There are many misconceptions around what it means to socialize your dog. Most often people believe that means introducing your dog to as many dogs as possible. But as that sounds logical, it is not what socializing is or should be. Dogs need to see the world, they don’t necessarily need to engage with every aspect of it. Socializing your dog is getting them use to loud noises, unusual surfaces (like bridge), people with different ethnicities, people with different abilities and disabilities, different kinds of animals, seeing other dogs, riding in the car, walking in a busy neighbourhood, basically, getting use to the busy world we live in. If you let your dog meet every dog that you come across, then they will expect that every time. You want your dog to be able to walk past another dog with no care in the world. Not all dogs are friendly, so it is important that you and your dog can walk past a dog without the need to engage with that dog. Choose a few dogs that your dog can have as ‘friends’ and arrange playdates with those dogs. But otherwise, on your outings with your dog(s) let them learn the world around them through observation.
If you have ever owned a German Shepherd you can account for their high intelligence and loyal nature, which is why they have been revered as the ultimate working dog. From home security, military patrol, police K9 duty, drug sniffing duty, bomb sniffing duty, search and rescue, air force security, and providing service to the physically challenged, the German Shepherd an amazingly versatile breed. But these ‘dog jobs’ are not what they were originally bred for. German Shepherds are in the herding group, and were originally bred to herd live stock. And because of their herding ability and intimidating presence, they got the title German Shepherd, instead of German Sheepdog. And their herding instinct is still very much a part of them, and are still used as herding dogs in both domestic and sport. In fact, if you watch them around young children their herding instinct are noticeable, and often try to corral children together. The GSD is highly affectionate with their family and good with children, making them one of the most popular breeds in the world. However, all breeds have behavioural issues, and here are four of the most common in GSDs
Aggression
Dominance
Digging
Hyperactivity
The German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent breeds, which is why behavioural issues such as digging and hyperactivity are common. If they are bored or have too much pent-up energy, digging and appearing hyperactive are outlets to deal those. Proper and continued training is necessary to keep a GSD intellectually engaged. Consistent and extensive exercise must be maintained in order to satisfy the breeds high stamina. And finally, proper socialization (see my other blog on proper socialization) is necessary to curb unwanted behaviours such as aggression and dominance with other dogs.
If you’ve ever known a Labrador well, you might have noticed they always seem to grab something to bring to you. That is because the Labrador Retriever was bred to be a devoted hunting dog and friendly companion. Their job wasn’t to ‘do’ the hunting, rather retrieve the game for the hunter, so they needed to be bred to be both retrievers and loyal companions. Because of their breed standard, they are typically hardworking, good-natured, and love affection. You might have noticed that most labs are incredibly friendly. This is a characteristic of the breed, and even the American Kennel Club describes that labs eyes “glimmer with kindliness.” Their loving nature and has made them one of the best family breeds, and in the top five most popular breeds in North America. However, here are four behavioural issues we often see with labs:
Excessive and destructive chewing
Hyperactivity
Excessive barking
Digging
Because they were bred as working dogs, labs need outlets to keep mentally and physically fit. These behavioural issues stem from them being bored. Proper training and regular exercise need to be paramount for any lab owner.
The American Pit Bull Terrier, often referred to as a pit bull, is a breed that originated from the Olde English bulldog in the United Kingdom. They were bred for the sport of bull-baiting, where they were required to attack a chained bull or bear. Because of the need to take down such a large animal, traits such as muscularity, strong jaws, and being compact and low to the ground were required in these dogs. In 1835, the British Parliament banned the baiting of bulls, but that did not stop people from using these dogs in other cruel sports. The attention was then focused on pitting rats, and other dogs, which required greater speed and agility than the Olde English bulldog attained. Therefore they were crossed with terriers, and the American Pit Bull Terrier was established. In the U.S., these dogs were seen as a working breed and became the U.S. military mascot during WWI. Their popularity grew, especially as family dogs, and they are considered an American icon.
Pit bull owners describe their dogs as playful, loving and loyal, and very attuned to their humans. They are full of affection and can be great family pets. However, because of their breeding, pit bulls are powerful and determined. They require proper and early socialization. Remember, this breed was designed to fight, so it takes a lot of training and exercise to suppress their instincts.
