How to interpret his Hackles?: 6.5mo GSD - Page 1

For the past, I say... 2weeks my pup Leo, started raising the hairs on his back towards numerous things so it's hard for me to figure out why.
He has always showed an interest in chasing birds/rabbits while in the yard and walking around the neighborhood (if hes on a loose lead) but now he raises his hackles too, so I thought Excitement
but then
If he sees a dog to nearby I will hear a low growl, ears perk up, stares intently and his hackles raise. So my guess is Aggression (because he is dog aggressive but much more passive instead of reactive now )
but then
His hackles raise if he hears a rustling in the tall grass and pickleweed if he cannot see it sometimes with sometimes without a growl (so I think he's being Defensive)
but then again he does that when we approach objects he's unfamiliar with (so I think he's just Unsure)

Because he has only done this recently I thought it was a stage but all I can find is contradicting information online about aggression and excitement

What is it? stage? or anger/uncertainty?

He is going through a secondary fear stage.  I wouldn't worry about it, just don't comfort, praise or try to reassure him while he is doing it.  Hackles going up around other dogs is not a big deal for a pup.  I do not like to see hackles going up in response to people.  Just socialize him and expose him to as much as you can. 


Jim

my both girls raise their hackles when they are playing/horsing around, they growl and stand on their hind legs sometimes but its all a game, they wag their tails and race around like a bunch of wild horses, grass flying, dirt....i don't stop them because it never escalated to anything but just chasing around, if it gets too rough the one who is not feeling it anymore runs onto the patio and lays in bed and game is over....few times  when my girl meets a new dogs her hackles are up but no growling....its "i am unsure about you so let me make myself look bigger"..not necessary defective more like preparing for the worst but hoping for the best..LOL..her hackles also go up when she sees strangers too, also if her and i are playing hide and seek in the house she raises it because she is excited...i dont pay attention to it, she is still young.

my male on the other hand rarely raises his....if his are up...than I am grabbing my gun..the only times he did that was when we had someone on the property or when we were approached by someone even I was not very comfortable with..so it depends on a dog...i prefer my males way...for me its a good indicator..and i ignore my girls hackles altogether now.. so aside from sharing what my dogs do, i am no help..sorry.

@Slamdunc: Thanks, okay that's reassuring because that's something else I've found...a 2nd Fear period, question in a question...he's already dog aggressive but he needs socialization, so do you think it would be better to socialize him now or wait until this stage passes?

@LadyFrost: No need for the sorry, the stories are amusing and do help by learning from other's (your) firsthand experiences, plus your girls are funny, when leo races around he'll eventually come back to rough house with me (OUCH)
Your male sounds amazing, do you have a gallery?

Sorry for the late reply back I seen that the 2 of you replied back but I had to go to my chemistry class and had to keep my laptop close.

P.S: I love ya comments (like the others I've seen in other topics included)

Yellow Tailz,
I would keep socializing your dog and I would take advantage of this behavior.  If he were my dog I would be taking him everywhere and I would be prepared for this reaction.  I would not coddle or console him but rather ignore his fearful behavior and focus him on something positive.  Obedience for example.  When he is correct in his obedience then I would really praise and reward him.  I would change his whole perception of what he is insecure about. 

Like I said earlier, hackles going up around other animals is not a big deal.  Hackles can also go up when a dog is excited and playing fetch or chasing  a toy.  IMO, hackles going up around people or when seeing a stranger is a sign of insecurity and fear, especially in an adult dog.  To me that is a temperament problem and the cause of the problem needs to be addressed.  Not a huge problem in a puppy and can just be a phase, but it is not good for an adult dog to raise it's hackles when seeing a person. 

Jim

i do not have a gallery....i eventually want to start a blog, but it's just like everything else thats not "fun"..i have every intention of doing it but lack the commitment for boring things like photo albums, blogs, galleries....you know...the time consuming stuff..LOL

my male is amazing now...but he was the biggest butt head with a wagon of issues....poop eating, chewing on deck rails, chewing on trees, shoes, pillows, hiding (not coming back to my recall if it did not include word "food" in it) no ball drive, very cat chasing driven, not house broken, uncoordinated, would roll over and play dead if yelled at......but all that is in the past....I was too stubborn to give up and he had no stamina to continue....one day around his second birthday I got up and he was a different dog...light bulb finally went on in his head...and now he IS amazing..

My male's hackles only go up around a strange dog, but my 2 females raise their hackles when they are playing/rough housing, just like Ladyfrost said about her dogs. 

@Slamdunc: That really sounds like a plan, I'ma try that and no I never had a problem with hackles towards a person, I know that's a major red flag, thanks for the advice.

@LadyFrost: Yeah I just did a small gallery.......took too long and not even worth it on this site lol as far as "fun" goes lol. Right especially if you have a lot of plans.
Glad here you persevered and to hear that rascals turn around too haha. He sounds like he was a very impulsive brat, but a lot of fun and worthwhile experiences. 

Hello Yellowtailz,  From your description, I would guess that Leo's hackles are raised mainly on his neck/shoulders, which would generally indicate assertive confidence.  If his hackles are raised all the way along his body - neck to tail (which from your description I don't think is the case) this would be more unsure/uncertain/insecure.

However, hackles are also raised with over-excitement and arousal.  Don't judge the dog on the hackles alone, because additional body language and circumstances are relevant to the situation as well.
 
But your description does give the impression of 'cocky confidence'.     ;)



Regards,
Vixen

@Vixen: Cockiness  *shaking my head* that definitely is it because his ears are up and straight forward, he walks high, his tail stays pretty much straight, it kinda looks like posing. They raise from the neck to about .....the middle of his back. :) well he doesn't get it from me haha