I Wanted to Share My STUPIDITY With You

January 20, 2012 12:15 by Donna

I came across this photo, which Nick took along with several others while he was photographing me for my new jacket post. If you are a dog trainer or experienced with dogs, you probably already see what caught my attention...

...but for those of you who don't, let's take a closer look.

(1) Ears flat back. (2) Tongue sticking out. (3) Whites of eyes showing. (4) Lips puckered forward.

That is one stressed out dog.

This happened so fast, it went unnoticed by me until I went through the photos - even though I was looking right at her. Here are the shots Nick took immediately before and after that one.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Notice how she pulled away from my hug and stared at the camera?

I'm unsure if it was my hug, the sound of the camera, or both that caused her reaction - but knowing that I'm having behavioral issues with her, I should've been more careful. Actually, even without her recent problems, I should NOT have put her in that situation - Leah has never been a huge fan of hugs or cameras.

So, I'm sharing with you my stupidity, in hopes of pointing out that even when we think we know a dog really well, yes, even if we love them, we can unintentionally put them in situations where they are NOT COMFORTABLE - and these are the ways people can get bit. So please be careful when you're doing stuff with your dogs and watch for subtle (and not so subtle) clues that they are uncomfortable.

Don't be stupid like me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Novel's Progress: Current wordcount: 72,201

fda2a960-fd96-4839-87d2-26b5045638d3|2|5.0

Dog Safety, Signs, Stupid Owners, Carelessness, Bites, Stress
Categories: Leah | This and That
Actions: E-mail | Permalink | Comments (13) | Comment RSS RSS comment feed

Comments (13) -

January 20. 2012 20:36

Just catching up. I LOVE the new jacket. But maybe it was the newness of the jacket that was stressing Leah out? I am sure it doesn't completely smell like you yet. Maybe you wear your jacket and hug her in the kitchen all of the time. Or maybe it was the out-of-placeness of the hug that made her uncomfortable? Just a couple of thoughts.

Good like with your other blog too.

2 brown dawgs

January 21. 2012 08:53

Hi! I wanted to let you know that I am sharing the Versatile Blogger Award with you. Details on my blog here:

2browndawgs.com/2012/01/21/an-award-to-share/

2 brown dawgs

January 21. 2012 09:03

Thank so much for the award 2 brown dawgs!!! Heading over to your blog to check it out....

That's a good point about Leah - it might have been the jacket too! But, still, I should've been more careful, or at least heard what she was saying.

Donna

January 21. 2012 16:48

gosh, i do stupid things like this more often than i should admit. i feel your pain. cute jacket!

lauren

January 21. 2012 23:34

Good post and an excellent reminder. It is easy sometimes to get wrapped up in what we are doing and not notice the little things. One of the best books I think every dog owner should read is "On Talking Terms with Dogs - Calming Signals" by Turid Rugass. It made a lot of dog body language much clearer for me.

Teri

January 22. 2012 08:51

Thanks Lauren!

Teri - I agree, it IS a great book that I often recommend to people too. (And just another reason why I should've known better)

Donna

January 23. 2012 10:16

I think I'm a bad dog trainer, Sampson comes to me with his ears back and wants me to pet him. Do you think he's stressed out and that's why he comes to me? He looks so cute with his ears back though...

Jodi

January 23. 2012 11:08

I've seen dogs put their ears back when they are happy and greeting too. But their tails are usually wagging and their expressions say it all. I think, with Leah, everything about that picture screams STRESS.

Donna

January 25. 2012 13:16

It's so hard. Please don't beat yourself up too much. All of these little signals, while they seem huge grouped together, can be quite hard to catch in the moment. Half the time I miss them too. The thing that is most important, I think, is that you noticed this at all. That's pretty huge right there. Now you know she gets stressed in similar scenarios and can pay more attention next time.

Even the professionals screw up from time to time. As long as we keep trying and learning, I think we are doing the best anyone can.

Kristine

January 25. 2012 14:39

Thanks Kristine - and most importantly, I certainly won't be sticking my face right in hers while someone has a camera out!

Donna

January 25. 2012 21:48

Really good point... even when we know our dogs, we can still unintentionally stress them out.

Pup Fan

February 1. 2012 05:05

To the untrained eye that's so subtle that I had to look at the photo's a couple of times to work out what you meant... to me the 'ears back, licking' photo was just 'cute'. Nice jacket too btw

Matt - Pet365

February 1. 2012 09:31

Matt - thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment. It was actually the "licking" that clued me in. Leah's not a kissy type dog, so when I saw her tongue sticking out I knew something was amiss.

Donna

Add comment

Name*
E-mail*
Website
b i u quote

Notify me when new comments are added

I Wanted to Share My STUPIDITY With You

Comments (13) -

Search

Categories

Blogroll

Tags

All Rights Reserved