When dogs play, they play rough. They wrestle, use their teeth, and shove with all their might. Although this is acceptable play behavior in dogs, it is unacceptable when playing with people. Aggressive playing in dogs often leads to unintentional bites. But it is easy to stop aggressive play in dogs if you are persistent.
Things You'll Need
- Vet
- Dog toys
- Bitter apple spray (optional)
Instructions
How to Stop Aggressive Playing in Dogs
Yelp like a hurt puppy whenever your dog's mouth or teeth touch your skin. This can also be modified to include yelping whenever the dog pushes you with a paw. Puppies and dogs let other dogs know when they are hurt during play by yelping. Once a playmate yelps, the dog knows that he or she was too rough and to be more careful.
Leave the room or walk out of the yard and back into the home if the dog still plays too roughly. This sends the message that being too rough means no more playtime.
Reward the dog for sitting, standing still or other polite behavior during play by giving a special treat or toy. Also do this whenever you catch your dog behaving quietly to reinforce the behavior.
Spray bitter apple training spray on your hands before playing with the dog. The stuff tastes so bad that this usually deters dogs from putting their mouths on your hands or skin.
Take the dog to the vet if the dog still is aggressive during playtime. This could be due to a medical condition such as deafness.