Behaviour issues we often see with pit bulls include:
Aggression
Excessive and destructive chewing
Jumping
Digging
Just like our other working breeds in this blog, pit bulls require a lot of attention, training, and exercise. If they do not receive this level of care, these behavioural issues will most likely arise.
The French Bulldog has become one of the world’s most popular small-dog breeds. They were originally created in England to be a miniature companion Bulldog, but after frequently accompanying English lacemakers to France, they acquired their French name. French Bulldogs are known for their adaptability – they are great for first-time dog owners and people who live in apartments. They are very friendly towards kids, strangers, and other dogs. They are easy to groom, easy to train, and very affectionate – it’s no wonder they are considered one of the most companionable breeds. However, because of their dependence on their human for love and affection, French Bulldogs have a few behaviour issues:
• Separation anxiety • Clingy behaviour • Barking and whining • Jumping up on people
Because they were bred as companion dogs, the French Bulldog needs to experience time away from their human at a young age. Start off with short trips, a few minutes at a time, and gradually increase. This will show the dog that although their human leaves, they always come back. Proper training and regular exercise are also important for any breed. Also, keep up with proper socialization!
Dog communicate mainly by body language, and it is our responsibility (as dog owners) to learn and watch for the subtle cues they are telling us. Here are some tips when reading dog body language.
Tail Wagging
A wagging tail is one of the first indicators we humans think the dog is happy, but we are often reading this wrong. A wagging tail means the dog is emotionally trigged. It could be excitement and joy, but could also be frustration or excitement towards dominance and aggression. In order to read the tail wag effectively, you’ll want to pay attention to the speed and position of the tail.
Raised Hackles
Just like tail wagging we assume a dog is happy, when we see raised hackles we think aggression, but again, we are wrong. Raised hackles is when the dogs fur stands up on its back, often given them a larger appearance. But all it means is that the dog is excited. That excitement could be positive or negative, and often it is an involuntary response.
Posture
A dogs posture and how they are distributing their weight says a lot about how they are feeling.
Children and Dogs
This is one of the most important post people with dogs and kids should read. We often think our children snuggling with our dogs, hugging them tightly, laying on them, etc. is cute and harmless. And more often we think our beloved dogs enjoy it as well. But they are often telling us, time after time, that they are not comfortable and want space. Here are the tips you need to look out for when children are around dogs.
Whale eye-ing. This is when they dog looks at the child sideways – head forward, eyes to the side. Dogs do this when they are uncomfortable in a situation.
Averting gaze. This is when the dog continually looks away, turning the head away from the person, and is another sign the dog is uncomfortable.
Bulging eyes. Bulging eyes is a sure sign of severe stress. If you see your dog’s eyes are bulging while being touched by a child, remove the child immediately.
Relocating. This is when the dog will relocate to another area in the room. Often, children will just follow the dog to their new spot and the dog will relocate again. This is another sign that the dog is uncomfortable and needs space.
Tongue Flicking. This is when the dog is constantly licking their nose or lips, or flicking his tongue out. It is a self-soothing behaviour, triggered during uncomfortable or stressful social situations.
Baring teeth. This is when a dog will show you their teeth. It not always accompanied with a growl. When a dog shows their teeth they are sending you a very clear message to back off. Often, when a dog bares their teeth they get scolded, but that is the wrong thing to do. Baring teeth is a warning sign, and if a dog is scolded for it, they believe they are in trouble for warning a person to back off. Next time they might not give the warning, and go straight for the bite. If you see a dog baring their teeth at someone, quickly remove the person from the situation and let the dog be.
Growling. This is usually accompanied if baring teeth didn’t send the message effectively. This too is not something you want to punish a dog for, as it is their way of giving a final warning. If baring teeth and growling doesn’t work, then biting is next.
Aurora petting Runa – notice how Runa is completely relaxed. This is an example of a safe child and dog interaction. Runa is not always this way, sometimes she wants her space and will relocate. When she does, I often tell Aurora that Runa wants to be left alone. It’s our job as both dog and kid parents to teach our children dog body language as well.
Ever wonder why a dog wags their tail? Ever wonder why a German Shepherd is in the herding group and not the working group? Ever wonder why a lab loves the water? I’m going to look into dog behaviour and body language, as well as four common dog breeds and discuss their breed history and specific breed traits.
