How to speak "DOG"
This article in Modern Dog with diagrams is really helpful. http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articl ... nguage/415 |
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| Is it any wonder other dogs have trouble with sheepdog......no tail, ears hard to see, eyes may be hidden, mouth obscured by hair.....sorta. Great article, thanks! |
| Great article! Thanks! Cindy |
| You're welcome! Yup, our boys and girls are hard to read and sometimes that causes them to be picked on by others in dog parks as dogs rely on those cues when meeting other dogs. I also just wanted to say that the dog on his back with belly exposed doesn't mean your dog is afraid of you as it also mentions it is in a submissive state. If you notice dogs will lick jowls or (OUR FACES), they view us as a parental figure and lay on their backs with bellies exposed in our homes (they feel safe and secure ) in their place. That is often a cue for me that my rescue feels safe and comfortable in my home, even with other dogs around once they start sleeping or laying like that. Some dogs never lay on their backs when sleeping, however so if your dog doesn't do it...no worries! Overall, I think it's good to have some general knowledge of signs when you are out and about. I always look when a dog is approaching us when I take my dogs out for walks. |
| Thanks! That was good I will share that one! |
| If you guys feel it's too much knowledge or info to be able to remember it all..Just remember tails are the best indicators. I always avoid a dog with tail straight up if I see him/her ahead on our walks as that indicates it's in an aggressive/dominant state and may challenge my guys. Especially if the dog if offleash so I back away (never run as that's an invitation to chase) There's also a huge difference between dog aggression and people aggression (they are not the same things) so if the dog is far enough away I put myself in front of my dogs and back away as chances are the dog is not interested in challenging a human. Or I yell NO if he comes closer and they usually back off. This however is just a general idea as each situation must be dealt with as it comes along and you must never put yourself in harms way either. I once had an aggressive dog chase after Merlin (who was six months) and Blue who was 15 on our walks once. Someone screamed out their window.."Look out there's a vicious dog around the corner from you!". I didn't see the dog as it was in a cul de sac aprox 1/2 block from where I was on the adjoining block. I was leaving and heard the woman scream again. The dog who hadn't seen us until that point was chasing us full speed with teeth bared and I knew instantly this was a super aggressive dog as my dogs presented no challenge to him and he was coming at us when our backs were turned. I put the dogs behind me and stood my ground. I had no chance of outrunning him and no other choice it happened too fast. Yelling NO! he hesitated and stopped. Then came for us again...Once more he went for the dogs. He stopped again as I yelled NO. I knew then he was DA but not people aggressive but it was difficult trying to get two dogs on leashes behind me as he started circling us. He went for Merlin and I managed to get him away by yelling. Each time I yelled No he would back away momentarily. This seemed to go on for an eternity - Merlin was always the target of his attack even tho he was a puppy. I suspect he knew that out of the two Merlin was the dominant one (still the fact he attacked a puppy and didn't have prior contact with it..this dog was dangerous!) I finally had to drop the leash of the 15 yr old dog to grab Merlin. For the first time in his life my submissive old guy fought to protect his baby brother and myself. Finally 3 men came running out of their various homes screaming and the dog ran away. It was such a scary event and Merlin escaped with a cut nose and dislocated hind leg and the attacking dog was not found. Old Blue was okay. Although that happened many years ago and I knew the signs at the time of what to look for...I never even saw that dog at all but was warned by the women yelling out her window, we were leaving the area. You just never know and in that case I don't think I could have done anything differently but for the fact I had my back turned when we were walking away. Since then, I'm always on the alert, always watching what's ahead and pay attention when I hear dogs barking to see if they are contained or running loose. That happened almost 9 yrs ago and I still get the willies when I think back on that day. Later, I suspected it was a dog whom I had never seen but often heard behind a makeshift fence made of plywood, boards and other junk. I always felt sorry for whom ever was behind those walls as he was obviously unsocialized and probably ignored by his owners. He probably felt extreme frustration hearing other dogs walk by and as it was a route I took daily we may have respresented a source of his frustration. More reason why dogs should be exposed to different situations, people and other dogs early in life. The dog that chased us that day was a Boxer but it could happen to any dog of any breed if they don't get socialized early in life. Anyhow, I guess it affected me so much that even on what is supposed to be relaxing walks I never let my guard down no matter where or when I'm out walking the dogs. |
| Good article--thanks for posting- |
| Oh my that is so scary!!! My worst fear! I have had dogs chase us and I always scream NO as well. So far except for the boxers that came into my yard did I have a problem. But I am alway on the alert as well. It is especially scary when I am walking both dogs. So sorry you had to go through that how horrible |
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