My dog is very dominant

[TheCunnyFunt]

Apparently.

My dog (neutered Greyhound) greets other dogs with his tail straight up in the air and his head and ears up. If he wants to sniff another dog he bends his head down but still trying to keep it up at the same time, so he ends up with an arched neck :o (he has a long neck)

I took him to a very small dog show on Saturday put on by the local Girl Guides pack, the Greyhound charity we got him from were there too with a couple of kennel dogs and my boy greeted them as described above ^^. Someone commented that he was very dominant to which a few other people agreed that he was.

I didn't say anything as I wasn't sure about dog - dog dominance, even though I know dog - human dominance is a load of crap.

He can get quite shirty with select other dogs, he intensly dislikes un-neautered males, goes bonkers (barking and growling plus doing the 'fish-on-a-line' routine) whenever we see them out and about. As a safety measure he always wears a muzzle whenever he leaves the house through the front door. Is he dominant or does he just have issues? Why does he greet other dogs in this way?

[RedwingWinter]

Is he sniffing the nose or the rear end? Because if it's the nose, the answer is obvious - he's a cat!

[TheCunnyFunt]

He sniffs the nose at first, and then if he deems the other dog ok, he'll move on to its bum. If he doesn't deem the other dog as ok he'll growl and snap at it.

[mistlethrush]

My dog has an attitude like that when she's decided that the other dog looks friendly and she wants to say hello - she holds her head very tall and isn't wagging her tail but its stiff - but she's not at all dominant (although she has recently been telling 'dogs' that she wants none of the funny business before playing with them).

In terms of the 'fish on the line' act, I have seen others recommend getting the dog's attention on you with a particularly tasty treat and working on that - you might also find some socialisation classes or assistance helpful. There are some people that are sight-hound specialists on this, so if you say whether you're north or south, someone might be able to suggest something.

[Lilcamper]

It isn't dominance, it is actually insecurity, he is actually saying 'look at my man stance, don't mess with me' but is really thinking 'I better pretend to be hard so this dog doesn't start on me'

[mistlethrush]

Lil - mine starts low - gets an idea whether the dog looks OK, then stands up and looks tall and interested... She is insecure - but I don't think she's making herself 'look' big, I think that its just the change from the 'low, uncertain' stance.

[Scuttlebutter]

Agree 100% with Lilcamper. Sounds exactly like his brother!

Agree that regular training classes (if any near you?)/socialisation will help him, especially with other greys, and hopefully not around too many entire males.

Worth doing some click and treat when he meets other dogs.

Sadly, there are still quite a few people I've met in greyhound rescue circles who still talk about dominance and have quite old fashioned ideas about training and socialisation. There's a really good book called Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas who goes into dog body language in a lot of detail.

[TheCunnyFunt]

So just to clarify, dog-dog dominance is rubbish too?

I am trying with the treating thing but it's a very juggly process because, as well as the dog lead, I also have the pushchair/toddler on reins (that's fun!). So instead of just being able to get his attention and then treat him I have to put the brakes on the buggy, rummage for a treat and then try and slot it through his muzzle (he hasn't mastered this yet, not like his brother!). It's even more fun when DD is on the reins instead of the pushchair!

[Lilcamper]

Yes dog-dog dominance is rubbish too

[mistlethrush]

Cunny: Treat pouch, so its handy, emergency brake 'lead' for the buggy, just in case you miss the brakes, it can't go without you. Cheese pushes through easily and if it ends up smeared on the muzzle it gives a bit more lengthy enjoyment...

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Agree with everyone else. This is insecurity/fear, not dominance.

My dog does the same when he's feeling threatened he goes all loud and barky and snarly.

Dog-dog dominance is crap but just like with people, there are such things as 'dominant' dogs, there are just no packs or hierarchies. Dominant dogs don't attack other dogs. They don't need to. They don't show aggression. They just command respect. It's weird. My Dad has a dominant dog. He never growls or snarls at the other dogs, but if he wants the others to get off the sofa, they get off, all he has to do is look at them. It works on my unruly terrier too. I want to steal that dog and bring him home to sort my lot out Very few dogs are truly dominant.

Think about it, people who are truly 'hard' do they swagger about with their pants hanging round their arse, swearing at all and sundry? No, they don't need to because they have nothing prove, they have a quiet and controlled confidence. Dogs are the same. Your dog and mine are akin to teenage hoodies, all trousers and no action

Squeezy cheese in a tube is great for putting through muzzles.

[TheCunnyFunt]

at the thought that my dog is a teenage hooligan :o I suppose that does describe him very well actually. He tried his 'ard man act on a Staffy last summer and ended up with 11 stitches in his foreleg and a £180 bill for me for his trouble

How on earth did I not think of squeezy treats? I've even bought squeezy liver paste for a friends toothless dog before so it's not like I don't know about it!

[TheCunnyFunt]

Thank you everyone :) I can always rely on The Doghouse to talk sense!

[Scuttlebutter]

Yes, said toothless dog is one of those - she's tiny, scrawny, grey, has a bashed nose and only four teeth yet the others defer to her without any hesitation.

She recommends the liver squeeze treat, but your dog's brother is a big fan of squeezy cheese. Although he's just eaten a vegetable samosa and ignored a dish of minced beef and tripe !

[Lilcamper]

Was also going to say truly dominant animals don't need to prove it, they just are

[RedwingWinter]

Cunny, sorry if my reply wasn't helpful, it just reminded me of the way my cats greet each other. I see you've got some great advice from everyone else. Remember also that you don't have to let your dog greet all dogs - if you're reading the body language of an approaching dog and don't like the look of it, you can always avoid.

One of mine is always very calm whatever is coming towards him, but the other has rather stiff body language with some dogs and I try to only let him meet the calm dogs.

There are lots of people out there who seem to see 'dominance' in everything, but they aren't really looking closely enough. If they paid more attention, instead of just sticking a handy label on the behaviour, they'd learn a lot more.

[TheCunnyFunt]

And this is the hoover/dustbin hound? He ignored a stinky, meaty meal in favour of vegetables??

[TheCunnyFunt]

Not at all Red, in fact, it made me think of how he actually sniffs them. So I wrote it down in case it was relevant :o

[RedwingWinter]

Thanks Cunny. And it was useful info :)

[Scuttlebutter]

I know, Cunny, really strange. He's definitely feeling OK, as when I gave him his AB tablet earlier, wrapped in butter and ham, (not spoilt at all, no) he practically ate my hand. Just for some reason samosas are his thing - weird!

[topbannana]

I had a very dominant Rottweiler bitch. She simply wandered upto other dogs and gave them the bent eye. As you say she had absolutely nothing to prove as she was a supremely confident and self assured dog so never got into fights :)

[mistlethrush]

My first dog walker had an alsatian who kept all her current 'group' in line and would tell them to get back into line if their behaviour was not good enough .

I also know that there are a few trainers who have dogs that do some of their training for them - show the dogs how to behave.

[Soupa]

I had a dominant dog and she ruled with no fuss, one look was all it took. She rocked! People used to POP round with their unruly hounds for a lesson in manners.

[Pandemoniaa]

Senior Terrier's grandmother was quite awesomely in charge. As a younger dog he'd just performed a spectacular escape while we had builders working on the house. By complete coincidence, the farmer friend who owned his grandmother turned up at the same time. Grandmother was despatched from the back of the pick-up, chased purposefully after the Escaping One, rooted him out from under the oak tree down the lane and herded him back home with an expression that meant business! I wished I'd filmed it, tbh!

[TheCunnyFunt]

Brilliant! :o