I have some quick questions about typical behavior between female dogs. I've just recently taken in a foster dog (a 6 year old female shepherd mix - though I think she might be a lab mix, her head is shaped like a lab, and she's awfully small to be a shepherd, barely 40 lbs), and she's meshed really well into our household so far. She loves the kids, loves the cats (they tolerate her cleaning them, which I've never seen them do for another dog, and she doesn't chase them), and after the first couple of days, loves the other dogs, too. Our other dogs are a 12 year old springer spaniel and a 2 year old boxer. Our old boy (the springer) is pretty laid back, and they pretty much ignore each other except the usual doggy greetings.

Sheba (the foster shepherd) and Belle (my boxer) are another matter. They play all the time. I mean, all the time. They really only stop playing when it's meal time, or when I distract them with a chewie toy, or when I separate them (for walks or training or bedtime). It's very vigorous play (like a herd of elephants) and generally involves lots of wrestling, teeth fencing, tossing each other over shoulders, and such like, with some pretty impressive growling thrown in once in a while. They don't seem to be genuinely fighting, since a lot of their "moves" are relaxed and not full force, and they always stop when I tell them to. They don't fight over food (in fact we have to watch over them at meal times because they are on different diets and they want to share their dishes with each other), they don't fight over toys, they will lie down in their crates together (I leave the crates open until bedtime or when I'm not home so they can go in them whenever they want to.)

What I'm wondering is, is this normal behavior for females? And how do I get them to take a few more breaks in their wrestling matches? I'm planning on increasing the number and lengths of walks Belle gets this week to see if that helps tire her out a bit more (she gets walked twice a day for an hour each time right now), but Sheba was just spayed a week ago and I don't want to stress her too much (though I can't believe she's resting the way she's supposed to be with all the wrestling). Do you have any suggestions?

Jessica, you will have to become your dogs' pack leader and get them under control. Then you won't have a problem interrupting their wrestling matches.

It sounds like the girls are ranking it out. Even though these are not full out fights it is still not a very good idea to let this continue because it could turn ugly in a second. Been there seen that

Read the free articles on groundwork, pack structure and leadership on this website. If you are fostering dogs this information will be especially helpful to you and will make your job so much easier

With foster dogs it might be a good idea to keep them dog-neutral because it would make life easier for the new owners.

It sounds like they are playing. My dogs do this with fosters too...when allowed. I have a young one that goes crazy when we get a new, playful dog in the house. They bark, growl, snarl, etc. It's not always a pack ranking thing its just that these two LOVE to play.

Right now I have a minpin foster who was 'dog, cat, and kid aggressive and redirected at handler, etc'. While he in fact had these issues, the SUPERVISED (always, always supervise) play with my pup is very friendly. While they do play rough, they squeal when things get too much and the other backs off immediately.

Things I would keep an eye out for: T-ing off, humping or mounting, one dog constantly on top, rigid play, stiff tail 'wags', one dog giving calming signals, etc.

I would create more separation time, crate time where these two learn the highs (of playing) and lows (of relaxing). Their crates can be near each others, but I hate the idea of crating two dogs together.

After re-reading. It's odd that the new dog is 6 yrs and exhibiting this behavior. What's the background on this dog? Maybe it never had healthy socialization experiences and now it's re-learning how to play.

Thank you for your feedback! It seems like all their activity is play, I just found it odd that they are playing all the time, like they're both giant puppies.

Well, Sheba (the foster) has an unkown history. She was found on the side of a highway in Iowa with a litter of pups and was in pretty poor shape, though the person who found her said she just jumped right into their car when they stopped. (The pups are weaned and are being fostered somewhere else, and by all accounts are doing very well.)

Belle was a puppy mill rescue and was also in pretty sad shape when she was rescued. We know she pretty much spent her whole life in a crate and had very little good human interaction. I had anticipated a lot more behavior problems from both, to be honest, and am amazed every day at how wonderful these two are doing.

I think sometimes that they must never have had a chance to play like puppies, and so are re-living their puppyhood with each other. It's fascinating to watch. Last night they started playing with toys with each other. One will grab a toy from the basket, dangle it in front of the other, and then run off to be chased.

They have separate crates, and at night are kept separated, but during the day when adults are home they are allowed to be together under supervision. I'll try giving them more "alone" time from each other, though that may be challenging because Sheba can jump over the gates we have in the doorways between rooms. The extra walks seem to be working a bit to wear Belle out, she takes more breaks between wrestling matches now. )