idea? :)

Seperating them and stoipping the fun altogether is the best way as it has the most effect and also establishes that your in control not them!
Like I said All I do is tell them no and if they carry on their crated for a while to chill out and if they start again, back in the crate for both of them or also its good to watch and see who instigates the rough play and confine that one so they know its not on, like you said they are already getting it! :)

Bullbreeds and akitas are tough dogs and wont back down unlesss told!! :)

if they really are playing (and only you know that because you are watching them) then i dont see a problem with it, when you feel its getting out of hand then distract them whatever suits you. i dont know anything about these breeds though so may be a different kettle of fish to what im used too. i know it can sound awful but it doesnt mean they mean each other any harm. even bared teeth clashing is playing between 2 dogs that truely are friends. mine and his best friend(both males) spend hours with their mouths open and in each others.
i would ask someone with a multidog household to observe them and give you their experienced opinion. x

My two dogs play very roughly with each other. There is a very big size difference between the two and the GR could eat the terrier in a single mouthful if he so wished :) Harley can fit Cooper's whole head in his mouth, and often does during their play sessions, and the noise they make is horrendous at times for the uninitiated. Cooper will hang off Harley's ears, ruff, tail, leg or whatever other part of his anatomy he can grab hold of. Many a time a visitor has thought they are about to tear each other limb from limb :)

When Cooper first came to live with us I was really worried that Harley would damage him just through the size difference but, if anything, it is more likely to be the other way round through sheer terrier tenacity. If the play starts to get over the top Harley will call a halt to it and the only time I tend to intervene is if they are playing in the garden and Cooper barks with excitement - don't want to annoy the neighbours- or if indoors they start to rush madly around the house.

and its such fun to watch isnt it!

Great fun :) But when they play in the woods I take refuge behind a tree as have found myself flat on my back in the mud on more than one occasion :)

I love watching dogs play :), mine do the teeth flashing, but i can tell it's just play, they have me in stitches some days.

Hi,
Thanks for everyones advice. I am getting there now and when I say shout there names they stop, have also bought them some new pull toys and they think its great fun to have one dog on either end and run round the garden.(its quite funny to watch!!!)