Dexter likes to play too rough!

[Guitarzan]

Please let me know if this is OK!

Every evening when I'm laying on the couch (around 7:30 to 8) Dexter comes over to me and gently bites my hand and does his Chewbaca imitation. He keeps doing this until I give in.

What does he want you may ask???? He wants me to rough him up! He really enjoys to be rolled around on the floor, pushed down, put in "wrestling holds", etc. I think it wears me out more than him!

He will get to a point when he starts biting a bit too hard and growls like he is fighting a bear. When this happens I'll tell him to settle down and pet him and he starts licking me like crazy as if to say, "thanks Dad, that was great!".

I'm wondering if this will have a negitive effect on his behavior and if I should stop and when is rough play too rough?

He is 13 weeks old on Friday and weighs about 25lbs but is not 'fat'. Our vet calls him "Monster".

 

[muttersley]

Thats how boxers play. If he gets too rough let him know though.
My husband always plays rough with our two but as soon as he says enough they stop. I love to see them play like that especially the sound Affects!!:D

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I do the same with my girls. We wrestle and play rough and tug and whatever. If it gets too rough for me or for one of them, I simply tell them to settle down and we take a little time out and all is fine.

As long as they obey when it is time to settle down, you should have no other behavioral problems. It is a good way to bond with your dog, by playing with them, and boxers play rough. It is their way. Enjoy it, but make sure you keep it under control and that they know when you say stop, it is time to stop.

 

[Krikkit]

Memories

What wonderful memories you post just brought back to me My first Boxer, Bo, developed this routine with us and every night for his entire 14.5 years we had a wrestle after dinner. He would do the same as Dexter - come up to us on the couch for some roughing up. He used to sound so fierce but never ever hurt or even mouthed too hard. It never had any negative effect on his behavior and was a nice game for all of us - he was gentle as a lamb with children and small / young animals of all types.

Sharon