[Dailydrool] Doggie language

[Beverly Szaton]

Thanks, Chris.
I DO pay attention to what the dogs are doing and I also think males tend to
have less severe battles unless someone is in season. When I had Zelda I
always removed her from the house for the full 21 days of her cycle. At that
time I had two intact breeding males-- Mitchell and Cooper-- and I knew
there would definitely be serious bloodshed. Plus I did not want an
accidental Bel-Basset litter. (God help us all.)
But I learned a lot of what to look for from two books I have by Brenda
Aloff: AGGRESSION IN DOGS and CANINE BODY LANGUAGE. These are large format
paperbacks that contain hundred of photos of dogs in different and similar
situations, and she explains exactly what each dog is doing (many were taken
at a dog park) and why, and what it means that they are standing, sitting,
crouched where they are and why their gaze is averted and so on. It is
fascinating, and I learn something new every time I read it. (Or even flip
through it.) It has been especially helpful with Nigel and Cooper because I
see now how hard Nigel is trying to appease Cooper and how totally
unprovoking he is attempting to be. He has had his lumps from Cooper-- he
doesn't want to fight at all. So now I remove Cooper instead of Nigel. I
think Cooper is overly defensive-- he is at a serious disadvantage with only
3 legs and he must surely sense this, so he is ultra protective of himself.
I can't blame him, nor Nigel. Even intact, Nigel knows better.

The difference between the posturing between Nigel and Cooper and Nigel and
Conley is like night and day. Nigel is perfectly willing to go to battle
with Conley. Up on toes, ears up, tails up, head to head, staring.....what a
crew.

MomPerson to Nigel, Llewis, Conley and Cooper
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