Dog Interactive Behavior: How to recognize dangerous dog behavior

Title: Dog Interactive Behavior: How to recognize dangerous dog behavior
Author: Sylvia Dickens

Dog Interactive Behavior: How to recognize dangerous dog behavior
Understanding dog interactive behavior can protect you and
your children, and it can protect your dog. Knowing what
constitutes dog interactive behavior will help you to react
safely.

Remember that dogs interact with each other through their
behavior, not through language, as we know it. Each
movement and pose a dog strikes sends a message to other
dogs. These messages can be a warning, they can show
playfulness and they can demonstrate friendliness or
curiosity.

Many people don't know how to read dog interactive behavior
and often do the wrong thing. It's important for people to
understand and teach their children how to respond when in
a dangerous situation.

As a child, I always found that freezing was a good way to
avert being bitten by a strange dog in the neighborhood. My
experience was that freezing confused the dog so that he
backed away.

To my surprise, I now discover that this was the worst
thing I could have done.

By freezing, I was using dog interactive behavior without
realizing it. This sent the message that I was on high
alert and ready to defend myself. You see, when a dog
freezes and closes its mouth, he's saying that his next
move might be to lunge at you.

Staring into the eyes goes hand in hand with freezing. This
dog interactive behavior generally means the dog is
uncomfortable about the situation (i.e.: the presence of
another dog or human) and if someone makes a wrong move,
the dog might attack.

This is especially true if you and the dog stare into each
other's eyes, your bodies become stiff and rigid and your
mouths are closed. Dogs take this defensive stance when
they feel their territory is being invaded or they need to
defend themselves. It's their way of sending a warning.

Remember that dogs don't know the difference between human
behavior and dog interactive behavior. Dogs read all
behavior and actions based on the dog behavior they know
and understand.

Quickly calm the situation to ensure your safety

Once you recognize this threatening dog interactive
behavior, you can free yourself from the situation by
staying relaxed and moving your shoulders and hips a
little. Don't look the dog in the eyes. Turn your body away
from the dog slightly, rather than straight on.

This body language tells the dog that you are not a threat.

When two dogs approach each other, they do so from the side
if they are showing friendliness or curiosity. If they
approach head on, the other dog becomes defensive and
prepares to attack.

Distraction is an excellent and effective tool you can use
in such situations. If you see two dogs, or a child and dog
in this tense situation, make a noise, call the child or
your dog over to you.

Next time you see a dog (or dogs) in the freeze position
with its body still and no movement for more than a few
seconds, be alert. Clap your hands, make a loud noise,
throw a ball, or do something else to break the tension.

Teach your children these techniques so they don't try to
break up two dogs on the verge of an attack, or make the
wrong move themselves, such as running away. Never reach in
to separate two dogs as you can get bitten.

Many dogs have been put down for mistakes made by adults
and children because they just didn't understand dog
interactive behavior. Many children have suffered
needlessly from dog attacks.

The best protection for you, your children and your dog is
to know how to recognize this threatening dog interactive
behavior and to react safely.

About the Author:

Want more dog tips? Get your free copy of Sylvia's latest
booklet, "Unveiling the Myths & Mysteries of Owning a
Puppy" at http://ebook-haven.com/PuppyGuide1.php

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Dogs With Obsessive- Compulsive Behaviors

Title: Dogs With Obsessive- Compulsive Behaviors
Author: Connie Limon

The same tensions that occur in people with
obsessive-compulsive disorder occur in dogs and Shih Tzu
occasionally. Arising out of stress and conflict the
obsessive-compulsive behaviors have some soothing effects on
mood. Prevention of dogs from engaging in their particular
compulsions can create anxiety in its own right.

There are two factors that seem to be necessary for the
development of compulsive behaviors in dogs and Shih Tzu
occasionally. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors are more often seen
in the larger breed of dogs.

1.Genetic predisposition
2.Environmental stress that will trigger the expression of the
behavior.

The stress can either be a sudden type of high-grade stress or
a less severe long-standing pressure that causes a sudden or
gradual onset of the condition. The behavior pattern that
emerges will depend on the particular breed. In general,
longhaired large breeds of dogs may over groom, herding breeds
may chase or hoard and a pure predatory breed may bite, mouth or
chase objects. In comparison to human obsessive-compulsive
behaviors, a human may over groom by applying their lipstick
over and over or continually rearranging their hair or even the
hand washing ritual with the washing of the hands over and over
again.

All the behaviors performed by compulsive canines are
essentially normal behaviors. They are just performed over and
over again and out of context. The same occurs with humans.
There is nothing wrong with washing your hands repeatedly, but
if you wash your hands several hundred times a day you have a
problem. Psychiatrists treat the human problems on a case-by
case basis. Veterinarians remain divided regarding the
significance of canine overly expressed behaviors.

One of the big breakthroughs of canine obsessive-compulsive
disorders came with the fairly wide acceptance in human medicine
of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. These disorders
are of a compulsive nature and have certain causal and
physiological features in common. Basically, humans no longer
have to be a hand washer, hoarder, or checker to have OCD
relating to concerns over personal safety. Instead a more
general description involving other repetitive behaviors as well
is the most current theory. If susceptible humans under various
forms of stress react by performing various compulsive behaviors
related to their own species such as grooming, exercising,
gathering, hunting, dogs are probably doing the same. Dogs are
self-groomers, predators and imbibers, which are a few of their
naturalistic behaviors that become obsessive with them. For
example, when stressed, a dog may begin to groom themselves
excessively, or they may drink water excessively.

Lick granuloma in the canine is equivalent to hand washing in
the human. Affected dogs lick their wrists or hocks excessively,
over-cleaning or over grooming themselves until the skin in
these regions is ulcerated. For years, no one knew why dogs
engaged in this pointless, mindless behavior. Now, veterinarians
are seeing the OCD link and with this understanding are able to
treat the condition much more effectively. Lick granuloma
primarily affects larger breeds of dogs such as Labradors,
golden retrievers, Great Danes and Dobermans. Individual
susceptibility and environmental influences are also required
for the full expression of the behavior. Affected animals are
usually anxious, sensitive, and high-strung and may give an
impression of a generalized anxiety disorder. Environmental
factors include various stresses and conflict situations,
including separation anxiety or boredom.

Fortunately, the disorder of obsession-compulsive behaviors is
not very prevalent in our beloved Shih Tzu.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

About The Author: Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at:
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

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