Rough Play - Can I change my dogs play behavior

[damontis]

Hi Everyone,
I have two rescued APBT, Samson and Delilah who play very rough; yanking at each others jowls, up on hind legs, chewing on each others legs, etc. and I would like to know if there is a way to teach them to play nicer.
The reason I want to change this is they have "scrapped" about 7 times in the two and a half years they have been together. I don’t believe any of the fights have ever started from them just playing and they have never had any serious injuries as a result (it was alot of noise - but they were serious about it), just a couple of minor scratches (and I had to change my diaper after breaking them up - lol (funny, but not)).
Here’s a little backround…
I believe some of the fights resulted over Nylabones, attention from friends they valued, once over a toy and the last one I have no idea (we were just walking out of one room into another when they started). That was I believe around February of this year. They now only get Nylabones when totally supervised or when in their crates. The toy only became an issue after I had taken them away for a while during a training period (recommended by trainer). I guess that the toys became high value to them where as before they always had them. I don’t know how to re-introduce toys now ???, but I would like to if possible.
To be honest, I know now that they were not the right match for each other (personality wise), but that doesn't mean I will give up..EVER! I made a commitment to them and I love my babies and will do whatever I have to. (but recently I have caught Delilah grooming Samson for a few seconds – and he has even licked her a couple times )
You see, I am a failed foster mom. Both were fosters. Delilah I had first. I got her about 4 years ago. Samson I got about 2 and a half years ago and...well...I knew he was trouble, a crazy little bugger...BUT HE IS SO STINKIN CUTE! He was adopted out once from the shelter and returned because he tore up their entire house. He had to get out of the shelter (they were full) so I decided I would foster him.
He did prove to be a challenge. In the first month I was fostering him he had numerous vet visits. He started with kennel cough, then broke out of three crates, ate 12 pairs of my shoes (some I had not even worn yet!!), broke into the kibble, swallowed an entire cut up cantaloupe rind in one second and broke a K9 and had to have surgery. Through all of these visits is where we found out he also has a narrowed trachea which looks to be a birth defect – so no walking him using any kind of collar (only for ID). He is walked on a no pull harness only.
Thank goodness the rescue group knew that I was a good and careful foster mom and it was truly Samson that was troubled. Poor little booger didn't like being left. But we worked through that. He likes his current Great Dane size pin crate (I have the entire top wire tied for extra security). He even runs in it when he knows I'm leaving because he knows he's getting his Kong!
I have had trouble teaching him to heal. It’s truly like he has A.D.D. I have hired two trainers. The first one asked me if he had a hearing problem. I told him no – he has a listening problem (that’s why I thought I hired him). The second trainer was very good – using only positive reinforcement. She even said it’s not that he’s challenging you on a walk (like many of the dogs she sees are doing), he just wants to go and see EVERYTHING the world has to offer! We are still working on healing, especially when he sees a cat, but he is improving. He just seems to improve at a slower rate than others, and that’s okay. He’ll get it.
I just bought a house and had a six foot flat panel PVC fence put in so they can have a yard. I won’t leave them out there unsupervised. Besides the fact he’s a jumper too (he scaled a 5 foot fence to try and get a bunny, which he did not (I will have Coyote Rollers put in if I have to)) they will both run at full speed and sometimes sort of slam into each other, or Delilah will be running full speed and he will try to dive on her as she goes by. It doesn’t look like a nice behavior and of course I have to stop it. I’m afraid that will result in a fight or one of them getting injured from just that. So now I don’t even feel they are getting to truly enjoy the yard.
So…I feel I have to supervise their play at all times. Am I wrong? Is there a way to calm their play down without stopping it? I want them to have a GREAT life with a lot of play and fun.
…and if I am doing something wrong please let me know. I want the best for them!!
Please help!
Thank you!!!!

[michele5611]

You def. should supervise play at all times. Totally agree with you that they should not be left outside unattended either. Be sure to try and remove any high value items which are considered fight triggers....ie...bones, toys etc. Also, be sure to separate them when you are not home to supervise.

If you feel more comfortable letting the dogs out individually to enjoy the yard that is fine! I manage a dog aggressive pit bull and even though she doesn't get to romp in the yard with other dogs she is still happy and enjoying the yard! Better safe than sorry. Important to set our dogs up for success at all times.

[RealPitBull]

Some basic info on multi Pit Bull households:

www.realpitbull.com/pitsnpets.html
www.realpitbull.com/harmony.html

Toys = triggers; toys and treats should come out when the dogs are separated via crate, etc.

[damontis]

Thank you for the info and the links. I glanced at the links but will def. read more when I get home (i'm supposed to be working - oops - lol). I absolutely want them to succeed!
Oh, and they are both def. crated when I am not home. They both love their "houses" now, which makes things alot easier.
Thanks again and I will post more later.

[RealPitBull]

You sound like a WONDERFUL mom to your babies. They are lucky to have you. Yes, check the links out, and if you have any questions, just let us all know.

[mom2sioux]

I am glad you asked this question. My male pitty is very possessive of toys while the female (who's a few months older) could care less. Of course if she has the toy first my male will sit and watch and whine (so far!). They are the same size now and he will put her in check if she walks near him while he has a toy. He's going to be bigger than her and I do worry that he could hurt her if I dont curb his behavior. But, from what I gather through the links, this is normal behavior? I just hate it when he looks like a stingy domineering puppy when he really is such a sweetheart.

[RealPitBull]

It's NORMAL but you need to be cautious, and for most people it is advisable to keep the dogs separate when toys enter the picture.

[damontis]

I read all the inforamtion from both links. Great stuff! Thanks so much.

[davidson0701]

My tyson is very food motivated but not food aggressive, when treats, or toys enter the picture he defers to my smaller female puppy of another mix, she was here first and he seems to be ok with what she says- has he chosen his role or will he change as he becomes more comfortable? He is kenneled when I cant watch him but she is not does that pose a problem?

[loverocksalot]

Well my Rocky listens to my dads younger smaller female dog of different breed, even when she is on his property. She snarks he listens. They only come to visit every 6 months if that. But that Aussie has put him in his place. I often wonder what it would be like if they lived together. My dads older Aussie is very tolerant of Rocky which surprises my dad as she was the always the pushy one. His third dog was Rocky's favorite to play with as he liked to wrestle but the ol dog passed a few months ago. When the dogs came to play with out the oldest you could see the youngest dog has slipped into the boss roll even though the old dog was not the boss at all. So in his house of 3 dogs (2 aussies and 1 mixed breed) it has changed with the loss of one of the dogs.