This sequence of digital photos was taken in March 2007 during a first meeting between three dog players, Otis the Golden Doodle adult male, Tess, the female adult Vizsla AND my newest addition Boudicca! I could tell within a day or two watching her with other dogs she had no manners and potential bully!
In this next image, you can barely see Boudicca between Otis and Tess, she’s got a good hold on his ear!
In this picture you see her launching herself at Otis! Both Otis and Tess seem uncertain how to handle this little terriorist!
In this picture she’s grabbed his muzzle! He’s still unwilling to correct her rude adolescent behavior, she continues. Meanwhile, Otis and Tess figure out a strategy for dealing with this little adolescent bitch with no manners
Tess tries taking charge but Boudicca is really fast! Even dragging a control lead!
Otis and Tess finally have enough and try double teaming her!
If you can believe this, I missed a shot of a life time, but it might have been that damned delay in older digital cameras, what happened prior to this shot, was an amazing thing to see a dog do! Otis actually picked Boudicca up between both front legs and body slammed her like a TV wrestler! She looked shaken for a moment. Here you see her laying on the ground with both dogs looking over her.
In this picture, Tess is looking over Boudicca giving a complete submissive display, but note her open mouth, she actually looks relaxed, certainly not fearful!
In this picture Otis is getting a sniff. I’ve noticed after similar encounters other dogs will often want to sniff the anogenital area of the offending dog, I suspect they may detect scents or pheromones reinforcing submissive behavior and/or lower ranking position. This is something I’d like to know more about, but so far, the meaning is unknown.
Just before this shot, the three dogs took off for a run around the yard, then Otis and Tess took her down again in the far corner, she is not showing full submission, her mouth is open, doesn’t seem a submissive grin, but rather an almost playful grin!
In this photo, Tess appears to be trying to make her point with Otis’s help!
Boudicca appears offering an appeasement behavior to Tess. Otis looks uncertain, do you think she really means it!
Tess looks satisfied, but Otis still seems unsure. Boudicca appears to be displaying a submissive grin, but Otis wants to make his point by standing over her and getting in her face!
Boudicca is showing complete submission, and there’s that scenting, Tess looks on! I can’t get over how relaxed Boudicca appears, as if she’s just having fun terriorizing them at the same time as they find her adolescent behavior rude and need to put her in her place within the group!
Here both Tess and Otis continue to keep her down by standing over her. Boudicca continues appeasement behavior, but doesn’t seem at all fearful!
Otis appears satisfied, but maybe with a tad bit of reservation, perhaps! Look at Boudicca, her tongue is hangin out, she looks pretty defeated to me!
And they’re off! All three dogs take off for another run around the yard! Look at the head start Boudicca has over both adults!
In this shot, Otis attempts to bite Boudicca’s hind quarter. The drag lead probably prevented Boudicca from making a move, it appears tangled not just around her but Otis too. Maybe this is a good time to explain my use of a drag lead. Earlier I suggested Boudicca’s dog/dog communication and/or play to be rather bullyish! When I have dogs who might need my interceding, I often have the offending dog wear a drag lead, this enables me if necessary to intercede removing the dog either to time out and/or a snappy heeling session around the yard to de-arouse them.
This was the last frame for this first meeting between Otis and Tess and my new addition Boudicca. I think it went well, look at the result ending with a respectful game of tug between two dogs who now have respect for each other!Considering play is the greatest reward for good behavior, I think Boudicca figured out it was more fun when she was cooperative with adults. She learned a valuable lesson that day and though she can be a typical Jack Russell terrier, her social skills are very acceptable. She may have to correct a rude dog from time to time, but so far, her correction is within acceptable boundaries.I love dogs, they are fascinating to watch, there’s a lot we can learn from them, but that means we need to understand their normal behavior so we can recognize it from abnormal. This is usually where I suggest if you don’t know what you’re doing, if you have any question about your dogs behavior, find a qualified behavior specialist, many of us also specialize in helping you select the right puppy and/or shelter dog, puppy training, problem prevention, and basic adult dog training. This post represents the difference between what an expert might observe and interpret from a pet owner who doesn’t really understand dog behavior.There actually was a study “The prevention of undesirable behaviors in dogs: effectiveness of veterinary behaviorists’ advice given to puppy owners.” The results showed owners receiving early puppy training from a qualified behaviorist did far better than control group not receiving this first advice! So be careful who you choose, it may make a difference in how successful you and your new puppy, or shelter dog form an appropriate human-dog bond that cements the relationship not only pleasing you but protecting the welfare of your new dog.Responsible Dog & Cat
Training and Behavior Solutions
Combining Art and Science for Training Animals
Joyce D. Kesling, CDBC
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
941-966-1188
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
Copyright Responsible Dog & Cat 2009-2014