Huntia Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Hi All. I have 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks a male aged nearly 4 years, and a girl who just turned 2. The boy was desexed mid January and the girl is still entire. They both play really rough with each other, but the boy is worse than the girl . The biggest problem is that he "chews" and drags her by her skin when they play rough. There is never any blood, but the skin scabs, hair falls out and a scar is left behind. (either it doesn't hurt, or she has a high pain tolerance because she never yelps ) The really rough behaviour mainly occurs when I arrive home from work at the end of the day, as I drive over a cattle grid into the house yard up to my garage. (I Live on a farm) It is not really an option to separate them all day, so I am after something that I can put on her to deter him from "chewing" on her neck and face, or training him somehow to stop what he does to her?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) Some if that bitter spray that stops dogs chewing their stitches post surgery? Not sure what it's called but the vet would know. Edited March 24, 2014 by hankdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Where are the dogs when this happens? Are they close to where the cattle grid is or further away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 ..At first thought ..it seems to me the male is getting over excited ,and redirecting this onto the female ? Not so much 'playing' as doing what he does ,instead of jumping up & down and screaming? It may be necessary to do some work on desensitising him(them) to your approach,and to the sound of car on grid ....and the help of a professional would probably make this easier.. just my thoughts :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 That's what I was wondering too Perse, I was thinking along the lines of if there is time before they start and the dogs are fenced close to the cattle grid whether the OP could throw some kibble over the fence to keep them busy and distracted. But it would have to be done with the right timing before the 'rough play' started or it could inadvertently reward the behaviour. Would be even better if there was someone at home to work with the dogs at that time but I'm guessing there isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 That's what I was wondering too Perse, I was thinking along the lines of if there is time before they start and the dogs are fenced close to the cattle grid whether the OP could throw some kibble over the fence to keep them busy and distracted. But it would have to be done with the right timing before the 'rough play' started or it could inadvertently reward the behaviour. Would be even better if there was someone at home to work with the dogs at that time but I'm guessing there isn't. Expectation of food may increase the arousal , too .... ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Yes, that's why I think we need more info, personally I think Huntia maybe needs to put a camera up or have someone hide in the house and film the dogs so that it's clear what is happening and when the behaviour starts. I've been able to train my dogs out of barking at certain things by distracting with food before they notice the thing they would have barked at but it doesn't work if you can't get the reward in there early enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I'd start with bitter apple spray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntia Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Where are the dogs when this happens? Are they close to where the cattle grid is or further away? They are near the grid, which is the entrance to the house yard. I have to stop there as there is an electric fence gate across the grid, to open this gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntia Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hi everyone :) Thanks for the suggestions. What I am trying at the moment is spraying the wound spray on her neck before I leave for work. And when I arrive home from work, when I stop at the grid to open the gate. I am opening the back of the car and calling them to jump into the back of the car. This is at least minimising the amount of rough housing at this time, and hopefully breaking the habit. It is crazy but the girl really seems to enjoy this rough housing play. Today when I came home and did the above, the girl tried to initiate the rough play inside the house!! I quickly put the wound spray on her neck, they had a quick play (outside) and came back in and settled down. And they don't do this behaviour for my husband or any other cars when they arrive, just vehicles with me in it. And usually I am home before my husband so there is no one here to help modify the behaviour. I do like the idea about the cameras. It would be great to see if they do this type of play at any other time and who initiates the play :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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