Dominant Dogs
If you pay attention to the puppies in a litter, you will see this behavior-taking place. One of them is trying to take charge of the litter. They will play together, but there is always one that assumes the role of leader. This is true of the adults, as well as the puppies. Let's take a look at the human side of this type of situation. We all have families that we love and care for. If anyone or anything tries to interfere with our family we will defend them to whatever end may come. What is the difference between this and what the dog is doing? Any dog that is allowed to choose its position in the pack, in this case your family, will try to find its standing in the hierarchy. Since children are at eye level with the dog, it makes perfect sense to challenge the one that is on its level first, and proceed up the chain until it is in charge. It is your responsibility, as the leader, to make your dogs understand that their position is at the lower end of this pecking order. Family first, dog last. That's why proper communication between you and your pet is so important.
Dogs body language
The body is the messenger and it will signal or show the symptoms of the undesired behavior before it strikes. Everything manifests in the body first, both in humans and animals. I will show you how to read dog’s body language and human body language so you can stop undesirable behavior before it gets out of hand. If you can stop unwanted behavior from developing in the body first it cannot manifest into a full-blown behavior problem.
Just like people, dogs communicate using “body
language.” Your dog is communicating with his entire
body, not just his tail or his voice. You’ll need to learn to
read your particular dog’s body language if you want to
know how your dog is feeling. To get a sense of what your dog is trying to tell you, spend as much time as you can observing your dog and his body posture. Because each dog is an individual and will express fear,aggression, stress or joy slightly differently, there are no hard and fast rules for interpreting dog body language. Tail-wagging, for instance, can indicate several emotions. The important thing is to look at the entire body of the dog. With that said, here are some examples of dog body language and what they might mean.
play bow.
The rear end of the dog is up, while the front end is down. The play bow generally means “I want to play”
Tall wagging. Contrary to popular belief, tail
wagging can mean many things:
A high, stiff wag can mean “I am agitated,
unsure or scared, but not submissive. I might bite."
The body is the messenger and it will signal or show the symptoms of the undesired behavior before it strikes. Everything manifests in the body first, both in humans and animals. I will show you how to read dog’s body language and human body language so you can stop undesirable behavior before it gets out of hand. If you can stop unwanted behavior from developing in the body first it cannot manifest into a full-blown behavior problem.
Just like people, dogs communicate using “body
language.” Your dog is communicating with his entire
body, not just his tail or his voice. You’ll need to learn to
read your particular dog’s body language if you want to
know how your dog is feeling. To get a sense of what your dog is trying to tell you, spend as much time as you can observing your dog and his body posture. Because each dog is an individual and will express fear,aggression, stress or joy slightly differently, there are no hard and fast rules for interpreting dog body language. Tail-wagging, for instance, can indicate several emotions. The important thing is to look at the entire body of the dog. With that said, here are some examples of dog body language and what they might mean.
play bow.
The rear end of the dog is up, while the front end is down. The play bow generally means “I want to play”
Tall wagging. Contrary to popular belief, tail
wagging can mean many things:
A high, stiff wag can mean “I am agitated,
unsure or scared, but not submissive. I might bite."
Signs of stress
Ear packed up When a dog’s
ears are forward, he is alert,
interested in something.
Tail between the legs. If the
dog’s tail is tucked between
her legs and her ears are back
against her head, she is afraid,
uncomfortable with something.
When a dog is stressed, he
often shows displacement
behavior – any of a variety
of activities that seem
inappropriate in the situation they are seen in. These behaviors occur most often during
times of emotional conflict. For example, a dog starts self-grooming when he’s afraid and
faces the decision to fight or run away; grooming is an odd response to a “flight or fight”
situation. Displacement behavior can be the dog’s attempt to calm himself.
It can be difficult to read the body language of ungroomed
dogs.
Here are some typical displacement behaviors:
• Yawning in new or emotional situations
• Panting when it’s not hot
• Lifting a front paw as someone walks toward the dog
• Licking his lips, even though the dog hasn’t been
eating or drinking
• Scratching himself when he’s not itchy
• Looking away as a person or another animal walks
toward the dog
• Shaking off after someone handles the dog or
• Stretching out as though doing a play bow, but not
asking for play (sometimes a greeting when a dog is
stressed)
• Making a puff (exhale) of breath, sometimes whining
at the same time, and looking away or turning away
• Lying down and trying to make whatever is happening
stop by not taking part in it
There is stress along with fear when a dog:
• Starts to drool when she normally doesn’t
• Paces or circles
• Tucks his tail and moves away from something
let me help you in these situations
ears are forward, he is alert,
interested in something.
Tail between the legs. If the
dog’s tail is tucked between
her legs and her ears are back
against her head, she is afraid,
uncomfortable with something.
When a dog is stressed, he
often shows displacement
behavior – any of a variety
of activities that seem
inappropriate in the situation they are seen in. These behaviors occur most often during
times of emotional conflict. For example, a dog starts self-grooming when he’s afraid and
faces the decision to fight or run away; grooming is an odd response to a “flight or fight”
situation. Displacement behavior can be the dog’s attempt to calm himself.
It can be difficult to read the body language of ungroomed
dogs.
Here are some typical displacement behaviors:
• Yawning in new or emotional situations
• Panting when it’s not hot
• Lifting a front paw as someone walks toward the dog
• Licking his lips, even though the dog hasn’t been
eating or drinking
• Scratching himself when he’s not itchy
• Looking away as a person or another animal walks
toward the dog
• Shaking off after someone handles the dog or
• Stretching out as though doing a play bow, but not
asking for play (sometimes a greeting when a dog is
stressed)
• Making a puff (exhale) of breath, sometimes whining
at the same time, and looking away or turning away
• Lying down and trying to make whatever is happening
stop by not taking part in it
There is stress along with fear when a dog:
• Starts to drool when she normally doesn’t
• Paces or circles
• Tucks his tail and moves away from something
let me help you in these situations
