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by Slamdunc on 01 December 2010 - 05:12
When shown around people, raised hackles are a sign of insecurity. That is why I do not like dogs that raise their hackles around people. In animals it is used to increase their size to show dominance or in relation to a threat. Really confident dogs generally do not raise their hackles around other dogs as they do not consider other dogs a threat.
Running and playing is different and can just show excitement.

by GSDguy08 on 01 December 2010 - 13:12

by Jenni78 on 01 December 2010 - 14:12
I believe there is a difference between fear and survival. Self-preservation and survival are natural and necessary instincts. The word "fear" is used way too much and to the point where any and all "fear" is considered negative and the dog displaying it is "weak." I especially love how people can't talk about dog behaviors in any parameter beyond what a judge would think or what it means on a field. How about in real life? Wild? Other scenarios not being scored? Do you all know that there are situations that occur in life that don't pertain to SchH? Just checking.
Let's try and step off the big green field in our heads for a few moments and remember that a dog is reacting how its instincts and later, training, are telling him/her to act. A dog can only anticipate something like punishment once it's already occurred. Sure, a dog can reason and do problem-solving,(and to imply that I of all people am underestimating the dog is preposterous and further proof that everything I said was misinterpreted) but my point was that deeming hackles raised (which is normal dog behavior- maybe you don't like it, maybe a judge won't like it, but it is NORMAL) automatically means a dog is weak and "fearful" is ridiculous. Those of you reading this who handle dogs somewhere besides a sport field will understand this. Just because something isn't desirable in a certain sport does not mean it is not normal behavior and can't be worked through. Jim is the only one who seems to differentiate between behavior toward dogs and behavior toward people in a logical form. Perhaps this is because Jim handles dogs off a training field.
What I said was instead twisted into "dogs can't learn" (abuse, punishment example given). UM, NO. Not at all what I was saying about them not feeling 'fear' and living in the moment and reacting based on so many different factors in any given situation. Fear of punishment is a learned behavior. They are not born with that; it is not instinctive. This is fear; I agree. They have learned to be fearful because of past situations- they are anticipating something bad- perfect example of true fear. Raising hackles at another dog while trying to overpower it is not the same. Raising hackles in excitement is not the same. I just think the terminology is misused and due to that, implications are made about a dog's character that may not be true.
I have said all this hundreds of times in different ways over the years and while a lot of people do "get it," most don't seem able to open their minds enough to look at the dog in a different light. Give MORE credit instead of less, try to work through an issue w/a dog and see if you can't emerge a stronger team instead of labeling the dog insufficient or somehow faulty because it displays normal behaviors that you deem unacceptable based on the human terms you define them in.
I'm not expecting to have added much clarity here, but I'm done anyway. This thread will probably be gone in 20 minutes anyway.

by sueincc on 01 December 2010 - 14:12
The rest of us disagreed with that statement, we flat out said fear is a necessary part of survival of the species. I don't think one of us thought only in the limited direction of fear and how it applies to "the field".
Certainly you are entitled to your opinion, but that's all it is. We are entitled to our opinions too, such as it is. Please understand it is not a question of us not "getting it", we "get it" we just don't agree with you, that's all.


Some people said hackles raised is a bad thing, some said it wasn't. I think we have to always leave room for the possibility that just because someone's opinion is different from our own does not mean they are wrong. Let's try to remember that people can differ, and sometimes those who differ with us have just as much, if not more experience and knowledge than we may have, but they have a different point of view.

by Don Corleone on 01 December 2010 - 19:12

by alboe2009 on 01 December 2010 - 23:12

by Don Corleone on 01 December 2010 - 23:12

by alboe2009 on 02 December 2010 - 02:12
I like you, (what little I know of you), always get a laugh out of some of the things you say! All I was saying/showing was how different interpretations individuals were having on a observation or one's reference on an observation. If all of the commenters were seeing it with their eyes we might have a different thread or responses. Then on the word FEAR or what some were considering a fear characteristic/example. And some were generalizing "dogs". Were they talking of their dogs? All dogs? Dogs that they have seen do what they were talking about? A trained dog? An untrained dog? A pup? And adult? A dog with dog? A dog with human? That's all I was talking about.Then a police K9, explosive detection, and some of the others. I can't comment too much on the field dogs and the trials. One day hopefully. Only the MWDs, LE K9s, and some explosive detection K9s along with civilian contractors K9s.
Like I said, I like you and hear what you say. I'm not much of a jokester more of a worker. So, I'll try a response: We never throw our K9s through windows? We assist them.

by Don Corleone on 02 December 2010 - 02:12
by SitasMom on 02 December 2010 - 02:12
Which is more courageous
a being that never has a fear or
a being the has fears and challenges them?
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