we met the 9 month old Northern Inuit today and my 3 year old GSD and him played for a while, mine was so noisy( as he can be when playing) and constantly trying to get the Inuit on his back, (he plays with a ridgeback like this but it works both ways and the ridgeback wrestles mine down, and he walks with other dogs and doesnt try this.) The Inuit was always coming back for more but I wasnt sure if it was fair play, later when they were both tired they lay on the floor panting and licking each other and mine rolled on his back next to him. my dog seems to want to get a doggie playmate down and then hold him there, is this fair?

Sounds the way my 3 and 5 year old Beardie boys play together. They've done it since the younger one arrived at 6 months. If they both seem happy I wouldn't worry :D

If they are both enjoying it and there isn't a size disparity amking it dangerous/unwise then it is perfectly Ok. 

Especially as he doesn't sdo it to every dog just the ones who obviously like that sort of play.

my two wrestle from morning til' night I prefer to watch them.. than the TV
Sometimes it can get a little rough I just tell them to calm down .

One way to gauge dogs is to watch to see if both dogs "offer" say, a chase. If one dog was always chasing and the other always being chased, IMO it may be unequal. However, if both offer the chase, and both are chased, it is much more enjoyable for both dogs I feel :)

I would say the same would go for wrestling games etc although these may be their nature be more unequal...

Lindsay
x

I would agree with all the above. 

There is actually quite a size disparity between my two (GSD & whippet/staffy X) but they 'fight' every day, he with much vocalising, she more the 'silent but deadly' type.  It can take visitors by surprise, especially when the GSD initiates the game by strolling over and taking the bitch's whole head in his mouth...but if anything more than spit was being exchanged, by now she have no head and he'd have no ears.  I love watching them - it's just like watching canine WWF wrestling - and by the way, they both have excellent bite inhibition which serves them (and me) well in other situations.

Enjoy!

Linda