Post by Baglady on Apr 3, 2013 15:26:51 GMT
We Say: Sometimes a dog will do something that, to us, is unexpected, or uncharacteristic. It can be very worrying.
Dogs Say: Sometimes a human will do something that, to us, is unexpected, or uncharacteristic. It can be very worrying.
We Say: He's a lovely friendly dog most of the time.
Dogs Say: He's a lovely friendly human most of the time.
We Say: He loves his toys, he does make us laugh!
Dogs Say: We love to play with all sorts of things, the humans like to see us play!
We Say: But one day last week he was naughty. He picked up one of my slippers and chewed it. I was cross and when I told him off and tried to take it from him, he growled at me. That's not normal, I'm really worried!
Dogs Say: But one day last week I was goofing around (as normal) and picked up something to play with (as normal) and the human suddenly changed for no reason at all! The human growled at me, and tried to steal my toy from me. That's not normal, I was really worried!
We Say: I don't understand why my dog behaves like this. I think he needs training.
Dogs Say: I don't understand why my human behaves like this. I think he needs training.
It's totally normal for a dog to react to unfamiliar behaviours in humans.
If you try to take something away from a very young child (because it is dangerous, fragile) it can be absolutely normal for the child to get upset - especially if there are heightened tensions around. A child doesn't understand the difference between a Mr Man and a Meissen, one minute you are showering them with interesting shiny things to play with, to taste, to pull apart, and you are smiling and laughing with them, to the child that's all 'normal'. Then suddenly they have just another interesting shiny thing in their hands, and everything becomes abnormal, people aren't laughing or smiling, they are agitaged, cross even, and try to grab it from you - very confusing for a child. It can be the same for dogs.
One method which works with children and with dogs is 'exchange'. It works with adults too! You have something you consider of fairly high value, someone wants to take it from you. What do you do? Give it up? Just because they demand it? Because they are bigger than you? Because they are shouting and threatening you? Well, you might if you are afraid of them, but that's not really where we want to go with this. But if they offer you something of even higher value than the thing you are holding, nine times out of ten it's a done deal.
To work out what's normal, try putting yourself in the dog's position. See it from their point of view. Almost always, you'll get a better understanding of your dog. And you'll help your dog to get a better understanding of you!
Dogs Say: Sometimes a human will do something that, to us, is unexpected, or uncharacteristic. It can be very worrying.
We Say: He's a lovely friendly dog most of the time.
Dogs Say: He's a lovely friendly human most of the time.
We Say: He loves his toys, he does make us laugh!
Dogs Say: We love to play with all sorts of things, the humans like to see us play!
We Say: But one day last week he was naughty. He picked up one of my slippers and chewed it. I was cross and when I told him off and tried to take it from him, he growled at me. That's not normal, I'm really worried!
Dogs Say: But one day last week I was goofing around (as normal) and picked up something to play with (as normal) and the human suddenly changed for no reason at all! The human growled at me, and tried to steal my toy from me. That's not normal, I was really worried!
We Say: I don't understand why my dog behaves like this. I think he needs training.
Dogs Say: I don't understand why my human behaves like this. I think he needs training.
It's totally normal for a dog to react to unfamiliar behaviours in humans.
If you try to take something away from a very young child (because it is dangerous, fragile) it can be absolutely normal for the child to get upset - especially if there are heightened tensions around. A child doesn't understand the difference between a Mr Man and a Meissen, one minute you are showering them with interesting shiny things to play with, to taste, to pull apart, and you are smiling and laughing with them, to the child that's all 'normal'. Then suddenly they have just another interesting shiny thing in their hands, and everything becomes abnormal, people aren't laughing or smiling, they are agitaged, cross even, and try to grab it from you - very confusing for a child. It can be the same for dogs.
One method which works with children and with dogs is 'exchange'. It works with adults too! You have something you consider of fairly high value, someone wants to take it from you. What do you do? Give it up? Just because they demand it? Because they are bigger than you? Because they are shouting and threatening you? Well, you might if you are afraid of them, but that's not really where we want to go with this. But if they offer you something of even higher value than the thing you are holding, nine times out of ten it's a done deal.
To work out what's normal, try putting yourself in the dog's position. See it from their point of view. Almost always, you'll get a better understanding of your dog. And you'll help your dog to get a better understanding of you!