The puppy got scared at 2:14, that's when the normal play stopped.

Ok, thanks for all the feedback-- they confirm my suspicions that the play is too rough. I'm always worred when the two of them are using their paws to swipe each other's faces. or when the Boston is pinning the puppy to the floor.

One thing I don't get is that the puppy has no fear. The puppy keeps instigating this "combat" with my boston terrier. The boston will be standing quietly and the puppy will be jumping on him. Then the rough play initiates. The puppy strains at the leash to play with the Boston.

I don't know if genetics of the puppy may have something to do with this.

Anyhow, I try to separate the 2 of them as much as possible.

Just try not to show favourites, and try not to make it seem like you are stepping in to help either of them if they are loosing.

Puppies are naturally playful and fairly goofy. They don't know their limits yet and will test them. Eventually your two dogs will figure out their relationship and settle.

It is really up to you what levels you find are acceptable, but be reasonable. The puppy needs to learn his surroundings, and his body. The BT needs to feel like he is still important and not being replaced.

Keep in mind - You have very slippery floors. We don't let our dogs play on the hard wood because it ruins the floor, and they end up slipping, slidding and falling, and it usually looks painful. At the park our rules are a bit different, but as mentioned on a previous reply - aggresion is not what you want.

I think you are asking because you feel uncomefortable with their play. If so; stop it - they are your dogs, in your house.

I'm aslo wondering if your puppy barking in its crate has something to do with the other dog not being in a crate.....but I have not read that entire thread so I don't know.....

All the best.

Just my opinion, I've had small dogs.
And when I see small dogs play at the dog park, it's usually like this. I was there last weekend, and there was actually a Boston terrier there, and they were trying to pin each other down, chasing, playing nipping.

They're dogs, but if you think it's too rough, then it's too rough.

I'd only really be worried, because one is a pup.

 Quote: george wu

One thing I don't get is that the puppy has no fear. The puppy keeps instigating this "combat" with my boston terrier. The boston will be standing quietly and the puppy will be jumping on him. Then the rough play initiates. The puppy strains at the leash to play with the Boston.

Anyhow, I try to separate the 2 of them as much as possible.

I saw fear, just not in the form of cowering. Even when the Boston was standing still he was still communicating a great deal to the pup. The pup was handling his discomfort with displacement behaviours and avoidance, and when that didn't work he lunged at the Boston, which he would not do if he were comfortable with the situation.

Fear and discomfort can take many forms. Very often dogs will adopt an "I'll get you before you get me" attitude, which can easily be misinterpreted as instigating.

Dogs at play have a calmness and an ease and balance of communication, even when the game is very active. I saw lots of tension and ignoring of signals (on the part of the Boston) in the video.

I've had adult dogs that just can't play fair with puppies, and so they've been separated. I've also had adult dogs that were fantastic, that could ignore the puppy, or share in the back and forth so that they were chased as much as they were chasing.

I think that interaction between the two for things like walks might be okay, I just wouldn't let them loose together for now.