How to Tell If Dogs Are Playing or Fighting: Key Signs to Watch For

Understanding How to Tell If Dogs Are Playing or Fighting

Years ago, my Border Collie, Mack, was enjoying a game of chase with a group of dogs at the park.

• The dogs all looked like they were having fun racing around the area.
• A medium-sized white dog was just ahead of Mack. Suddenly, the white dog turned and bumped into Mack.
• The situation quickly escalated as the white dog became furious and started lunging at Mack, intent on doing damage.

Mack spotted me and headed back toward me with the white dog on his tail. When he arrived, I was able to keep him out of harm's way long enough for the other dog’s person to grab the dog and lead them away.

When Play Turns into Fighting

What had started as a fun game quickly turned into a fight when a dog with little impulse control was angered during a playful game. As someone who is around dogs a lot—whether it's my own dogs, dogs I work with as a professional dog trainer in Georgia, or unknown dogs in public locations—I have seen my fair share of fights and potential fights in the years since then.

Unfortunately, not all dog fights end as easily or quickly as that first experience did. However, by knowing how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, you can: Prevent dog fights from starting. Stop a fight once it has begun. Spot potential trouble early on.

If you have more than one dog or frequently go places to let your pup play with other dogs, you’ve probably wondered how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting. It can be scary watching your dog get rough with another dog, and you may not know if you should intervene or not.

For more tips on managing dog behavior at the park, check out this guide.

If you’re interested in professional training, here’s a link to a professional dog trainer in Georgia.

What Do Dogs Look Like While Playing?

According to researchers Barbara Smuts, PhD, and Camille Ward, PhD, writing for The Bark, "Play fighting is the primary method [that dogs use] to negotiate new relationships and develop lasting friendships."

"Although play is fun," they point out, "it also offers serious opportunities to communicate with another dog. In this sense, play is a kind of language." Normal dog play can include: Barking Growling Tackling Stalking Chasing Biting Whining Wrestling

But remember, fights can also include any of those things, too. So, how do you tell the difference?

To understand how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, look beyond the noises. Pay attention to your dog’s face and overall body language. In most cases, a playful dog will display: Relaxed facial expressions Loose, wagging tails Bouncy, exaggerated movements

These are distinct from the tense body language often seen in dogs who are ready to fight.

Recognizing Play Behavior in Dogs

To understand how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, it’s important to recognize typical play behaviors, which can include:

• Play bow before an "attack": A play bow is where a dog’s front end is lowered to the ground while their backend stays upright, resembling a bowing gesture.
• Open, loose-mouthed grin
• Relaxed ears: Keep in mind that other ear postures can mean either playing or fighting, depending on the rest of the dog’s body language.
• Loose, fluid, wagging tail: A stiff, quick tail wag can be a sign of danger. Ensure the tail looks relaxed. (Note: If either dog has a short tail, do not use the tail as an indicator.)
• Taking turns: The dogs take turns chasing each other or being on the bottom while wrestling.
• Respecting breaks: When one dog seems tired, the other allows them to take a break.
• Gentle bites: If they are biting each other, the bites are gentle and leave no marks. These bites typically involve very open mouths and minimal pressure.
• Backing off after a yelp: If one dog yelps, the other dog backs off.
• Relaxed and happy demeanor: Both dogs should look relaxed and happy, not stiff or anxious.
• Turn-taking during sniffing: Both dogs take turns letting the other sniff them, especially their bottom. A dog who refuses to have their bottom sniffed may be unsocial.

Look for a combination of these behaviors. One behavior by itself isn't a guarantee that everything is okay, but a combination of friendly behaviors is a good sign.

