Should you step in a stop play fighting?

Archie is 1 and weighs about 8 kg, Bramble is 9 weeks old and weighs about 1 kg! They do play nicely but sometimes Im not sure if its going too far.

Archie starts by nose butting her and rolling around (as he does with toys). She comes back at him and bites ears, etc all this is accompanied by growling & groaning (from both of them but sometimes yelps from Bramble) usually their tails are wagging.

I don't know whether stopping them will make Archie resent her (for spoiling his fun) and obviously don't want either of them to get hurt.

Grateful for any advice

Update - Bramble now launches herself at Archie for a playfight and he's always up for a play so doesn't stop her in any way, he enjoys it. Should I be the one to stop it? They will stop if I say 'enough' but am concerned what will happen when I'm not there!

play fighting always looks rougher then it is. dogs are a lot tougher then we are so what makes us cringe is nothing to them. sounds to me like they are both enjoying themselves and bramble seems to be able to hold her own. if either of them goes too far they will let the other know. let them get on with it, unless they become a danger to people in the household. lol. we have to sit with our feet up out the way when our two start and even then your not safe.

I agree.. Poppy and Lady spend their days doing one of 3 things, sleeping, eating and play fighting. it can sound really agggressive but their tails are wagging the whole time and Poppy sems to know not to bite lady too roughly, the only time I have had to step in was when Poppy knocked Lady flying off the sofa backwards and I had to catch her, not Poppy's fault though! Mine for letting Lady on sofa!!

At the your two are at and mine they are just sorting out heirarchy, it might take some time still, that's what the tug-of-war is about, (poppy usually wins), though Lady is holding her own, I'm just going to watch and wait...

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Id let them get on with it unless you start to have injurys. Its also the dogs way of discovering whos going to be pack leader. Your soon know when they have had enough as you normally have one walk away or go lay down some where quite.

they are having great fun the moans and groans are play some dogs make loads of noise when they are play and others dont, and the odd times you hear a little yelp is one saying to the other ouch thats a bit hard so the other one plays a bit more gentlier.

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Thanks for replies. Feel lot better now!

We have got a gate that Bramble can get through but Archie can't in case she wanted away from Archie but she won't stay behind it, just comes straight back through to be with him!

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Hi I've just joined today and read this with interest. We've just got a new rescue dog who is between 12-18 months (although we think poss younger) after our old dog sadly passed away. She was in the rescue centre for nearly 5 months and was picked up as a stray. We also have a 6 year old choc lab Benson. Benson came to us as a rescue, when he was 6monts and our old dog was 6 years old and they never used to play fight. Benson would let Chelsea do anything, even take his bone!! Now we have Vicky and it is a totally different story. They play fight alot and it sounds really scary sometimes. I get very stressed about it although I have been told by my husband, the vet and a dog behaviourist that it's fine. The vet suggests if i get too stressed I should leave the room as the dogs will sense this. Do you think this is a good idea? Also how long should they be allowed to play fight for at a time?confused: I would value any reassurrances as I really am quite worried and streesed about this. I don't want them to hurt each other.

Hi, I do know what you mean,mine plays really rough with my mums poodle and it does sometimes get growly but neither ever yelp and neither have ever been marked in any way . They love to chase each other round like looneys, so we just kick them outside and let them get on with it. They eventually just lay on the grass and lick each others faces, really funny to watch.