Poor dogs - angry HF

[jamesp]

I am totally the leader in my house and it suits my rhodeisan ridgeback to let me be the boss, unless im out walking with her and she see's a man approach my direction...she goes nuts!!!! but she doesnt do the same if its a woman. When she goes nuts if i say to her its okay and im safe she calms down but keeps her beedy eyes on him, and constantly looks behind her to see where he is. She's my baby!

There are two possibilities here......

1)

When you see a man approach how do you feel?...I would expect in this day and age a woman would feel at least slightly apprehensive with a man approaching, if that is the case your dog is reacting to that as I guess you dont feel the same apprehension when a women is approaching and less of a threat to you.

2)

If your dog has had a negative experience with a man in the past it could be that your dog has a negative association with men, as I mentioned in a previous post dogs communicate by scent and energy and a man to a dog will have a different scent than a woman. There are ways to overcome a reaction to men if that is the case whether its aggression or fear.

Just to add to help you understand no 2, dogs communicate by nose first, then eyes then ears last, when a dog is born they cant see or hear, to them their mother is scent and energy, then they open their eyes, then lastly their ears, we communicate ears first, then eyes and hardly use our nose these days, the first thing we do is shout at a dog or talk to it when its doing a behaviour we dont want, in effect we are communicating to a dog back to front as calm assertive leadership and a glance can stop a bad behaviour far more effectively.

Dogs have 250 million receptors in their nose compared to our 5 million and they can smell down to levels of 2 parts per trillion, far lower than any scientific equipment we have can, in fact they have used dogs to sniff cancer in urine samples.

[Peter]

Dogs live in the moment, .......

In general yes, but they do remember things and have preferences, some learned, some inherent.

I wanted my long dead old fella to swim, but would he?
Our current dog won't swim, well she would if she fell in, but only straight to the nearest exit point.

Both GSP's, neither showed/shows the slightest sign of bother at being walked on Nov 5th, but neither fond of immersion.
The old fella liked to kill the garden sprinkler and had to be removed from its presence before he wore himself out chasing the drops down to the pipe...... so not scared of water as such.

[lynda66]

So now you think dogs say please?...thats humanising a dog, you may think you have a tiny human on 4 legs but I can assure you that you haven't.

I think I will leave it there as unless you realise you have an animal and not a 4 legged human its a waste of my time and you obviously know better than me.

i didn't mean she actually says the word, but she was trained to give her paw to say please, for a treat or whatever, then we adapted it to getting my attention,

i don't think she's human at all, she's far too hairy she is just well trained and obedient, but you seem to think that all that is because i think she's human, she has been a pat dog for 7 years, trust me they don't let neurotic dogs do that lol.

i like to enjoy my dog, i don't need to reinforce my authority, by changing things ....... ok you may think that some things sound neurotic .... but actually she's quirky ....... it's why shes very good at visiting with sick children especially, and getting her to do little tricks is good, it makes them smile, the reason she touches is because she was taught to do that to communicate with deaf children, which is why when you ask what do you want she lets you know.... the ability for a dog to communicate with a deaf child, is something that a lot of dogs couldn't do, she also understands some basic sign language......now you have heard why she does these things do you still think her behaviour is neurotic??? and i still think she's human, or that what she does and enjoys doing by visiting sick people and making them happy..... is wrong and not in her best interests??

just curious

[jamesp]

In general yes, but they do remember things and have preferences, some learned, some inherent.

I wanted my long dead old fella to swim, but would he?
Our current dog won't swim, well she would if she fell in, but only straight to the nearest exit point.

Both GSP's, neither showed/shows the slightest sign of bother at being walked on Nov 5th, but neither fond of immersion.
The old fella liked to kill the garden sprinkler and had to be removed from its presence before he wore himself out chasing the drops down to the pipe...... so not scared of water as such.

I didnt say they dont remember things, just that they dont obsess over the past or future naturally unless a humam stops them from moving on.

