ALL DOGS TORONTO
  • Home
  • Training Services
  • Puppy Basics
  • The Teenager Program
  • The Aggressive Dog Program
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Map & Customer Reviews
  • Photo Gallery
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Camille's Dog Wellness Supplies

Spotlight on dog behavior: Dogs greeting dogs

5/10/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
For those of us that want to ensure our dogs are well socialized throughout the puppy years and into adulthood, knowing how dogs politely greet one another is important information. It helps us keep our dogs safe, secure, and happy when faced with the unknown. So how do we know when our dogs are greeting one another in a healthy way? 

In this blog, I'm going to go over some various dog-to-dog greetings, what they look like, and what is behind the physical information our dogs are giving us when engaging in good greeting behavior.  

Picture
Take a look at the two dogs in the center of the attached picture. The ears are drawn back and relaxed. The lips are long in the muzzle of both dogs. And the eyes are partially closed (squinting). Their tails are waving gently to and fro, and not held straight up in the air or down between their back legs - they're at a sort of half-way position. You'll notice (and this is important) that the dogs are not directly in front of one another. Instead, they are slightly off-side to ensure there is no misinterpretation of this particular greeting between them. The paw lift on the dog to the right is also indicative of a friendly hello! 

Picture
This sideways greeting is both polite and friendly. Everything here is as it should be. The dogs are not in a face-to-face  or head-on position. The eyes are narrow, and they are not staring one another down. The tails (though quite short) appear relaed. Ears are low and relaxed, as are the jaws on both dogs. There is no tension in body, face, or movement. This wonderful body language indicates that neither dog is threatened by the other and represents a healthy, happy same-species greeting. 

Picture
The picture to the left is something a little different. Notice the rounded back on the smaller dog, and the face-to-face greeting between them both. The smaller dog has tail tucked between the legs, indicating insecurity about the larger dog  whose posture is much more direct.  Chances are this scenario won't result in any reactivity from the smaller dog, but it is quite obviously not comfortable  with the situation. Also notice the position of the leash on the small dog, up and over its head. The dog has no room to move, or anywhere to go. This lack of autonomy can also be part and partial to the discomfort the small dog feels. 

There's no getting around it. Having a solid understanding of the body language our dogs use to communicate with one another and with us is a critical aspect of being a good dog owner. Ensuring our dogs not be overwhelmed by the social situations they find themselves in, and not forcing them to engage in activities they are clearly uncomfortable with, are important to the development of a well-rounded, secure animal. Watch your dog, listen to the cues he is giving you. You may find that your dog tells you more than you ever realized, while never saying a single word. 

2 Comments

spotlight on dog behavior: stalking

5/4/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
A dog in a stalking posture is an amazing thing to watch. Indicating a dog in predator-mode (and yes, all dogs are predators in some sense), what each dog does after the stalk is unique and individual. Stalking has a few physical and behavioral components that I'm going to outline below, so you know when to recognize stalking in your dog. Keep in mind, stalking can be used for hunting and for play. 

Once your dog has chosen his target, you may see one or all of the following: 

The Point. Your dog becomes perfectly still and focuses his eyes on the target. The head is up, the tail is up, and often a paw is lifted as well. Pointing will usually happen at the outset of a stalk, and some dogs don't point at all. This is an upright position. Look for prolonged stillness here before your dog goes into motion. This is usually the first indication of stalking behavior about to begin.

Picture
The Approach-Stalk. The pace is slow, deliberate, and measured. Every step is carefully calculated and gingerly alighted upon. The body is held close to the ground, and the head is low and level with the body. For some dogs who are particularly dramatic about it, it will appear as if they are crawling along the earth. 

Picture
The Motionless Stalk. The dog freezes in place. The head and tail are down, and the ears are up and rotated forward. The body is often low to the ground, even so far as the belly is brushing along the earth. 

Once in stalking mode, your dog is likely to move through these three positions until he is close enough to take a charge at the object of his focus. Key here is to keep an eye on your dog's mouth when engaged in stalking behavior. Is it open or closed? In a "soft stalk", the mouth is usually open and relaxed. The closer the dog gets to the "prey", the more the mouth will close. It may or may not open again at the end of the stalking sequence just before the dog grabs his prey. You can determine if your dog is more "serious" about the stalk if the tail is quite low. If the tail is high, your dog is indicating some playfulness and lightheartedness. 

Stalking is a natural, normal behavior for dogs. Learning how to recognize it before and as it is happening lends us a deeper understanding of what stimulates and interests our dogs. This knowledge can only lead to us being better educated, better prepared dog owners and handlers.  

