Stopping nipping in play fights?

[Dizzy]

I know the easy answer is stop wrestling, but where is the fun in that...?

Fred loves to play rough and tumble, and is quite good with it (as long as you don't mind death by paddle feet), but now and then he'll give a good nip. It's all in play, it's not even conscious I don't think, but it hurts!


We usually yelp, and cease play every time. I don't want to stop all together, so any advice would be appreciated.


And just because, he's currently galloping round the house holding his squeaking pheasant like a big baby <3 he loves soft toys. Big dope.

[milos_mommy]

What you're doing is the right thing to do, sometimes it takes a while to sink in, and when puppies get super excited or stimulated by play, it's hard for them to control themselves, even if they know it will end the game.

Any kind of self control type games will help, and he'll get it eventually.

Also, you could teach him to hold a soft toy in his mouth while he wrestles with you.

[Dizzy]

His favourite game is tug. Tugging us Teh Bestest. So we do lots of leaves, and waits, and getting him to control himself in that respect. He also wrestles a lot with Bodhi, and doesn't hurt her. She has occasionally yelped, and let him know its too much, but he doesn't do it all that often I don't think.

He can be soft mouthed in play, it's just this random and sudden nip! I have bruises to prove it! I love getting on the floor and wrestling with them though


Hopefully it's just over exuberance and he will grow out of it...

The soft toy idea is good..... Might try that one

[milos_mommy]

Most dogs do grow out of it, at least if it's handled properly and not encouraged or totally ignored. Be warned, it can take a while though...sometimes 2-3 years for them to stop.

Is there any way you can tell he's getting too overstimulated before he bites? Does he always do it after getting the zoomies, say? Or getting more vocal, becoming more mouthy, ignoring commands? You could try cutting play short or inserting control type games (like asking for a downstay for a minute in the middle of wrestling) when he starts to get amped up, before he nips hard.

If it's sort of randomly him forgetting how to be gentle, though...that won't work. He's still young, he'll catch on soon.

[Dizzy]

I can't say he's over hyped when he does it, because I don't think that's always the reason. Think maybe he just needs to learn nips aren't playful... I think he thinks its part of playing.