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Hi, we have adopted a 3 year old female dobe. She's very gentle and well mannered, couldn't have asked for a better dog. We took her to the dog park yesterday and she played with a lab puppy. Afterwards while we were grooming her, I found little cuts around her lips and a scratch mark on her muzzle. Is that normal after dog play time? thinking back, she looked happy while playing and there were no aggression between the dogs.

thanks

Keep an eye on the cuts to make sure they don't get infected. Yet, to answer your question, yes, when dogs are having a really good tim playing and those puppy teeth grab on, sometimes there are a few small injuries when dogs are having a great time.
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PHReign
Email me: HReign@pethobbyist.com" target="_blank">PHReign@pethobbyist.com
Dear dog,
I can not buy anything larger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to your fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straigt out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing more than doggy sarcasm.

Thanks for the reply. I just dont want my pretty dog to end up with scars =) And they wont contract any disease that way like human's mono because of other dog licking her mouth right? Man, I am pretty vain for a dog owner.

I doubt there would be any scars from puppy teeth. It's possible, but unlikely. Dog's skin tends ot be quite tough and can withstand some bumps, scratches and bruises. Also, even though the fur on the face is quite short, it will cover a multitude of issues. So, I'm positive you will not have any appearance issues. Also, disease transmission can happen by lickign mouths if one dog is sick (ie. has kennel cough), but it's also a bit rare. Happy healthy dogs play rough. Also, my guess is your older dog is going to not accept too many more scratches from those puppy teeth. They will learn to inhibit their bites.
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PHReign
Email me: HReign@pethobbyist.com" target="_blank">PHReign@pethobbyist.com
Dear dog,
I can not buy anything larger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs sleeping, they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to your fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straigt out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing more than doggy sarcasm.

>>Hi, we have adopted a 3 year old female dobe. She's very gentle and well mannered, couldn't have asked for a better dog. We took her to the dog park yesterday and she played with a lab puppy. Afterwards while we were grooming her, I found little cuts around her lips and a scratch mark on her muzzle. Is that normal after dog play time? thinking back, she looked happy while playing and there were no aggression between the dogs.
>>
>>thanks

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is really a matter of what you're willing to put up with. I won't let my dogs play in a way that does physical damage. You never know when there will be a scar or not. One thing--such as whether a scab gets pulled off too early--can make the difference in whether or not it scars.

Some dogs do not have a lot of sensitivity to touch, and will not realize they are being injured. Thus they do not remove themselves from the situation and/or make the other dog stop. There is some terrier heritage in the Doberman breed, and terriers are notorious for not noticing pain--which is why some will fight to the death.

It's up to you what you want to allow with your dog. Only you are in a position to decide whether the playtime is worth the risk of damage. As far as disease or infection, any bite wound can abscess, and that infection can be very hidden. If you see any lumps, fever, or other weird signs, get the dog to the vet quickly. At times it can become pretty urgent. A puncture wound is serious. Humans get critically ill from dog bites that get infected--and it happens a lot. It happens a lot to other dogs, too.

As far as disease, dog parks put your dog at high risk of this, with or without wounds, because of the feces there. It is a very infectious environment.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

That's very good to know. thanks!