Question about head touching; anti-social or...? - Page 1

This past weekend my husband and I went to the hospital to visit my hospitalized father. I brought my PTSD Service Dog with me. I noticed her "head touching avoidance" thing more than any other time, while we were in the hospital. I allowed a few hospitalized children to pet her, which she LOVED!

She has a vest that clearly states WORKING DOG DO NOT PET and people have been great about it, they always ask or I occasionally offer if it's a handicapped child who could use some cheering up. Anyway, Ive noticed my girl, an 8month old Rottweiler bitch does not, under any circumstances allow anyone to touch/pet her head, other than myself, not even my husband.

This behavior of hers (shirks away, not cowers, just moves her head back or out of the way) is just sort of curious to me. I believe it is an instint sort of thing, protecting the cranium? But I also slightly wonder if it is a social thing? She is very social, but due to her training, she does not actively seek out attention from anyone unless I give her the go ahead, first. 

I guess I should explain. She doesn't growl, pin ears, nor cower, she just sort of ducks? her head, or moves to the side, and won't allow people to pet her head. I suspected maybe ear tenderness, but there is no smell, discharge or tenderness when I massage them. She is perfectly fine with people/children touching her from the shoulders down, she just does not like anyone touching her head. It doesn't seem to scare her, nor does she react with aggression, it just reminds me of a person walking along, coming across a puddle of water and walking around it and then going about their day.

My question for the board, is this a fear period thing or just a trust thing? Should this concern me at all? Mind you, as she is a Service Dog, NOT a therapy dog, she does NOT get many outside "pets" from people not within the immediate family, however, she also does not allow the immediate family to pet her head either, only myself.

Appreciate any input given. Added a picture of her from this past weekend. Thanks.

Some dogs do not like having strangers grab, touch or pet their head.  The best analogy I can give and one I use often at demos is:  How would you feel if a strange guy walked up to you on the street and started messing with your hair or running his fingers through your hair?  It would be weird, awkward and very off putting.  The correct place for strangers, including children to pet dogs is on the shoulder, not in the face, eyes, ears or head.  Many dogs will not appreciate this, some will tolerate it, some won't.  Even most kids do not like having adults touching their hair or that crazy Aunt pinching their cheeks.  Your dog is no different.  You need to be vigilant and if you allow strangers to pet your dog you must show them the correct way to approach your dog and pet your dog.  Even with my uber friendly, outgoing dogs I never let people touch their head.  If they want to pet the dog the shoulder and back are ok, the head and face are not.  If some one does not get that they should nt be touching your dogs head, eyes or face, I simply take my open palm and wipe it across their face and then mess up their hair saying "You don't like that very much do you?  Well my dog doesn't like it either!" 

It is understandable for a dog to not want a strangers hand in it's eyes, head, ears, nose, mouth or face.  How the dog reacts is the important thing, mine will let them know it's not acceptable and most normal people would stop but it never gets that far.   If your dog doesn't enjoy it, then step in and show the well meaning dog lovers how to properly address and pet a dog.  Better yet, offer some instruction before they even get that far.  Once you mess up some ones hair they will appreciate how your dog feels and will respect that.  If they don't; then they can't pet the dog.  It will save them lots of stitches if they ever meet my dog or a dog like mine.

Adorable dog BTW, best of luck.

Thanks slamdunc, makes sense! Sometimes I forget just HOW relatable our companions are to us, ya know? 

Funny you should mention the cheek-pinching-aunt...I'm Polish, and have huge cheeks, and go figure, lots of aunts that LOVED to pinch them at Christmas when I was young...never really did care for those aunts much 

Ahhh, so you can relate!  I am Irish and had plenty of Aunts that liked to grab a cheek full.  I never enjoyed it very much either.

Usually before I allow my dog to be pet by another they must first be smelled out, the dog decides.
Standing not kneeling or bent over, if the dog likes the legs then they can offer a hand palm down.
Off to the side never head on, behind the ears never around the forehead or eyes, under the chin not on the nose.
Always let your dog decide, read your dog.
Sometimes the answer is no.
My dogs usually turn around and want their back end rubbed...if they like you.

I agree with Jim, most dogs do not like their face messed with by anyone except those they know well.

Nice looking girl.

I kinda tuned Jim out after the first chapter, but I agree with him. It's funny, but we are supposed to be the most civilized of all mammals, but I'd take total offense if a stranger randomly came up and put his hand on me.

Its obviously your dog's preference that people don't mess
with her head area;  not all dogs are alike.  Oddly enough,
her role in life as a Service / Assistance Dog has allowed
her to be more free of such human interference than most
'pet' dogs,  'cos half the time she is wearing her Do Not
Disturb vest !  That in itself is probably enough to reinforce
her preference - most dogs learn to 'put up & shut up' with
the odd ways of people, [unless, like Slamdunc's police dogs,
they are in that Working Dog minority and never have to.  ]

Plus a lot of folk are not happy about touching the toothy end
of a Rottie, in any case !

So:  don't sweat it, it is what it is;   and next time you see a
dog like my GSD, who just loves people to grab him around his
head (the fool),  just think yourself lucky your girl has more
discrimination.  She is very beautiful, btw.

Pretty dog sweet country!   One of my female gsd's does not like strangers petting her head or any other part of her body.   She won't duck or anything but she stands perfectly still and gives the person a wary look.