Opinions on Video - Page 2

I think there may be a little insecurity there as well, but I think his main motivation is to play, judging by all that vocalization and dancing around.  My youngest is like this.  He comes out way too strong so half the time the other dog tells him off right away, but the more he interacts the more he learns other dogs' social boundaries and that he doesn't have to instigate play by a full hackling and so much noise, a play bow and a sideways glance is much more effective.  He's got one dog friend that doesn't put up with his crap so my dog comes out and makes a lot of noise and gets in his face, then his friend gives him a good thumping, and then they run off like best friends and that's that.

I could be wrong, but thought I saw the hackles up all the way down the back. That said, I would certainly not argue with anyone about what is happening here.  

Vixen, the owner definitely needs to work on his own behaviour in order to properly train this dog. It's been suggested elsewhere that he needs to consult a professional trainer.

It turns out this dog's brother shows similar behaviour, even though he's been properly socialized with other dogs. He does NOT know when to get out of their faces and leave them alone.

My suggestions would be for the owner to teach the dog a firm "LEAVE IT' command. Since the dog hasn't had much training, he may need to go back to basics, and do focus training to get the dog to pay attention to him. He also needs to find a safe outlet for this dog's energy. Playing with the brother's GSP is NOT a safe outlet.

The Shiloh show similar behaviour with other dogs he's met, too. I'm surprised he hasn't been in a serious dog fight yet. If the owner doesn't step up to the plate, I'm sure one is just around the corner!

BTW, both dogs ARE neutered.

Looks to me like the Shepherd is trying to instigate play.  GSP is not interested.  GSP never puts up hackles and is stiff.  He conveys a more dominant stance that the younger (shepherd) cedes to. 

I hate to use the word dominant because it has so many really stupid connotations.  That being said, the GSP  is a dog who is dominant.  Dogs who are like this are often older and often are not realy intersted in play.  I think this dog is conveying that and trying to be polite about it.  They younger dog is unconfident.  He play bows at one point and is a bit of a pest trying to get the GSP to do what the GSP clearly does not want to do.  The Shepherd has hackles all the way down his back and his entire demeanor is friendly. 

The GSP is not friendly.  He is stiff and clearly does not want to play.  If the shepherd keeps up his trying to play, he will get spanked by the GSP. 

I see no reason to inflict one dog that wants to play on another dog that does not.  It can lead to a fight.  It can lead to more. 

I would separate these two dogs. 

JMO. 

BTW I never let my dogs play with other dogs (unless it is a dog I own). 

It is not necessary. 

The Shepherd is not doing anything much different than a lot of young shepherds.  Letting him try to play with dogs that do not want to play is going to lead to a mess someday.  He looks a nice pet dog.  Why set him up to get hurt? 

The owner should play with him and train him which will only serve to buid that relationship.   

One difference between my dogs and these dogs are, the GSP has a much more rigid posture (very stiff legged and straight tailed) and never takes his eyes off of the shepherd. Which I would interpret to mean the GSP is intimidated and unsure of the shepherd.  

CLC, you need to brush up on your dog body language. The posture you are describing is a dominant posture. Add to that the fact the GSP was growling and had its hackles up, it was a dominant-aggressive posture. There was nothing unsure about his stance at ALL!


http://www.pawsacrossamerica.com/interpret.html 

The pointers body position does not appear to be a forward leaning position you would see in a dominate individual.  There is also a lot of stress in the pointers barks that seem to rise even higher when he gets nearer to the shepherd. A lot of the pointers confidence seems to come from the owners proximity and actions. The pointer is capable of keeping his tail straight up but lowers it in many of these interactions. The pointer seems to want to play at times but does not commit other than brief charges that are not really direct. The pointer even points repeatedly in a breed specific prey position that is not one of a confident pointer, body forward. Fear bitters can also assume the ridged position clc29 describes, the pointer is not relaxed. Forward the video to 2:36 and you will see a submissive position given by the pointer that is not play. There were times when the pointer backs himself into a wall effectively protecting his rear, that is not a confident or dominate position.  My take is the pointer does not have an experienced play history and has lost the unknown play skills he had or hadn't with his litter mates. The video was hard to follow , I could not see the pointers muzzle away from the owner. Play aggression includes by it's very nature mixed signals which have to be read by a dog fluent in body language to know which are play ( the aggressive signals ) and which signs are real. The shepherd seems to be comfortable until he gets a charge. The shepherds only crime is pent up, youthful rambunctiousness, he seems to be more fluent in canine language, but I am judging from one short, disjointed video. It is a good thing they were not two females, we would be seeing a totally different video. The man needs to stop watching Cesar.