Comments on: Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:45:43 +0000

It depends on the size of the dog, and the breed on what they do when it is cold. I have one (a Australian Cattle Dog) that jumps and seems to rejoice in the snow, but also a Min Pin that HATES the cold and hides as much as she can. My cattle dog raises his head and looks like he is VERY interested in smells, the min pin searches the smells out. Both love the snow, and hate the cold.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:53:35 +0000

Hello, my words may sound childish, (because I am one, but I will not state my age, and yes I know I sound older than I really am) I am looking for the responces to Dogs in everyday life, here are some examples.

What do dogs do when they are cold?
What do they do when they smell something bad?
What do they do when they get hurt?

Simples questions like those would help me in sience. So please answer them! Thank you! Bye. =)

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:49:00 +0000

Huh. Perhaps a miscommunication on my part. I am, by nature, an out-going, gregarious creature and can be “hyper-friendly” and a bit over-the-top sometimes in my enthusiasm. At the same time, I require a generous amount of “down-time”. That being said, my intent was that I appreciate that facet of Duncan; that he is able to/comfortable in being in his own space. At the same time, I take it as a complement that Bodie and Diva like being in close-proximity. Whatever.

By: kbehan

kbehan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:26:33 +0000

This is getting somewhere. The crate is a place where Duncan is free to express his fear, meanwhile you are projecting some judgment about “can be by himself” as in a need to guard one’s personal space from intrusion and this overcompensation is the source of the fear he is expressing when over reacting to strangers and toward Bodie.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:40:56 +0000

I went back out with Duncan (3 years in November) sans the other 2 and did some push-of-war with him. Again, we ran around the yard with the tug toy and I had to encourage the tugging. He never did growl again, even though I would push and crowd him a little. When I let him “win”, he runs away with the toy. He does relinguish for a treat once and again for another squeeky toy. At that point I end the game, even though he still is very eager to get the toy again. Inside, he does seem to be defensive as he growls seriously at Diva when she approaches the crate he’s in. I do have to say regarding Duncan, that he’s very good at going to his crate (actually it’s Bodie’s crate; occassionaly Diva’s) on his own when he feels a little stressed. The other two prefer to be wherever I am and will lie down and wait until I move to another room. Duncan doesn’t follow me from room to room; unless of course there’s food involved! I like that he can be by himself.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:48:15 +0000

So I was just out in the backyard with them and I had a soft, squeeky toy on a rope. Bodie usually runs around with the ball until I kick it for him. I had played a little tug with Diva and then was playing with Duncan. At one point, he growled at Diva as she was trying to grab the tug toy. A slight flush/tingle of fear went through me and that effected a significant change in Duncan. Prior to that Duncan and I had been running back and forth (my back yard is fenced) as Duncan held the toy and he wasn’t showing any interest in tugging. After the “incident” his whole demeanor changed and he would back away from me and turn slightly to the side if I approached as he kept a (seemingly) wary eye on the other two dogs. And he slowed down in his movements and would pull hard and steady on the tug watching me intently. When I offered him a treat to get him to drop it, he kept a tight grip on the toy. I ended the game and came inside as now I am uncertain and quite shaken by the experience. I’ve never been afraid that Duncan might bite me but I was at that point. Now what do I do?

By: kbehan

kbehan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:16:48 +0000

Don’t worry about compensating for an earlier deficiency, in fact, that only builds on it. Duncan is computing energy perfectly, the point of the dog in our life is for us to learn how to read the input and the output.

By: kbehan

kbehan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Both those scenarios could be right because if there is energy on the table and we’re dealing with a young, active dog, and said dog doesn’t engage and participate in movement of energy, it is due to fear. The energy is being absorbed but the dog is internalizing and holding back. So what is the one thing about Duncan that is the most opposite to his episodes with Bodie?

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:09:16 +0000

Just a note regarding Duncan: I adopted him from an animal shelter when he was 4-months; he came in as a stray so I have no way of knowing whether his current behaviors are based on past experiences prior to my adopting him or if they are a result of my own ignorance/mishandling. At any rate, I don’t want to add any more to the pile and really want to get to that place with him where he is free to be his real doggie self. There are times when he feels very much like he’s still a puppy and I wonder if there is something ‘missing’ from his puppyhood that needs to be corrected or fulfilled.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:42:35 +0000

My brain is grinding away trying to digest this so that I can make practical application. Am I correct in thinking that it’s fear-based and so should look for situations wherein Duncan is afraid but shows no outward/physical behaviors, instead avoids by turning away or going in the opposited direction? Or could it be any situation that is energizing and yet he ignores or turns away?