Top dog

[Jordan]

On the way back from our walk today we met our friends, the two young collies Jyp and Mia and Lady the elderly springer. We havent met them for months so Domino was well pleased. They were playing in the field near where we live and had two other dogs with them. Sky a young red Labrador bitch and Bailey a very large Choc Labrador. So we waited at the fence till everyone had said hello and then we joined them for a play. They all had a great time chasing the ball apart from bailey all he wanted to do was eat every stick in the field!!!. Everyone seemed to slot into there own place Mia kept back field and waited for the ball to come to her, Sky and Domino both raced for the ball along with Jyp who liked to pinch the ball from whoever got it and take it back for another throw. He was the boss of the ball and everyone complied. After a while Bailey decided to get all frisky and took a shine to Domino trying to mount him it all seemed in good fun and Domino didnt seem too bothered and only once gave him a warning growl and that was fine, Bailey took the hint and play resumed.

It made me wonder though what to do if things had become a bit heated and out of control? What if both dogs are not for giving up on pole position.

We sometimes meet another Spaniel, i think a cocker spaniel. He is friendly but likes to try for top dog position as soon as they meet, head over Dominos neck or a paw on the neck, so I usually keep to the 3 elephant rule and call domino away at that point. They've never played together yet but i think they they would be fine. Dominos happy to play ball with anyone.

[Adrianne]

Feb 24, 2014 21:54:05 GMT Jordan said:

It made me wonder though what to do if things had become a bit heated and out of control? What if both dogs are not for giving up on pole position.

You take away the source of the anxiety ...in this case the ball, regardless of whether it is resource guarding, possession aggression, whatever...no ball...no problem..nothing to argue over.

as for the humping..more often than not a less experienced /less well socialised /less confident dog often uses humping to calm itself down when it is over excited..endorphins are released when a dog humps which naturally calm and make a dog feel settled and content.
They will pick on a confident but calm dog that is highly likely to have no reaction, so no threat to them.. in this situation the behaviour usually happens towards the end of play when the inexperienced dog may have had a lot of new experiences - verging on sensory overload  (where glucose is released-and the dog needs to burn it off)

Some humping will also be bullying or play behaviour.

[Kimmikins]

I've always found in the dog park situation that things seem to sort themselves out amongst them...and if they don't, then it's not the right day for us to be there. Even if one dog is being dominant (or trying to be), they'll either settle down once the other's have gone along with it (or if they get ignored for being a jerk) or it'll turn out to be a case of a clash of personalities - in which case I'm normally the one to leave because I'd rather go for a nice long walkies than have to micro-manage my dogs.

I'll happily give it 5mins, but if I'm not having fun then we go walkies instead.

[Jordan]

Thanks for the advice Adrianne will keep that in mind.

I think Baileys humping might have been play behaviour....rather than bullying, his way of joining in the fun as he was not keen on running for the ball...........hes quite a bit overweight. He is a rescue as is Sky and I think the way he was demoloshing every stick he could find gave me the impression he was over excited with having 5 other dogs to play with and being out and about off lead etc. Can this type of excitment make him feel frisky too?

[Adrianne]

aye.. destroying things can be a sign of anxiety, the behaviour is usually down to over 'arousal' and excitement, for example I could go in to train a dog that has limited training skills and knowledge..in the dogs frustration at not understanding the commands until they are explained and understood, along with the excitement of having attention and treats etc. the dog will try and calm itself by humping my leg or arm to death..the dog may not then behave in this manner again with its owners or their friends even when doing training..but I go back and the dog remembers how he felt and needs to calm down again. (at which point he is removed from the room to calm down by himself ..like I told my husband years ago - 'the first one is for free!'
Some confident calm dogs may use it to try and calm an exciteable dogs down too... I will put a post on humping behaviour into the training and behaviour pages.

[Jordan]

Thats interesting, i had forgotten Bailey had tried to hump Cath before he took a shine to Domino.

[kristina]

OK Adrianne you have worried  me here big time as on our road walks all Xena does is pick up bits of sticks or anything for that matter and just tries to eat them or it whatever it might be,I tell her to drop she does gets a treat within sometime seconds she will pick up some thing else and so we go on in the meantime I am trying to keep her from pulling me,it's become a vicious circle and I know it's my fault here---HELP-- I don't want her to be anxious or unhappy.Kristina

[Adrianne]

I don't think you have a problem with Xena ... she most certainly isn't anxious, or unhappy - she is simply exploring her world and playing with natures own toys! destruction would be a noticeable sign of anxiety when there are other signs alongside it..
nothing is 'your fault'
Xena is a bright, happy, inquisitive and curious pup,.. she will be full of nonsense one day and serious another, she will be good as gold when you least expect it and painfully embarrassing when you want it! and the best thing is ..she feels safe to be all of these things.
I have a lot of clients that feel responsible for the behaviours of their dogs..sometimes they are...other times, and a good 40%, behaviour can be traced straight back to the dogs mother,..genetics...and who would want to change any dogs personality? (so long as it is a safe and normal one)

[kristina]

Have to say Xena has been more than full of nonsence today a complete nightmare road walk this morning was like being pulled by a tractor and no way with treats(and they are really scrummie types) would she even comprehend that I was even at the end of her lead,feel she was well miffed because she did not go to the woods which she loves of course as she can run free,but I have to keep going with the road walking or she  never will.1 little pup no bigger than a Springer spaniel has me beat I confess,so good in other ways and so loving too.I am exhausted tonight and wonder what I am doing wrong here???Kristina

[Adrianne]

Practice takes time, Cupar is only two, it took him over a year to walk as I like and even longer to be able to drop the lead and do sit-stays in the park or in the street etc...I didn't practice every day because I would do a training walk with him on his own but walk him with his mum as a leisure / fun walk,
Xena is doing great and so are you, Each walk will be different according to her excitement, arousal, stress levels..make sure you work on her impulse control / self control ..that can be done indoors and in the garden, start every walk in a calm manner, if she gets excited too much when the lead comes out..put it away again..ask for a sit, and re-introduce the lead..don't put it on her until she is calm and sitting...same with the door..it doesn't open until she is sitting etc...nothing happens until she is calm
She will manage all this and then probably pull like crazy once she is outside..again nothing happens until she can sit
tip - practice this when it is not important that she gets a scheduled walk, that way you wont worry that it is getting you nowhere fast..and also you can carry out taking the lead off and putting it away if she really blows it.

be sure to let her know when she does what you like too.

[Kimmikins]

Can't agree with Adrianne's post more!

Some days, Sara would have a walk that took over half an hour...but we'd only make it around the block - a walk that would normally take 5 minutes if that! These were the days before she'd learnt that a Sit got her everywhere.

On Adrianne's advice, she now has to sit for anything. In the morning, she has to Sit to get her Dentastick, and again before she gets her breakfast. If people come to the door, she has to go to the lounge and sit/stay before we'll open the door. Collar goes on after she's sat, lead the same etc etc...she sits a lot bless her! But it works, it really does. Yesterday, a neighbour (one she adores, so imagine how much she wanted to see them!) came to the door to drop of something. I put her in a Sit/Stay and answered the door. We chatted for a few minutes, and Tim came downstairs to chat too - then we looked at her and she was still sat there patiently waiting for the ok to come say hi! We were floored, it was the best behaved and most restrained she'd ever been, so was rewarded by our neighbour coming in just to see her and give her a cuddle.