Please help me decipher my dog.
She yawns, shows whites of eyes, lick lips, licks herself, looks away and also pins her ears back, ALL THE TIME.
This can be when she has placed herself on my lap and nudged for a stroke, when tickling her favourite spot. Although I'm now wondering if she doesn't actually like this. Conversely, she clearly shows she doesn't like having her ears touched as she pulls away but stays still for the 'favourite spot' tickle.
She doesn't appear to give off the right signs to other dogs nor can she read signs from other dogs. She'll chase a dog that doesn't want to be chased, even ones who snap at her, she goes back for more. She often gets hassled by dogs who I know she doesn't want attention from, she'll shout them and then go after them for more if they're distracted.
She displays completely normal dog behaviours towards us upon returning home, massive fuss, wagging tail etc, but it has an 'oddness' to it, almost like she's going to explode with excitement.
She can be very skitty as well, tearing around the house. She acts like a very naughty puppy, really.
She is a 3 yr old miniature schnauzer. She is the oddest dog I've ever known. She's funny, very loveable and sweet too.
I'm particularly concerned after the recent, sad thread about a family dog. I've looked at the dog signal guides and I can honestly say there's no consistency with these and her, does she break the mould and can some dogs not follow the rules of signals?
She has snapped at me, once when sleeping and I moved her in the dark and the other when she was in a dark cupboard and I grabbed her, I have learned from my actions and realise it was a 'normal' dog response to be grabbed and shocked, so will not do again and have had a very firm chat with the kids about this (several times) I've also realised she doesn't like the top of her hind legs handled, so we never do this.
I have 'trained' (and still training!) the kids to never pester her, take anything from her or touch her food bowl but, luckily, she's never ever reacted adversely to anyone doing this.
Any advice would be gratefully received