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Home Pets The Woof
Gang The
WOOF Gang: All fun and games at the doggie ballet, until someone gets
snarky

The
WOOF Gang: All fun and games at the doggie ballet, until someone gets snarky

Monday, 09 November 2009 05:23
Laura Garber

Our dogs relate differently to one another than
humans do --  so much sniffing and snorting and thrashing about.
There seem to be as many styles of dog play as there are dogs; no wonder we're
surprised when a fight erupts that we never saw coming.

I can share some basic principles that can
help you decode the doggie ballet and spot signals that a slam dance could be
coming.

Howdy
Do!

Trista's owner knows a few
tricks

Polite dog introductions are a
joy.  Polite dogs will arc toward one another, the more submissive averting
his glance in deference, and will do a cursory sniff around the head and neck,
followed by a more prolonged sniff of the rear and genitals.  Then things
will move on… Playful mates will commence with a play bow (front quarters lower
than hind quarters) or invite a brisk game of chase.  Quieter companions
will amble on after making the acquaintance.

My own dog, a German
shepherd, is the poster pup for yucky greeters… straight toward the other dog
with a steady gaze, stiff stance and with her ruff up, giving the dog a sniff of
proctologic precision. Depending on the other dog, she will cautiously put her
chin over the back of the other dog (or "tee") to see what she can get away
with.  Trista’s version of talkin’ trash!

The show of hackles, also
known as piloerection, is an indication of a heightened state of arousal.
It is not necessarily an indication of a dog about to act aggressively, though
the winds could certainly blow in that direction, depending on the dog.
But what it communicates to dogs in the vicinity is that she is in an aroused,
unstable state.

Not long afterwards will come the shake-off, when the dog
will shake her body as if shaking off water.  This communicates to the
group that she is now in a calmer, more stable state and is not as likely to be
rash or reactive.

Dogs At Play

The
purpose of play is to rehearse important natural behaviors: hunting, fighting,
fleeing, and sexual behavior.  So it’s not surprising that activities such
as biting and chasing are part of play.  And, though most dogs have been
neutered, it is perfectly natural that their play would include sexually derived
behaviors like mounting and humping.

Different breeds tend to practice
different play styles, and this should be a consideration when choosing a
playmate.  Standard poodles prefer games of chase accented by polite play
bows. They are completely put off by the rude body slamming, paw jabbing style
of boxers.

Another important characteristic of good play is role
reversal. The chaser becomes the chased; the biter becomes the bitten.  For
this reason, size disparity is undesirable.  How frustrating for a little
terrier to be consistently manhandled by its pit bull playmate, even if both
dogs like to wrestle!  Like a feather-weight sparring with a
super-heavyweight.

An equally serious concern inherent in size
disparities is that of predatory drift, in which a smaller dog (or cat) moves in
a prey-like way that triggers a sudden predatory response from a larger dog or a
group of dogs.  This is a recipe for potentially deadly
disaster.

Quarrels Happen

Short,
noisy quarrels are a natural occurrence in dog interactions and can be
instructive, given that the receiver understands and respects the message of the
sender.  Should the message be ignored, things can escalate.

My
clients have a rude adolescent male dobie mix who has proven to be too strong a
force for a great many dogs.  In a recent play session, this dog put his
forelegs on Trista’s back immediately upon meeting her.  In human terms,
this is a bit like playfully punching a stranger in the arm upon meeting him on
the street.

Four-year-old Trista snarked,growling and turning to bite and
chase him away – a perfectly appropriate "cut the crap" correction for a mature
female to give a young hoodlum. He got the message, taking off and not pushing
his luck. Eventually, they hit their stride, as he gamely allowed Trista the joy
out the chase, occasionally bouncing into her to incite her to play but never
again jumping up on her.
He'll need more time with other dogs who can correct
his behavior. Otherwise, he could someday run into a less tolerant dog and
things could escalate.

Take a Break

Aroused play,
when allowed to continue for too long, can spiral into a fight.  Dogs will
often take short breaks from play, giving themselves a chance for a bit of a
breather.  If they are not doing it voluntarily, you must step in and
impose a short break every two to three minutes.  Call your dog away or go
get him; then ask for a “sit” or “down” for 30 seconds before releasing him back
to play.

Points of Friction

Doorways
and narrow passages can heighten arousal and provoke friction.  If, when
entering a dog park, dogs have gathered at the entrance, wait for their owners
to call them away or for them to get bored and disperse.  It can be
intimidating for the arriving dog to be surrounded by a barrage of dogs.
Practice the same etiquette with your own dog.

Also keep on eye on dogs
around tennis balls or the water bowl.  Be wary of those who stiffen, show
their eye whites, or lift a lip when other dogs get too close to them with the
prized possession.

Parenting

Ultimately, you
must decide whether your dog is adjusted and having a good time. If not, you
need to step in.

Look for signals of stress, such as lip licking or
yawning, or for avoidant behavior like hiding behind you, or for escapist
behavior like jumping up or clawing at you.  These are calls for help and
shouldn't be ignored.  Your dog is trusting you as a guardian who will
intervene and make choices he or she alone can't make.

Sometimes the
energy of the dog becomes too tense, with several dogs snarking each
other.  Trista seems magnetically drawn to the eyes of these storms.
If such is the case, you should remove your dog.

If other owners are
allowing their dogs to play inappropriately without intervening, taking a
“they’ll work it out for themselves” attitude, remove your dog.  That is
precisely the kind of environment where play can escalate into something more
serious.

At the same time, you cannot allow your own dog to become a
bully. If repeated breaks and time-outs don't work, remove your dog.
Allowing him to practice such behavior is giving him the opportunity to perfect
an undesirable skill.

Matinee at the Doggie
Ballet

I can remain transfixed for hours watching the beauty of
loose, happy play – eyes bright, mouths lax and gaping, tongues lolling, tails
swinging happily.  Sometimes it’s graceful with its play bow invitations;
sometimes it’s athletic with its feints and jabs.  Whatever its flavor, the
most indicative characteristic of play is its wasteful use of energy.  A
playful dog will make loose, bouncy, exaggerated lateral movements, while a dog
with more serious intent will have an economy of motion.

So, go to your
local dog run, find yourself a front-row seat and enjoy the show!

Dog trainer Laura Garber of Hoboken regards training
as an exercise in building relationships rather than obedience. She believes
such an approach promises greater understanding and symbiosis within our family
packs. Laura works with private clients in Hudson County and beyond. For
information, go to myWoofGang.com or contact
her directly at

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leslie said:

Great
article -- info packed!
Congrats on new column!!

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November 12, 2009 | url
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