Comments on: Lessons from a dog in body language http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:22:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kim http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471696 Kim Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:31:41 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471696 We were just making the Bitch jokes today, discussing this issue with friends. My girls are intact at the moment. Lex is 4, Fable is a few months shy of a year, and Juno is the new pup. Fable is so socialized she's a well-oiled machine. She knows just what to do in each situation, well beyond her years. I'm not really worried about her. Lex on the other hand can be a bit defensive with certain dogs. She keeps Fable in check, which is fine with both of them and not likely to change even with maturity. Fable just isn't the Lead Bitch type. Not a fan of responsibility that one... whereas Lex takes it all on her own shoulders if she doesn't have someone guiding her. The new pup is a bit of a Bossy Betty already, which worries me a bit - or at least enough to keep a pretty constant watch on the situation as things progress. I've always found that three dogs fare better than two as far as personality clashes go - there's always a third wheel to ease the tension (although this can go the other way if the third wheel enjoys pushing buttons...). Thanks for the comments everyone - you've at the very least given me something to think about as far as Lex's spay date. Nothing's been decided yet, but we were planning on having her done this summer. No real reason for doing it, aside from pyo avoidance and the three-snarky-bitches-in-heat concerns. Perhaps we'll ride it out for a while... We were just making the Bitch jokes today, discussing this issue with friends.

My girls are intact at the moment. Lex is 4, Fable is a few months shy of a year, and Juno is the new pup.

Fable is so socialized she’s a well-oiled machine. She knows just what to do in each situation, well beyond her years. I’m not really worried about her.

Lex on the other hand can be a bit defensive with certain dogs. She keeps Fable in check, which is fine with both of them and not likely to change even with maturity. Fable just isn’t the Lead Bitch type. Not a fan of responsibility that one… whereas Lex takes it all on her own shoulders if she doesn’t have someone guiding her.

The new pup is a bit of a Bossy Betty already, which worries me a bit - or at least enough to keep a pretty constant watch on the situation as things progress.

I’ve always found that three dogs fare better than two as far as personality clashes go - there’s always a third wheel to ease the tension (although this can go the other way if the third wheel enjoys pushing buttons…).

Thanks for the comments everyone - you’ve at the very least given me something to think about as far as Lex’s spay date. Nothing’s been decided yet, but we were planning on having her done this summer. No real reason for doing it, aside from pyo avoidance and the three-snarky-bitches-in-heat concerns. Perhaps we’ll ride it out for a while…

]]> By: Liz Palika http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471621 Liz Palika Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:03:02 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471621 For Eric: When we add a puppy to the household, we usually have a list of Star Trek character names ready. (I have a couple of trivia books to aid our memories!) Then we try to match the new puppy's personality with the name. Worf has been on our list for a long time and to be honest, I am very happy we haven't found a Worf yet! smile.... Sisko has been on our list; as has Tuvok, Scottie, Spock, Sarak, and a number of other favoites from the whole range of shows and movies. I know; it's sad but hey.... For Eric:

When we add a puppy to the household, we usually have a list of Star Trek character names ready. (I have a couple of trivia books to aid our memories!) Then we try to match the new puppy’s personality with the name. Worf has been on our list for a long time and to be honest, I am very happy we haven’t found a Worf yet! smile…. Sisko has been on our list; as has Tuvok, Scottie, Spock, Sarak, and a number of other favoites from the whole range of shows and movies.

I know; it’s sad but hey….

]]> By: Eric Goebelbecker http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471577 Eric Goebelbecker Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:35:05 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471577 Great story Liz. Dogs have such wonderful conflict resolution - and avoidance - mechanisms! So will the new puppy be Worf, or maybe Sisko? Great story Liz. Dogs have such wonderful conflict resolution - and avoidance - mechanisms!

So will the new puppy be Worf, or maybe Sisko?

]]> By: H. Houlahan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471569 H. Houlahan Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:20:50 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471569 I've definitely seen bitches get sharper after spaying. I've also seen bitches mellow out after spaying, when their sharpness was due to hormonal fluctuations. Damned if you do ... There are two things I <i>never want to hear</i> when I pick up the phone to talk to a potential client. One is true separation anxiety. (Much rarer than casual tantrums and destructiveness, but intractable when it's real.) The other is bitch fighting within the household. Worst of all is when people get littermate sisters and the two have started trying to kill one another, generally around age 2-3. I’ve definitely seen bitches get sharper after spaying.

I’ve also seen bitches mellow out after spaying, when their sharpness was due to hormonal fluctuations.

Damned if you do …

There are two things I never want to hear when I pick up the phone to talk to a potential client.

One is true separation anxiety. (Much rarer than casual tantrums and destructiveness, but intractable when it’s real.)

The other is bitch fighting within the household.

Worst of all is when people get littermate sisters and the two have started trying to kill one another, generally around age 2-3.

]]> By: Liz Palika http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471562 Liz Palika Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:24:22 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471562 I don't have any 'cites' - don't have time to do research at the moment - but with our two, one was spayed and one was intact. The aggressor was the intact female. There may be hormonal issues, breed tendency issues, relationship with the owner issues and more. And then some dogs/bitches just don't like each other for whatever reasons. I don’t have any ‘cites’ - don’t have time to do research at the moment - but with our two, one was spayed and one was intact. The aggressor was the intact female.

There may be hormonal issues, breed tendency issues, relationship with the owner issues and more. And then some dogs/bitches just don’t like each other for whatever reasons.

