I know the thread beforee this is similiar but the thread was finished so I had to open a new one!

We have a Female Staff at nearly 2 years old.
Her friend come round last night a fellow male staff, and they were doing the ususal bombing after each other round the garden ad having loads of fun, but indoor I dont want this as they come back in calm and then start each other off and start tussling, and being staffs theyre clumsy and keep knocking into things! :rolleyes:
How do I stop the play indoors and just get them to lay together calmly and nicely and know out doors is playtime, as when I tell her to stay away from him to calm she whines and tries to shuffle over, he does the same, but then it always ends up in tussling again indoors which I dont want as being staffs they rough house and knock into everything like I said earlier.

Another thing is they were playing tug with a rope toy and some pretty loud growls were coming from them, is it that normal for Staffs, as they are loud when playing normally, how can you tell its getting a bit too envolved and it should be stopped?

Dogs don't really understand why they are allowed to bomb around and playfight etc, outside but not inside, it is all the same to them they have no material value to anything, they probably do not understand why sometimes they can play and sometimes they get scoulded for it.

You need to work on the commands, stop, rest, sit whichever command you wish to use to signify no more playing.  You must do these commands inside and outside otherwise the relevance is not understood.

Of course once adreniline is pumping it is hard to stop, so you have two choices you can either shut your doors so that the dogs can only run and play outside when having their mad 10 minutes, or when they come in you seperate them, plain and simple that way the play is stopped immediately.

Staffies although having their own character traits, still are just like other dogs in play and growling and snarling whilst playing with a tug rope is the same with any breed just play, you will soon know if it isn't. ;-)

my two just know... I guess I have taught them something - even if it's that one thing! lol
I just say, "right enough" and that's it they know not to go mad indoors...
Though they tend not to anyway really...
perhaps you could try distracting them and associate quiet time with being indoors somehow?

I know its the same, just wondered if there was any way I could make then chill in doors!

I think its because its her friend staff who came over and they were really happy too see each other, too happy! :d

will try teaching her a new word and get our mate to do the same, worth a try!

when ever my two staffys play tug a war they do get really vocal and growl alot at each other but i really think its just for show and to try to intimidate the other to let go even tho none of them will ever give up:rolleyes:
and when mine play they are very loud and i have to raise my voice in order to get them to stop for a while.
this is quite normal behaviour i wouldnt worry so much i think staffys love to make noise they just need to know when to stop

Thanks Kerrie! :)

I was a little worried as Mitz never growls apart from little grunts when she plays tug with us, but with Snoop our mates Staff she was growling, snarling and wagging her tail!! :rolleyes: :d
She loves playing with other dogs and never growls only with Staffs, must be what you said neither one wants to let go !! :D :D But as long as all is friendly and I know its quite normal, then let the controlled fun commence! :D

My dogs have two commands that would help you. Settle and enough. When I tell them to settle they need to quietly lay down. They can chew a bone or just rest. I taught this like any other command, as they naturally settled I said the word and gave them a reward. In time they learned what it meant. If we have canine visitors I usually ask them to come lie by me and settle with the other dog lying on the other side of the room. Of course both dogs need to be controllable in that way.

Enough means stop what your doing - now! That can be rough play, humping, running like a loony. I found that using a deep tone made them stop as puppies then as soon as they stopped they got a light toned good dog and a reward.

Both are useful commands for me.