Bowing in the Hold and Bark - Page 1

Anyone know or have any theories why some dogs bow in the hold and bark?

Margaret N-J

Bowing as in their butt is in the air and head is lowered?  

Thats right.

Margaret N-J

I don't believe it's a training issue...just the way the dogs bark at the helper. I also don't think bowing is the right terminolgy..and not sure what is....It has no effect on thier biting. My male explodes into the helper from that position:-)

For sake of clarity for all, can anyone  post a video?
Prager Hans

Is this what you are talking about?
This is Amigo Zamat..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kld1Qm5gM
Fastforward to around 33 seconds..

Or is this more of what you are talking about?
This is Javir vom Talka Marda..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfm_Tzk5PfA

The bowing displayed by Javir is the sort of thing.  Not sure what Amigo is doing, he's actually staying down at one point, puts me in mind of a forward thinking dog who associates a bite after the down position and literally cutting to the chase. 

Margaret N-J

the bowing displayed by Javir is similar to what you saw in Nick....Nick is sired by Jimbeam, Javir's brother. My male is sired by Jimbeam...maybe that's where it comes from!

I think you may be right there Judron, Ulfs Javir daughter used to do it too.  I was just trying to get a handle on what is going on in their head when they do it as I have seen young Rotties do the same thing.

Margaret N-J

I have a male that does this; looks like he's play-bowing, with chest down, tail-end up. Initally, i think it was all play. We started in fun prey-drive, then moved to defense when he matured. At first I tried correcting him by hauling him into a sit. It threw him off his game to sit. Since he is a working dog, not a competition dog, it didn't matter to me what position he held, as long as it was solid.

In his case, trying to break him of bowing was confusing him and causing him to hesitate. I didn't want to throw doubt in his mind, so I elected to modify his behavior, rather than eliminate it.

I started pushing his butt down, and telling him platz. Bark'n'hold from a correct down. He can explode to a bite from a down as quickly as he can from any other position. He has surprised more than one person that way when they're used to a sitting bark'n'hold, and make the assumption a downed dog will give them more time.