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471546 The OTHER Pat Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:52:09 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471546 I don't have a cite for this, but what I have been told is that for some bitches, the presence of estrogen tends to moderate their temperament. After spaying, the testosterone which they also have and which was previously "suppressed" (for lack of a better term) by the estrogen is no longer encumbered in that way and so tends to cause a sharper - i.e. "bitchier" temperament in the bitch. I believe it also becomes a factor in interbitch aggression. Anyone with cites handy feel free to jump in! I don’t have a cite for this, but what I have been told is that for some bitches, the presence of estrogen tends to moderate their temperament. After spaying, the testosterone which they also have and which was previously “suppressed” (for lack of a better term) by the estrogen is no longer encumbered in that way and so tends to cause a sharper - i.e. “bitchier” temperament in the bitch. I believe it also becomes a factor in interbitch aggression.

Anyone with cites handy feel free to jump in!

]]> By: Liz Palika http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471545 Liz Palika Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:44:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471545 Re: Kim about female (cough, cough ... canine) grudges. As I always say, there is a reason why we call bitches - bitches! smile.... Re: Kim about female (cough, cough … canine) grudges.

As I always say, there is a reason why we call bitches - bitches! smile….

]]> By: Kim http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471505 Kim Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:31:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471505 Thanks Liz! Just wondering what another owner's perspective is. Personally, I've always leaned towards males. In fact, the third pup (set to arrive soon) was supposed to be male. I had my heart set on a male, and then just fell head over heels for a female in the litter. Ah, well. That's kind of the same thing that happened when we added our second dog. We had just lost my male retriever, and wanted a companion for our other girl. Ended up falling for a female pup. The two females we have at the moment are wonderful. Biddable, sweet, affectionate, hard workers who are incredibly loyal to those they know and love. I still have quite the urge to add some testosterone to our house, and I do have a few concerns about an all girl pack, but who knows - this may swing my preference the other way. I have to agree with you about the female grudge issue however. A friend has a female ACD/GSD mix who my ACD/Rott mix just HATES. Well, she may be more the hate-ee than the hate-er. Regardless, whenever these two meet up, there's serious tension on a good day, full out assassination attempts on the worst day. *Just* when you think they're doing ok with one another, one will come flying, knocking down furniture and people in an effort to ambush the other. We've given up trying to get them to share space. It's too bad, because they have to share a dog park too, which means more scheduling. :O( Thanks Liz! Just wondering what another owner’s perspective is.

Personally, I’ve always leaned towards males. In fact, the third pup (set to arrive soon) was supposed to be male. I had my heart set on a male, and then just fell head over heels for a female in the litter. Ah, well.

That’s kind of the same thing that happened when we added our second dog. We had just lost my male retriever, and wanted a companion for our other girl. Ended up falling for a female pup.

The two females we have at the moment are wonderful. Biddable, sweet, affectionate, hard workers who are incredibly loyal to those they know and love. I still have quite the urge to add some testosterone to our house, and I do have a few concerns about an all girl pack, but who knows - this may swing my preference the other way.

I have to agree with you about the female grudge issue however. A friend has a female ACD/GSD mix who my ACD/Rott mix just HATES. Well, she may be more the hate-ee than the hate-er. Regardless, whenever these two meet up, there’s serious tension on a good day, full out assassination attempts on the worst day. *Just* when you think they’re doing ok with one another, one will come flying, knocking down furniture and people in an effort to ambush the other.

We’ve given up trying to get them to share space. It’s too bad, because they have to share a dog park too, which means more scheduling. :O(

]]> By: Melinda http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471499 Melinda Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:43:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471499 Another fascinating thing is watching dogs use their body language to try to "speak" to another species of animal. Opie throws very obvious and classic calming signals. When he first met neighbor's cows on the other side of our mutually shared fence, Opie would stand at the fence and throw little lip licks, BIG yawns, averted gaze, head down, etc. to try to tell Cow that he was no threat. Cow eventually got the message and they had daily meetings at the fenceline. Funniest thing in the world to see Opie lick the cow's "muzzle" and receive a fur rubbing slurp from the cow tongue in return. Another fascinating thing is watching dogs use their body language to try to “speak” to another species of animal. Opie throws very obvious and classic calming signals. When he first met neighbor’s cows on the other side of our mutually shared fence, Opie would stand at the fence and throw little lip licks, BIG yawns, averted gaze, head down, etc. to try to tell Cow that he was no threat. Cow eventually got the message and they had daily meetings at the fenceline. Funniest thing in the world to see Opie lick the cow’s “muzzle” and receive a fur rubbing slurp from the cow tongue in return.

]]> By: Ark Lady http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/08/05/lessons-from-a-dog-in-body-language/comment-page-1/#comment-471498 Ark Lady Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:06:55 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=8438#comment-471498 Funny, my first lesson for students is an assignment to watch the body language of their animals prior to their first training lesson. At the moment I give the intro class away to my online subscribers and hope to get a video version done before too much time passes by and it is always exciting when people come back to report how it has changed their lives (and those of their pets). I am always happy to learn new things--sometimes I sense something or subtly pick up on the communication--my favorites are always the species that are new to me. Funny, my first lesson for students is an assignment to watch the body language of their animals prior to their first training lesson.

At the moment I give the intro class away to my online subscribers and hope to get a video version done before too much time passes by and it is always exciting when people come back to report how it has changed their lives (and those of their pets).

I am always happy to learn new things—sometimes I sense something or subtly pick up on the communication—my favorites are always the species that are new to me.

]]>