|
|
DOG PSYCOLOGY |
|||
|
DOG BREEDS AND MONGRELS |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Dogs descended
from the wolf and even though we think of it as man's best friend, the dog
is still characterized by its past in the wild. The dog is by instinct a
flock animal and any flock must have a leader in order to survive. But in
many families, it is not clear for the dog, who the leader is. It gets
confused from not getting clear signals, and this can result in numerous
problems for both dog and family. If you want a harmonious relationship with your dog, you must be a leader for it and the leadership must be based on respect. Respect can not be demanded, it can only be earned. The dog will only accept your leadership if you earn it. Dogs communicate through signals. Some so weak that they can be hard to spot for us humans. But they are there. Dogs are masters in reading signals. And it is up to you if you want to be your dogs leader to observe the signs and act on them, no matter how weak they may be. Your dog has no other way to communicate to you. The following are signs of acceptance and subservience: Turning the head / eyes away Blinking Licking Yawning Giving space, going around Slow movement Play position (Front legs bent) Turning side or rear to Sitting / lying down Ears / tail lowered The following are signs of leadership and confrontation: Turning front on Enter in front of Gaze - looking direct Showing teeth Growling (a warning) Quick movements Ears / tail raised If a dog uses these signals often, and several of them at the same time, it indicates that the dog is uncertain. Barking, jumping up and down, showing teeth - all at once, means that the dog is out very distressed and is calling out for help. A watchdog barking insanely and jumping all over the place is not as dangerous as a silently watching one. Beware of that one. Note that many of the signals that are confrontational to the dog have the exact opposite meaning for humans. How do two humans greet each other? Face to face, smiling, direct eye contact, close physical contact. All these things are signs of great danger for a dog. If you want to get to know your dog, then look out for the signals and be sure to be a good leader for it. And remember, this is a lifelong process. The dog will constantly test your leadership. Again and again. Just like we humans choose new presidents once in a while, the dog will test your qualities as a leader, and if you are unfit, the dog will take over and put itself in the driver's seat. The dog will only accept you as a leader as long as you are worthy. And remember: dogs live in the present. They have no sense of time. Praise should come immediately, not a second too late. Wear no grudge with your dog, it doesn't know what that is. Start over if it does something wrong. Learn it's language, as it can not learn yours. You can read more about how to become a good leader for your dog under "dog training." |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
LINKS: |