My GSD pup has a tendancy to bark at other dogs when we are out on walks. If it is a dog I know I let them greet and he always plays and has fun.

Our next door neighbor has a pitbull pup that is 5&1/2 months old (mine is 4&1/2) and the 2 of them have been playing together for a month or so now.

They play very rough, nipping and wrestling. Occasionally, it gets a little rough and things escalate when my pup starts to get angry and barks in an fighting manner (although his barking sounds very immature - he is capable of a much more frightening/aggresive kind of bark which he ocassionally exhibits to the dogs on the other side of our house who are very fence aggressive - I don't let him bark at them, but he still does when I let my guard down).

This agressive play has gotten worse lately. It is hard to tell because the pit pup never makes a sound, but I think he is actually initiating this by playing rougher and not letting up when my pup lets out a little yelp.

This, in turn, angers him and after a few times he starts to get fired up. The pit bull, of course, never backs down and I seperate them before anything happens. They are still completely puppies and at this point very easy to control.

The pit pup has been a great source for socialization, but I am wondering if I should stop letting them play together? One of the reasons I wanted them to play together is that I have no faith in my neighbors who have never owned a dog before, and have left all the responsiblity of raising him up to an 11 year old girl. Neither dogs are neutered yet.

Matt

The answer(s) you seek have already been discussed many times. you can find them in Mr. Ed Frawleys articles and in the old post. Check em out, lots of knowledge there just waiting to be read. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But if I was you 'no more doggy play'