Thank you for fostering!!
Every dog has their own play style... for various reasons. Many big dogs (goldens included) have been left in the yard to entertain themselves and never learned how to be considerate to other dogs play styles.

I really dislike a bully that gets so focused they charge through whatever is in their way.... dog or human. It takes work to resolve this.. but possible. Enroll in a good obedience class with him and it will help considerably.

But honestly, unless you plan on keeping this guy just give your pups a chance to play safely without him to maintain their relationship. You have one that can match his energy level and he wears out quickly so will get a chance to learn playing with someone. This will help get his weight down too.

I did one golden rescue that never could give up the overbearing personality, she was very sweet but very large and in charge. Gratefully I found her a home where the people loved this about her and had another large golden that matched her personality and 2 acres to chase bunnies. Perfect family for her.

 

He's a good looking boy, has he been with you very long?
Do you know anything about his background such as if he was used to being around other dogs? It could be he's not used to being with other dogs and in time, he will learn how to play and become more gentle. He could be overexcited, maybe take him for a walk before letting him play to burn off some nervous energy. Or take him out and play ball with him to burn off some energy before you allow him to be with Zoe and Jake.

Thank you for fostering him, what's his name?

 

Foster

God Bless you for fostering!

What's the name of your foster?? He is very cute.

I agree with Carolina Mom. Can you ask the organization you're fostering for if they know anything about him. Could be he isn't quite sure how to play with others, or is just SO EXCITED he has other dogs to play with. My two dogs, Samoyed (Tonka) and Tucker (Golden Retriever) , are 7 and 8 and sometimes play rough, body slam one another. Tucker can literally jump over Tonka.

 

His name is Tex.

He's our second foster. The fist one was Jake, and we got him at 3 months old. Never left lol.

Tex Has gone through 4 houses if you include ours. His last family had him for 2 years and got him off a Facebook page. They said he was a complete couch potato and would lay around while their other two dogs played. They were moving out of the country and could only take two with them.

We have had him for a week.

Day 1 he was a complete couch potato, as the days go by, and he starts feeling better, he's getting more energetic. They said he never went on walks. He loves the walks we take him on. He gives our other two kisses and lays with them, he just plays like a tank outside lol.

He has some skin and fungal conditions we are working on sorting out right now. But its clear that day by day he feels much better.

 

Great pictures... what a beautiful boy. Sounds like he was under appreciated. What a great smile, he knows he won the lottery with you guys!

 

Tex is a good looking boy.
Sounds like he is starting to relax and get settled in.
I think you'll find with each day, things will be better.

 

He is so handsome - and Jake and Zoe are equally adorable!! Thank you for fostering this lovely boy - it certainly sounds like he wasn't as cared for as he should have been.

Our Fitz (Turkish rescue Golden) plays rough with Gunner who is also smaller than he is. They actually sound a lot like Tex and Jake in size. He doesn't plow into Gunner in the yard as he isn't fast enough lol but when they are wrestling sometimes I worry that Fitz is larger and stronger but so many times Fitz ends up on the bottom of the pile.

I don't have any advice on encouraging "calmer" play, but I am also curious to see if anyone has any suggestions. If things are getting to wild, I will get the bag of Zuke's out and call them all over for a treat to "re-set" them. That always works.

 

I think a lot of times the dogs will work it out if we let them. That being said, some dogs are not as good as others at reading dog signals and you may need to interject. Look for if the other two dogs are giving off signals they want the play to end (shaking off and walking off, averting head/body, etc. and the foster isn't "listening" or backing off). If they look engaged I would let them play. The idea to wear off some of the energy first is a good one. I've also learned you can try to manage everything and think through all scenarios to make sure things go smoothly and then something completely different happens! As a frame of reference, I've been so worried about my Charlie hurting my foster (he's 2x her size), but she ended up hurting him! She cut him off on the stairs and he lost his footing and fell down the stairs into my garage. He's now on heavy pain meds and can't put his weight on one leg. She may be small, but she's mighty

Thank you for opening your home to a foster...

 

Tex

Tex is just gorgeous, he looks like my Tucker, we adopted him from this forum.
I'm sure Tex is thinking he's in heaven and in love with you and your family, as he's been shuffled around so much.
That is really sad he's been in four homes.

 

Tex is beautiful and it sounds like he is living up to his name! Hopefully he'll calm down a little, poor Jake.