Hi, I have a 15 month entire male & twice a week his best mate comes to stay. She's the same age, give or take a month or two & the same breed. They absolutely adore one another & they play all the time. Their play though, is very rough & everything & everyone in their path is likely to be flattened. I usually deal with this by only allowing play for a bit & then separating them. Is there a better way to control them, should I let them play so roughly? Any thoughts on how to deal with this would be greately appreciated as I don't think I should let this continue but I'm at a loss as to what I should be doing.

If they are happy, and no damage is being done, I'd just let them play. If it does sound like they are getting too rough then a down time is in order. They get so much enjoyment from playing you don't really want to be the spoilsport do you ;-) My youngest 2 sound like they are killing one another but they are just playing. No-one ever gets hurt and they sleep a lot better for getting rid of some extra energy.

You have just underlined the problem in having two pups growing up together without that older dog to keep them in line. I know you only have the bitch twice a week, but it makes little difference.

Time to take hold, their rough one-upmanship needs calming down, I would certainly be distracting and teaching them other things to do instead, ideally you need to separate and have them using their brains in doing little training and retrieve games with you one at a time when they are each mentally satisfied they won't feel the need to rough and tumble like two wild animals.

During this rough play one or both could end up hurt particularly in the home or hurt someone else as you say everything and anyone in their path is likely to be flattened, and no doubt you are not exaggerating, I can imagine just how mad they would get. It is fine whilst wee pups to behave like this for a while, but not at 15 months, take charge now and if they start get one behind a dog gate or play recall games out on walks maybe with one on lead and one off depending on behaviour, you have to think of others around you, I would not want to be knocked flying by two dogs racing and fighting.

It is in their nature to playfight, but as I've said on another thread at this age as a domestic dog it is not needed they are not part of a pack, so need reigning in. A little play is fine but once it starts to hit that level of really going for it, stop it, lead or if in the home separate.

But they need to be exercised and occupied by mind and body otherwise this will be their only outlet of play.

They will calm with age, for now they need you to be the authority figure. :-)

Thanks for the replies. I came to the conclusion this afternoon that I need to work with the bitch, giving her things to do & you have given me the confidence that that is the right thing to do. She can be quite manic (she's a working springer & mine is a show type) & I feel that she is bored out of her brain. The rough play certainly can't continue as I have been knocked over in the past & my other poor little dog has been bowled over many times. Yesterday they ran into a fence (thankfully no injuries) so for everyones safety it has to be controlled. I will never ever be tempted to get 2 puppies together after this! Thankfully Holly goes home at the end of the day leaving me in peace with my 'slightly' calmer dog.

My working springer is built like a brick house.  She is solid muscle and when she starts her mad half hour, everyone is terrified!lol.  And she accompanies any play with a grumble/growl so she sounds as if she is killing whomever she is playing with.  I don't mind.  If she gets too rough, the other dog will stop the play.  They are quite good at teaching manners to each other.

From my own experience, allowing OTT play fighting can result in yobbish behaviour towards other dogs, even if the dog is being playful, they have learnt that play means all in wrestling matches and can find it difficult to rein in their play behaviour with strange dogs, which can land them in a whole heap of trouble.

I've found that the best playmates for youngsters are sensible older dogs that won't put up with too much nonsense.

Finlay is certainly very yobbish with other dogs when we are out & about.

I am putting together a training/playtime plan so that, hopefully I can get them both focused on me rather than each other.

Fantastic! :-)

Fully agree Celli

I too have found it invaluable to find older calm dogs for my dogs to spend time with when they are young, bouncy and enthusiatic. They learn how to tone things down, communicate with other dogs etc.
However I do allow my dogs to play rough, so long as no one is getting bullied, and interestingly they never initiate that kind of play with other dogs. Its a great way for dogs to stay fit and practice being gentle!

Belle my 9 month old rescue lab plays rough with my 8 year old and we do have to put her behind the baby gate as she tends to bully our other lab,poor Annie is so laid back she will not put belle in her place/any ideas anyone how I can deal with this.

Sheila