How to Tell If Dogs Are Fighting or About to Fight

It can be alarming when a dog fight breaks out, especially if your dog is involved. To determine how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, look for the following signs that a fight may be occurring or about to start:

• Stiff, ridged tail: The dog’s tail looks stiff and ridged, and any wagging is short and quick. If the tail is held high while giving a stiff wag, this is concerning.
• Tense body: The dog’s body looks tense and stiff overall.
• Staring or stalking: One dog is staring at or stalking another without other signs of play, such as a play bow or a loose grin.
• Pinning without turn-taking: One dog is continually pinning another to the ground and refusing to let them up.
• Forceful biting: Bites are forceful or continuous, and snapping may be heard. Play bites tend to be wide-mouthed and gentle.
• Unstoppable yelping: There is yelping, and the other dog isn't stopping.
• Intense growling or barking: Growling or barking sounds loud and increases in intensity as the fight continues.
• Relentless chasing: One dog is trying to get away, but the other won’t stop chasing. This could indicate a fight is imminent.
• Lifting a lip: A dog lifts a lip or corner of their mouth when approached by another dog.
• Low growl with tension: A dog lets out a low growl and is tense while being approached by another dog, without other signs of play like a play bow.
• Stiffening without relaxation: A dog stiffens when approached by another dog without following up with relaxed body language or a play bow.
• Puffed-up approach: A dog approaches very puffed up and large, with ears, tail, and posture held high.
• Head-laying with tension: A dog lays their head on another dog’s back, neck, or head while looking puffed up and large, without other signs of play.

According to the ASPCA,

"A dog displaying aggressive body language will look large, standing with his head raised above his shoulders. His body will be tense, with weight either centered or over all four feet or leaning slightly forward onto the front legs. A dog displaying aggressive behavior may also have a wrinkled muzzle, a short lip, and a hard eye."

When Play Turns Into Fighting

Have you ever heard the saying, "It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt"? Many dog fights start as play. When some dogs play together, they can become highly aroused. As tension and excitement build, rough play can turn into fighting.

Sometimes, dogs use play to establish dominance, which can become problematic when another dog decides it’s time to take turns during wrestling or chasing. If toys are involved, resource guarding can also lead to fights.

Signs to Watch For When Play Turns Into Fighting

To understand how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, watch for these signs that indicate it’s time to intervene:

• One dog won’t let another dog stand up while wrestling.
• One dog insists on chasing another dog even though the one being chased doesn’t look like they are having fun anymore.
• One dog keeps bothering another dog who is trying to take a break from playing.
• Play fights are getting louder and rougher as time goes on. Watch for:
• One dog is a known resource guarder, and there is a toy, stick, or food involved in the play. This is a ticking time bomb. Stop the interaction and remove the object from the area. As blogger Carol Bryant points out, "Bringing a toy of any sort to a dog park is a big no no" (source).
• One dog lacks impulse control, is generally intolerant, or doesn’t understand normal dog social cues. These dogs should engage in structured activities together, like a hike or a heeling walk, rather than roughhousing or chasing one another.
• One dog keeps trying to dominate another dog by:
• One or both dogs seem tired and are becoming less tolerant as the game goes on.

Understanding these signs will help you know how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, allowing you to step in before things escalate. For more information on resource guarding, check out this guide.

This video shows you 16 useful clues to understand your dog better:

How to Prevent a Dog Fight

Knowing how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting is crucial, but preventing a dog fight before it starts is even better. By recognizing warning signs and intervening when things get too tense, you can prevent many potential conflicts. Here are some additional strategies to ensure your dog avoids being in a fight. Some of these practices should begin as soon as your pup comes home.

Steps to Prevent Dog Fights

To prevent dog fights: Supervise dogs while they are playing together.

• Teach your dog obedience commands so you can call them away from a potentially dangerous situation if needed.
• Socialize your dog early with other well-mannered, vaccinated, social adult dogs.
• Enroll your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class or puppy play group where there is time for off-leash play with other puppies. If one pup seems overwhelmed or things get too rough, separate them until they calm down again (puppy kindergarten class).
• Avoid letting puppies meet potentially aggressive adult dogs. For more information on potentially aggressive dogs, check out this guide.
• Avoid dogs that exhibit concerning behaviors such as intensely staring, pulling or lunging toward your dog, or being very tense around your dog. If your dog is uncomfortable around other dogs, focus on teaching your dog to be calm, heel during walks, obey commands, and associate other dogs with good things.
• Handle off-leash dog encounters carefully. If your dog is approached by an off-leash dog and a meeting is inevitable, try to stay as relaxed as possible. Give slack in your dog’s leash to help them relax, let the dogs sniff each other for 2 seconds, then happily tell your dog to come or heel, and walk away. A brief, calm interaction can satisfy the other dog’s curiosity, but get your dog out of there before a fight starts.
• Maintain confident and calm energy when things are tense between dogs but a fight hasn't broken out yet.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of dog fights and keep playtime safe for everyone involved. For more tips on off-leash dog etiquette, visit this resource.

