Excessive Barking when off lead

paleface · Graduate

Excessive Barking when off lead

Dave · Enlightened One

Hi Angela, can you tell if she's being aggressive or playful when she's doing this? And is it other dogs off lead, on lead or both?..

paleface · Graduate

Hi Dave,

Sometimes her heckles are up but tail is wagging - Judy always approaches them first at top speed -the other dogs are also off lead. She looks quite aggressive but I was advised by another gh owner (who's dog was being harrassed by my girl) that she was being very dominant. In the house, on occassion, she has shown same behaviour with my other 2 dogs but they just ignore her and she gives up.

UndercoverElephant · Master

My dog Blue does this rather a lot, it really is just their way of letting the other dog know how tough they are. Blue is the biggest softie around the house, and will take all manner of abuse from puppies when we're out and about, but he really can't stand the adolescent dogs.

He will bark and pounce at them, but never would harm them. He just loves to run, and if he thinks another dog can run a bit he'll try to encourage them to play the running game. Most dogs will play along, however some dogs (and some owners) will look quite terrified.

When he finds a dog who can run for a bit (but gives up when Blue, invariabley, wins), he has been known to try to "encourage" them further by giving them a nip on the shoulders - which is when he goes back on the lead. It's all part of having a very strong and feircely competitive dog.

Phil

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi

Vegas does the same when we're out in the park and meet other dogs. Like Blue, Vegas is a big softie, but likes a game of chase. When he sees a likely candidate, it's like a Mexican stand-off. He'll stand for a minute or two on the alert - then he's off enticing the other dog to play his game. Sometimes he barks in their ear. Some owners don't take kindly to this and think he's attacking their dog! Not true. A Weimaraner owner springs to mind - she was completely uptight when Vegas approached and her nervousness was picked up by her dog. She caused such a fuss that I put Vegas on the lead. But her dog was desperate for a chasing game with Vegas!

He sometimes runs with a Scottish Deerhound in the park and it's a joy to see them run and enjoy themselves. They're a match for each other and just as importantly her owners don't think Vegas is attacking her - he's just having fun and so is their dog.

Could it be that Judy is inviting the other dogs to play other than attacking them?

Christine

paleface · Graduate

Thanks for the replies - I do think Judy is inviting dogs to play because if they do run with her she's quite happy - and it is a joy to watch. My other 2 won't entertain because she's alot faster than them....ha! ha!

I was getting quite upset as the advice I was getting from various behavourists was to keep her on lead at all times but she's not a dangerous/vicious dog - just very young,playful and excitable.

Dave · Enlightened One

Hi if you need any advice (or just someone to chat to ) please contact the GAL follow-up co-ordinator Carole Robinson email carole@gal.org.uk It does sound like Judy is wanting to have some fun, people often think the hackles raised is sign of aggression but it's usually a sign of playfulness!

cheers

Dave

Viv · Old Hand

Just to clarify what you said about raised hackles Dave. Yes, it can mean playfulness, but it can also mean aggression. To be more explicit, a 'pilo erection' indicates that a dog is in a state of excitement.

This 'state of excitement' is, of course, context dependant. When coupled with certain body language, it usually helps to determine exactly what state of excitement is.

Viv

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

I have noticed one of our hounds whilst playing with the other hound gets raised hackles only along the neck (rather than neck & spine) - would this indicate excitement rather than aggression?

Please forgive me as I'm a novice but keen to learn doggy body language. Are there any good books?

FAJ · Enlightened One

Our Pearly would bark at a brick wall if she's a wee bit excited! She's not dominant - but acts it now and again. We reckon all she is after is a play - she shakes her rattle now and again when she gets a chance. She barked for days at Harry when we got him - usually in his face, and he's a big lad..

When she's off lead and on lead with a number of greys it's 50/50 whether she'll have a barking fit. Sometimes she will, sometimes she won't. If she does then it usually involves barking 3 inches from them.

When there's a few greys off lead and she gets a chance to run - she tends to stay a bit back from the pack - not too sure - but still excited. She's the geek of the greyhound world!!

However, saying all this, she's also a very smart cookie and amazes us now and again.

A year on and we still can't fathom out if she's a genius or siilly bugger. Just a bit different we reckon.

CAROLE ROBINSON · Old Hand

Our 10 year old Ruby is very similar in her behaviours - she is the one who announces the arrival of visitors, as soon as she hears a car engine she recognises, she starts barking and running around telling the other dogs a visitor has arrived. She does the same thing when we are out walking if she is off lead and it can appear to be quite dominant behaviour. However, I think it is her way of telling them to get out of her "garden". If they don't go away, she is quite happy to have a game of chase but I can see that her behaviour worries other dog owners. She's always muzzled, but usually other dog owners think that's because she is aggressive and certainly her barking seems to confirm that opinion. Truth is she's a gentle, affectionate soul with a big gob. Now when I see another dog coming, I generally just put her back on the lead until they've gone.

paleface · Graduate

I would like to say a big 'thanks' to everyone for their replies. As Judy is our 1st greyhound it's great to be able to speak to people in 'the know'.... She really is fantastic and we love her to bits.