Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: Explaining body language?
I find it fascinating to watch my dogs body language, and would love to know what it all means. Ok I have a good idea as to some of it, but today on our morning walk River's body language quite surprised me.
He is a little so and so for running up to other dogs, although he is getting better. Mostly the other dogs are small dogs who just give him a few sharp woofs, and River takes absolutely no notice whatsoever and continues to harrass them
This morning he went up to an elderly gorgeous collie, who just seemed to me to have this way about him. A refined old gent River went right up to him and the collie did not hesitate and gave River a deep woof right in his ear. The collie continued to stand close to River, almost, and I know this sounds silly, like he was whispering in River's ear. You could almost imagine him saying
"Now listen here youngster..."
River's head dropped down immediately and his bum hunched ever so slowly to the floor, until he was sitting. He continued to bow his head low and his eyes ever so slightly looked at the collie on a sideways glance, but no actual eye contact. He just looked like he was being properly told off by this collie. The collie then moved off slowly and River made no attempt to follow.
Skylar and Elphie only went up for the briefest of hellos right before this started.
I just found the whole short episode fascinating as I have never seen River do this. And my girls do tell him off.
It sounds like River is learning doggie etiquette, not doubt the elderly Collie did have words in his ear , with the smaller dogs he may find one will give him a nip one day and that`ll make him think twice before he jumps around them again.
Its also good that the Collie`s owner let his/her dog "chat" with the youngster rather than trying to pull him away from the precocious pup
The collie asserted himself buy standing put in his space, the head motion near the ear could have been a reinforcement of that assertion by placing his own head slightly higher than Rivers (usually over the neck/head area).
River then clearly submitted or used calming signals but sitting and lowering his own head with a polite side look, staying fixed in the position until he'd had eased the tension and was free to leave.
Sounds like River has learnt her first lesson in manners from a pro really well, and regarding your girls telling her off, she probably thinks they are all hot air, like kids when mum tells them don't do something they ignore it, but when teacher says 'No', they accept it like little angels.
Hence when mum says to teacher were they good today, reply, oh yes no problem .
Onwards an upwards hopefully with maybe a few more lessons from the wise doggys she meets .
I had to laugh at your post, June, because that's exactly how the puppies are with Bran If they're playing and stand on him, then he grumbles but they learned very early on that he never follows it through so they completely ignore him. If other dogs grumble at them, then they very quickly tuck their tails down and drop in submission.
Although, it has to be said, that very few dogs have ever grumbled at them and they are arrogant little blighters
____________ Sarah and Bran
Always watched over with love by our angel, Flora, from Rainbow Bridge
Bran Training
I love watching this as well Dog behavior. Max will always approach a dog tail slightly lowered then stand away then when the dog puts his head towards Max he moves in great to watch I have been lucky up to now in that Max is very respectful to older dogs but if he sees a puppy that's it he turns crazy but it is good watching the way they interact with each other.
Cheryl
____________
Max my shadow
Luther 1994-2008 I will see you at the bridge sweetie
One life Live it
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River went right up to him and the collie did not hesitate and gave River a deep woof right in his ear. The collie continued to stand close to River, almost, and I know this sounds silly, like he was whispering in River's ear. You could almost imagine him saying
and his bum hunched ever so slowly to the floor, until he was sitting. He continued to bow his head low and his eyes ever so slightly looked at the collie on a sideways glance, but no actual eye contact. He just looked like he was being properly told off by this collie. The collie then moved off slowly and River made no attempt to follow. 
, with the smaller dogs he may find one will give him a nip one day and that`ll make him think twice before he jumps around them again.
