Nancy Freedman-Smith, dog trainer and owner of Gooddogz Training, provides a place for dog owners to find positive training tips, canine-activities and places to visit along with the latest information on keeping your dog healthy and active. Nancy lives with her three young kids, Charlee and Finney the dogs, Yellow the parakeet and Tater-Tot the Hamster. Staying current, keeping fresh, and always learning new things is a must for Nancy and her profession because one thing that animals surely teach you is "the more you know, the more you know you don't know."
Pop-quiz- Can you read the body langage of these three dogs?
Dog people and trainer types like myself LOVE to watch dogs play and interact, and try to interpret what they are saying to each other with their canine body language. This weekend I am getting a large dose of this in the privacy of my own home after I finally finished fencing the front part of my yard. It is only a temporary solution and needs much fortifying, but it will suffice for times when I am out there with them.
The fence came not a moment to soon, as I am watching my friends two Collies for the weekend while they attend the Fly-In at Moosehead Lake.
All four dogs have been running and playing pretty much non stop, and I captured this shot of my dog Charlee on the left, and new pup Finney on the right, and in the middle is Emmett, Finn's littermate. Both the collies are just about 7 months old and Charlee turned 7 years old this summer.
Can you read what all three are saying?
I look forward to reading your comments in the comment section.
Comments
[CHARLEE]: "Ugh...now I've got TWO young hellions to keep in line. Just remember boys, I STILL call the shots around here."
[FINN): - To Emmett - "She can be cranky...just show her you know she's top dog and then we can tear up the place!"
and - To Charlee - "I'm still Number 2, right???"
[EMMETT]: "Boys just wanna have fun!"
Posted by DonnaSeptember 9, 2006 07:02 PM
Charlee: I'm boss. I am not planning to tangle with you, but just remember your place.
Finney: I'd like to play, but I think I'll wait a bit and check out the situation, first.
Emmett: OK. Calm down. I'm not planning to start anything here.
September 10, 2006 01:32 AM
Charlee is definately saying I'm the boss, her head is over the shoulder of Emmett and her tail is high, but waving slightly and the ears are back a bit so she is saying I'm the boss but I like you as long as you know I am boss.
Emmett cautious, tail low, but I can't see it, definately saying I'm cool, no threat.
Finney just wants the games to start, relaxed, mouth open, ears back, slightly back on his haunches.
Isn't it fun watching dogs interact.
Gina.(glad you got another dog)
September 10, 2006 08:15 AM
Charlee's clear in her friendly number one stance, and the boys seem to both understand her position well. Can you please comment on how I teach my smart young border collie to read that language?? He was kept away from all other dogs til 11 months old, then I rescued and started introducing him, but he spent about four months just barking and leaping hysterically at the sight of any (the two vet trips for shots were fun exercise for me). Then he started wagging and shhhhing as I learned ways to calm him, and now, almost two years later we have had wonderful play encounters with about 60% of the dogs who let him come meet and greet. But he still always gets big adn growly, sometimes barks menacingly, as Nancy saw at a big clinic, too many at once. Whether they walk away or stand challengingly waiting for him (always on leash or run), he seems to get mad at both them and himself for not immediately doing the rough play leaps he has learned to love, with the few big calm players who tell him its ok. While searching for a companion 2nd dog (as soon as we move to Montreal Canada next month I'll renew the search!) we have got to get mellower at meet and greets, he scares many potential friends away and still worries me that he'll trigger a fight response and maybe hurt a smaller dog. Teaching doggie manners and greetings??? Woof (thanks)! Thia
Posted by ThiaSeptember 19, 2006 06:48 PM
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