How to Break Up a Dog Fight

Have you ever experienced shaking hands, a wildly beating heart, the feeling of wanting to disappear, or the anger of the Hulk? If any of this sounds familiar, you may have experienced the adrenaline rush associated with witnessing or trying to break up a dog fight. It can be a frightening experience.

If the fight happened between someone else’s dogs, you likely left the experience wondering how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting, and more importantly, what you would do if your dog got into a fight.

Safe Techniques for Breaking Up a Dog Fight

When dogs are fighting and highly aroused, many will redirect aggression onto anything they view as a threat. If you grab your dog during a fight, there’s a good chance you will get bitten. Your dog might not realize it’s you in the heat of the moment, so it’s crucial to safely avoid your dog’s mouth and the mouth of the other dog. Follow these tips to stop a dog fight:

• Yell and clap loudly: If another dog is charging your dog, start yelling and clapping your hands with all your might. The noise might scare off the other dog if they are not human-aggressive.
• Use water: If you have access to a water hose, douse both dogs with water from a safe distance.
• Throw something soft: If the dogs are small, try throwing something large and soft onto them, such as pillows or blankets.
• Use a long object: Distract the dogs by using something long, like a tree branch, to separate them. The item needs to be long enough to keep you out of harm's way.
• Pepper spray: If you carry pepper spray on walks and another dog charges your dog, spray the oncoming dog. Be sure to get away quickly, as the pepper spray could blow onto you and your dog as well.
• Wheelbarrow method: If all else fails and you must grab your dog during a fight, reach for their hind legs and lift them upward as if your dog were a wheelbarrow. Pull them back from the fight while their rear legs are lifted. This position makes it harder for them to reach you, though they may still try to bite.

Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, a veterinarian and applied animal behaviorist, recommended the wheelbarrow method, but she warned about some important considerations:

"Because of your positioning in relation to the dog or because they are moving around too quickly, you may need to shove one away by placing your foot on their rib cage and pushing. This is safer than bending over and trying to push with your hands. It may also allow you to use your hands to grasp the other dog if you don’t have someone else to help" (wheelbarrowing).

Ideally, the other dog’s person will arrive and do the same to their dog until both dogs calm down and can be led away safely. For more information on the risks of getting bitten during a dog fight, read this guide.

Final Thoughts

To summarize this expert guide, being able to answer the question “How to tell if dogs are playing or fighting?” can provide you with peace of mind.

Knowing how to tell if dogs are playing or fighting can help you:

• Feel confident enough to let your dog play with the right dogs.
• Know when to intervene during play.
• Avoid dogs who are likely to start a fight.
• Calmly navigate tense situations.
• Raise your dog to be social, confident, and respectful around other dogs.
• Stop a fight that has already begun.

By mastering these skills, you’ll ensure your dog has positive interactions with others and can safely enjoy playtime.

References

• Smuts, Barbara, PhD, and Camille Ward, PhD. "Is Your Dog’s Rough Play Appropriate? Some Like It Ruff." The Bark. Feb. 2015. https://thebark.com/content/your-dogs-rough-play-appropriate.
• Bekoff, Marc, PhD. "Play Signals as Punctuation: The Structure of Social Play in Canids. Behaviour 132, no. 5–6 (1995): 419–429. https://animalstudiesrepository.org/acwp_ena/30/.
• "7 Tips on Canine Body Language." ASPCA Pro. https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/7-tips-canine-body-language.
• McConnell, Patricia B., PhD, CAAB. "Resource Guarding: Treatment and Prevention." McConnell Publishing Ltd. May 3, 2013. https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resource-guarding-treatment-and-prevention.
• Yin, Sophia, DVM. "How to Break Up a Dog Fight Without Getting Bitten." Cattledog Publishing. Dec. 2, 2014. https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/how-to-break-up-a-dog-fight-without-getting-bitten/.