All puppies go through a normal phase of jumping, nipping and testing. People who don’t know this stage will often think wolfdog pup play is the wild "wolf" side of the animal, and a sign of future aggression. Not so, the pups are learning and figuring out what gets them a reaction.
Pinning, scruff grabbing, and flailing your arms are not really negative reactions to them, so your “dominance” displays end up being reinforcers. A pup who nips and gets grabbed by the scruff might find this fun, since that’s how he plays with other pups.
And yes, dominant animals will pin pups, but we humans don’t have the rest of the facial (teeth and snarls) and verbal language (growls) to make a serious point.
Since they are trying to get you to react, it’s best to not give them a reaction. Give a firm, “No” and walk away from rough play or turn away from jumpers.
Personally, I’ve found preventative psychological dominance works best for me. This means structuring playtime and ending it on my terms before pup begins to overexcite and test you.
Note: If you have concerns and your breeder will not help (not uncommon), contact a rescue or wolfdog advocate group to find a trainer or get advice. Many dog trainers do not have the knowledge or experience to deal with wolfdogs.
Look For Blog Post: Cues that your young wolfdog is about to ” test “ you later.
So you know, the wolfdog above is very expressive and vocal in his play, no one was harmed in the taking of this picture:)
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