1 Comment

    Author

    Camille Salter is the founder of All Dogs Toronto and a certified, knowledge-assessed dog trainer (CPDT-KA). She is the author of two books on dog behavior: Pandemic Puppy, Decoding the Dog Park, and the Big Book of Dog Training. 

    Camille studies neuroscience, applied animal behavior, canine  physiology and nutrition, ethical behavior analysis, evolutionary behavior psychology, neural networks, stress-free animal handling, behavior economics, coaching and consulting. 

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    Cats
    Dogs
    General
    Puppies

      want more? Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    RSS Feed

Books On Dogs and Dog Behavior by Camille Salter, CPDT-KA

Picture

Picture

Picture

Urban dog parks are fraught with risk. These environments host to an ever-changing assemblage of dogs with different backgrounds, life experiences, tolerances, and drives. Learn how to navigate them with confidence, safety, and skill with this navigation guide designed for the active dog parent in mind.​
​
"Pandemic Puppy" is a mini-book designed for the undersocialized puppy, and outlines best practices for puppy rearing, socialization during a pandemic, obedience, attention, calming behaviors, and compliance. All delivered in a force-free, scientific manner. Read this book. Once you have these lessons under your wing, you and your puppy will soar with excellence and never look back.



Picture

What Our Clients Are Saying

I adopted Frank not even a month ago. I’ve been training him myself, and got him to do ’sit,’ ‘down,’ ‘come,’ and ‘wait,’ at home. But when we went outside, it was a different story: he got a bit too excited, and that led to pulling on the leash, which wasn’t a pleasant experience for either of us. He never made eye contact with me, and calling his name and offering treats of all sorts didn’t do much, either. Working with Camille turned this around after just one session — she was so patient and calm with both me and Frank, and taught me how I could get Frank to connect the dots between paying attention to me and getting food. Since then, he comes and sits upon command even in the most distracting situations like being surrounded by other dogs in a park with firetruck siren blaring in the background. It’s been so rewarding to start developing this bond with Frank that will last a lifetime. Thank you Camille!” - Maythe Han

"There is only one word to describe Camille: AMAZING. My dog developed separation anxiety during the pandemic. I couldn't even use the washroom without my dog having a panic attack and after a single session and doing the homework, I'm suddenly leaving her alone for 3 hours like it's nothing. MIRACLE. Also, the GTA is filled with irresponsible dog owners who let their untrained dogs off leash in clearly on-leash areas. They sometimes come after us. It's very scary especially since if my dog reacts, she can get in trouble despite them breaking the law and us following it. Camille walked my dog and kept her calm as these inconsiderate owners and their dogs ran about. She teaches dogs and trains people. It was like watching a magician. I'll admit, I had my reservations our first session just based on the steep price, but after working with Camille I know without a doubt she is worth all that and more. Her methods are not for people looking for an easy fix with minimum work. You need to do the homework and put in the time. If you need a dog trainer, there is no one I recommend more than Camille. She will care for your dog like its her own. And just be aware, sometimes she will say things you won't like, but need to hear. When I heard my dog's timeline for separation anxiety was a few months and that I would need to keep her in daycare to avoid worsening things, I was pretty disheartened. Daycare isn't cheap. But she was giving me her professional and realistic opinion and it ultimately paid off. It really REALLY paid off. I honestly can't say enough about this canine miracle worker." - Evalina Ho

"Camille is a brilliant, caring and amazing trainer. She explains a range of outcomes and effort levels and helps navigate the emotional trials of puppyhood.

We are grateful for her knowledge and weekly check-ins to ensure we are on the right path with Hermes (our dog).

We truly support her positive reinforcement approach to dog training and are very satisfied with the results." - Graham Knowles

"I cannot say enough positive things about Camille Salter, the owner of All Dogs. From the moment my rescue dog and I met Camille, I knew she would work wonders. Her demeanor, grace and confidence made my dog fall in love her instantly. She is so incredibly knowledgeable that I try to soak up as much information as I can from her.

I highly highly recommend Camille Salter and All Dogs. Whether you are looking for a professional trainer or walking, she will provide you with all of the tools needed to ensure your dog is set up for success.

Camille is truly a pillar in the community of canine training within Toronto.

Thank you Camille!!" - Tessa Vaskas


Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • Home
  • Training Services
  • Puppy Basics
  • The Teenager Program
  • The Aggressive Dog Program
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Map & Customer Reviews
  • Photo Gallery
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Camille's Dog Wellness Supplies