[jamesp]

i didn't mean she actually says the word, but she was trained to give her paw to say please, for a treat or whatever, then we adapted it to getting my attention,

i don't think she's human at all, she's far too hairy she is just well trained and obedient, but you seem to think that all that is because i think she's human, she has been a pat dog for 7 years, trust me they don't let neurotic dogs do that lol.

i like to enjoy my dog, i don't need to reinforce my authority, by changing things ....... ok you may think that some things sound neurotic .... but actually she's quirky ....... it's why shes very good at visiting with sick children especially, and getting her to do little tricks is good, it makes them smile, the reason she touches is because she was taught to do that to communicate with deaf children, which is why when you ask what do you want she lets you know.... the ability for a dog to communicate with a deaf child, is something that a lot of dogs couldn't do, she also understands some basic sign language......now you have heard why she does these things do you still think her behaviour is neurotic??? and i still think she's human, or that what she does and enjoys doing by visiting sick people and making them happy..... is wrong and not in her best interests?? just curious

It would have been helpful if you had mentioned that in the first place, but I guess that it shows how difficult it can be to communicate effectively on a forum.

I didnt mean she actually says please and in no way does she know what please means, they use a conditioning process to train a dog for deaf or blind people it has no meaning in the dog world and only happy go lucky types make the 'grade' and the other dogs are rejected. However, giving a dog a job be it for deaf / blind people or to visit the sick is very rewarding for a dog, its like a physiological challenge for them and they love it, just like us dogs seem to love having a purpose in life. When I help people with their dogs I view the following in order of importance when correcting or rehabilitating a dog, animal ,dog then breed, when I come across a dominant type dog to help with the behaviour giving them a job for what they were bred for can help the dog become even more balanced.

It is a proven fact that dogs lower peoples blood pressure and owning a dog gives you 8 times more chance to survive the first year after a heart attack, also in the usa they have found that patients heal a lot quicker with visits from dogs such as yours.

I apologise for any misunderstanding, your pooch is doing a great job, keep up the good work!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Many thanks to JamesP and Lynda - and other contributers. Although I am not a dog owner, I have learnt a great deal through your discussion here.

[lynda66]

sorry i was playing with you a bit (i needed cheering up...... and my dogs asleep lol) where would have been the fun in telling you at the beginning .... had you going though didn't it, i bet you were just dying to get round here and sort her problem owner out ... anyway i hope you can see the funny side now (imagine yourself getting all flustered with steam coming out your ears, whilst trying to tell the STUPID woman, how bad she is to her dog for making it wear a coat in the rain) (she does wear antlers and a red nose at christmas, and she has been dressed as an easter egg before (bet you're shuddering now huh??))

i would probably say shes one dog you really don't need to worry about, lol ..she may sound neurotic, but actually she's pretty well balanced for a rat ..... i'm far more neurotic than she is lol

Lynda xx

[di]

Many thanks to JamesP and Lynda - and other contributers. Although I am not a dog owner, I have learnt a great deal through your discussion here.

Here Here!!

[lynda66]

Many thanks to JamesP and Lynda - and other contributers. Although I am not a dog owner, I have learnt a great deal through your discussion here.

So you won't lock your dog in the car then or worry about it walking on tarmac or wanting its coat on?

ps sorry for hijacking the thread a bit

[Maf]

I've 'inhereted' a one eyed Pug (don't ask) that loves to sunbathe

Once he completely over did it (rather I forgot to call him in) and went all wobbly with heat stroke so we had to make him sit in a bath of cool water for 20 mins.

Ever seen a Pug sulk ? It's very funny

[Headfry]

Sharonr, Storm is just fantastic. perfect Could look at that pic all day long!
Thank you for posting them!
Off to find that link now!

[Headfry]

Sorry cant seem to get a link, but this is the title of the you tube clip!

"If you want a husky watch this first"

[sharonr]

Lovely looking dogs.

Just looking at the pics storm looks a dominant type by his posture and the fact going to higher ground gives more power in the animal world.

You`re right about that. She may be the younger of the two, but she`s definetly the dominant one of them.
I took that photo when a hot air balloon was overhead, she had been running around the garden with the teddy in her mouth and growling at the balloon at the same time. She was frightened of it!!!! and pooh was her protector. She lay on the upturned pond and dropped pooh on the floor so I put him inbetween her paws and took a photo.

[sharonr]

Sorry cant seem to get a link, but this is the title of the you tube clip!

"If you want a husky watch this first"

Have just watched the clip and I know what thats like. We can get a binbag full when Storm is malting. Spirits not to bad as she`s got short fur.
I`ve also watched other clips and I want another one!!! but I don`t think OH will let me.

[Headfry]

There was a film about a boy who made friends with a wolf, something to do with goldmines I think..... any idea of the title please?

Do you need to keep Huskies with other dogs?
Are they friendly?