Cannot read this behavior please give advise.
Here is the problem. I just finished fencing in the back yard and when I let him out he would run around (which is fine), but then would turn around kind of crouch down on his front legs backside still raised up and bark and growl at me. More barking than growling. Never done this in the house. Scares me. I mean this dog has a deep bark and I don't know if he is upset with me or playing. I walked back in the house and he followed me and was fine in the house. Another time I was using a rake in the backyard same thing barking and growling at the rake. Now mind you I have use a rake and shovel dozens of time with him right by me, but he was on a leash and attached to something. He never even payed it any attention just layed there watching me work. Today I had my girls and we went outside with the dog and they were running around and the dog was chasing them. You guessed it he started to bark at them. Then he was chasing one of my daughters and when she stopped he bit her on her back. Now I don't know if bite is a good word for it really not even a nip no marks no redness no pain on her part, but he deffinately put his open mouth on her back as I was standing right there. It is very hard to judge if he is playing or not. With other dogs I had you could watch the tail. Man do I miss this dog not having a tail. You cannot even see the little nub wiggle. I mean if he was standing there barking with his tail wagging like no ones business I could tell he was just playing. Any advise would be appreciated. Also I do all the things that I have read about making sure the dog thinks I am the alpha. Not letting him eat till after me, making him move instead of stepping over him, not letting him walk in front of me, etc. [/b] |
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| 1) he's play bowing. That's a dead give away that he wants to play. In fact, in canine parlance it is an invitation to play. Vocalization is not uncommon. If I dogs means business they are usually very erect and still (and often very quiet). If their eyes are also very hard and intent, now I'm scared. None of that fits what you described. My dogs bark at each other to get each other going (playing) Maybe it's trash talk, I don't know. ("hey, lard butt, I can outrun you!" <vroom, vroom>) He sounds like a very cool dog. Not necessarily great with kids when excited, but not out of malice based on what you've written.
2) he's playing like an OES plays. Even though his "bite" was wonderfully inhibited (no marks), probably not a great idea to let him play with the kids outside as their running/any vocalization on their part incites prey drive (natural in all dogs, developed in a special way for herding purposes, not bad in and of itself but can be a problem around kids especially) 3) You don't know this dog. He's a rescue, so you don't know his breeding or his background and you've only had him for a short period of time. Everything you describes sounds like a very fun dog to me (!) Keep up with the obedience training and maybe even consider doing agility with him if he's physically sound. I love play/prey drive. That said, if you're afraid/unsure of him, he will sense that and could decide to take advantage. To be honest, I'm wary of foster dogs in the beginning too, because even though I have no problem recognizing they are in play mode, I don't yet know if they have a good off switch. So I pick and choose my games carefully so as to not get them so excited they may get pushy or cross the line until I know them better. At the same time, I don't want to crush that play drive, because many of the dogs I've fostered have come with issues and I can use it to my advantage when training them through those isses. And, too, I just really enjoy a dog who likes to play. 4) eating before him...by all means. Doesn't mean what we think it means to the dog, but if that's what you do, keep doing it. If you want the dog to respect you and your boundaries good old fashioned obedience training will do that the best. He sounds to me like a dog begging for a job. Probably a smart one who would love wrapping his mind around - hm, what do they want now. Once you've put some basic training on him you can have the kids join in depending on age and once he understands that he has to listen to them (too), they can probably play much more safely with him. Kristine |
| When they go into that classic front down/rear up stance, that's a sure sign he wants to play. When he was on leash and/or tethered to something, he knew there was only so much freedom he had. Now that you have a fenced in area for him to run freely in, he's using that newfound freedom to run and play.
Is this your first OES? If it is, you need to understand that he's a herding dog, so he will chase after children running around him. The nip was just his way of getting them in control. Since you've only had him for 1 1/2 months, he probably hasn't shown all his true colors. Sammie is our 4th sheepie and we've had her now for 7 months, and every day she shows us something new about herself. It's always an adventure with these clowns! |
Mad Dog wrote: he's play bowing.
My thoughts precisely. Sounds hilarious although maybe the kids could kick a soccer ball around to avoid getting nipped themselves. 
Congratulations on adopting a rescue Sheepie! I remember when I got Chumley that she barked like crazy. Everyone who knew dogs could tell that it was friendly excitement but it scared me. Later, I could hardly understand how I ever didn't recognize how friendly all that noise was. I'm hoping you will have the same experience. Good luck! |
| Does this look familiar to you?
Image from http://www.neoesr.org <img src="http://neoesr.org/wiggle.gif" /> This is a happy and playful Old English Sheepdog. |
| Ron -- can you add some "grrrr" sound effects? LOL so cute. |
| I totally agree that is the "I want to play bow". I also think Kristine said it best with her advice. |
| Absolutely agree with what Kristine advised & described. This is very typical & normal Old English behavior. The nipping is part of his herding instinct coming into play. So it will need to be channeled properly. Some good, solid obedience training, in a classroom setting with other dogs, using a praise & reward method will work wonders for both you & the dog. Don't "stiffle" his energetic personality. Instead, shape it & you will have a wonderful companion foryour children to grow with! |
| I guess the problem is the intensity of the invite to play. My dog sometimes does that, especially if I've been away for several hours. It's like an overly excited invitation to play, and I try to temper it. He does also bark, like saying "how come you didn't take me with you?" I tell him some simple commands like SIT followed by some treats or rewards, to regain control. |
icc2515 wrote: Also I do all the things that I have read about making sure the dog thinks I am the alpha. Not letting him eat till after me, making him move instead of stepping over him, not letting him walk in front of me, etc.
[/b] I'm sure my dog knows I'm the alpha, but he often does walk in front of me. Did I mess up already on this one? If he does walk in front of me, I don't change my course to where I am going, if the dog "guesses" the course wrong he'll check on me and come my way again. |
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