How well do you know your dog? - Page 1

We've been talking a lot lately about "reading dogs" and this is something I feel is extremely important for me being a "newbie" so I thought maybe I'd get us on a topic that may help those that really want to learn to read not only dogs in general but to know what THEIR own dog is thinking.  The more experienced people can give some pointers on the basics of what to look for such as ...

when you know your dogs feeling threatend?  how would you know if your dog was getting annoyed with a situation enough that he'd bite someone or another dog?  I'm sure there's signs that come out far before the obvious growling, barking or lifting his lips....do you watch for their body language, is it in their eye contact?  How can you tell if a dog is bitting out of fear or if it's sheer protection?  Curious to hear feedback on this.

My dog is thinking 9x's out of 10, food or toy. So far it ain't beed tough. Now in his teen age time, it's starting to pick up.

I can tell solely by distinct facial expressions, but that requires one to be around a dog for a long time to watch for these sometimes very subtle signs. The wrinkled lip is always a warning, as is a slight raise or lower of the brow. The sudden roll of the eyes is another. All of my dogs do not signal their alert in exactly the same way, but after being around them for a long time I can tell when a fight is about to begin, or the dog is concerned with the presence of another dog or certain type of person.

Regards,

Bob-O

Thanks Bob that was a good starting point.  But how do you tell when 2 dogs are rough housing that it's just "play" fighting or when it's turning more serious?  I've noticed lately that my almost 6 month old pup likes to try to bite on his old man (Agar) and up til today I felt it was all innocent but when I heard Agar do a little grumble and the the pup yelped and backed off I wondered if the game turned more serious?  Agar is such a laid back dog that sometimes it's hard to tell what he's thinking.

OMG 4pack, you are wayyyyyyyyyy too much. lol  You're lucky there isn't a moderator or you'd definately get the boot for that one.  Good Lord, wait til the bible bangers get a load of that pic.  If the fat girls in bikini's got their panties in a twist I can only imagine how many will have to bust out their inhalers over that post. LMAO!

It's hard to explain.  You see a difference in the way they stand - almost but not quite a stiffening, a certain stillness, the eye looks different.  This is all just before overt signs of trouble, usually just in time for my little brain to say "uh oh" before something happens. You need to act quickly, but calmly because as soon as you react they will most assuredly take it to the next level.

4 Pack where do you get your pictures from? LOL

The best way I can tell you about reading dogs is this go out side and sit, watch, listen and learn. Don't speak just let them do their thing. IF one is getting rough (you can tell) then step in and do a down. After a few minutes let them go back to playing. Again sit watch and learn. It is not something that happens over night like Don said it takes time but the more you watch the more you will learn.

Watching a mother with her pups is great if you watch closely you will pick up on how she tells them no, when she wants to play, and so on. I can now leave my plate on food on the sofa  and not 1 dog will touch it. I learned the dog talk of telling them it was mine by me do the Billy Idol snarl (one sided snarl) they all know I mean business.

(I would not do that IF you have control issues or aggession problems) but that is something I learned

There is a book out about this,  she is a older lady, I want to say from the sweden area . I have to go though my books and find it but it taught me a lot. Some I already knew from just watching. But it will help you. I will look for it

That mal is having just a little too much fun with himself.

Ekvon-  thanks I'd appreciate it if you could tell me what the book is called and who the author is.  There's no aggression problems or control issues with my dog so I think I'm ok in that respect. lol  The pup hasn't shown me anything to be concerned of with that either, thus far.  I feel like I'm always calling poor Agar away from the situation that he never initiated in the first place and this is primarily because he is the one who listens and obeys whatever I tell him and the pup is still too fresh into his obedience training to "get it".  Agar just comes over to me like "oh come on mom, you know I didn't start this shit, why am I the one who has to come in?" lol  It just is easier for me to seperate them for a "time out" "chill out" period before someone really gets on the others nerves.  But I'm not sure if this is the right or "fair" thing to do.  My husband tells me not to worry Agar won't hurt him, may put him in his place at some point but won't hurt him and this is just something they are gonna have to work out amongst themselves.  But me being the "mom" to everyone in the house I tend to try to referee all the situations before they get outta hand. lol