Tough question - try answer honestly

Whispered

Discostuy wrote: »

Current dogs are not wolves. They are domesicated creatures who require socialisation and some comforts if they are to become healthy, mentally balanced dogs.

+1

Both of mine are indoors, they have full access to the kitchen and sitting room (including on the couches, with rules), they have restricted access to upstairs because that is where the cat bed and food is.

They are both well behaved and very sweet. They are very responsive too, because they live so closely with us, they learn to read body language, tone of voice etc.

star-pants

Just to point out O'Keeffer appears to be site banned so I wouldn't bother responding to their post.

Discodog

Dogs are not Wolves, they do not behave or react like Wolves. But even more importantly Wolves don't behave & interact the way that we used to think they did. There is remarkably little real aggression in a Wolf pack because an injured Wolf would weaken the pack. This is so important that every pack has a "Peacemaker" who's job it is to defuse any arguments & prevent injury.

One key thing that separates Wolves from Dogs is that Dogs have developed a unique language that they only use between humans & themselves so not dog to dog. Every dog will exhibit this "language" but unfortunately not every human takes the trouble to understand it.

So the prime cause of a dog biting is probably miscommunication. For example a study showed that when school children were shown an image of a snarling dog most thought that it was smiling. I suspect that a totally unprovoked attack by a dog doesn't exist unless the dog is suffering from a brain injury. The problem is that us humans do not realise that we are provoking the dog.

So a wild dog pack relies on cooperation & understanding to work & this is how I relate to my dogs. They live in the house & we are all in a partnership. I don't dominate them, I do impose some minor "boundaries" but I never need to force the point because they understand. I never really punish them because it is usually pointless - a dog can only relate to an instant punishment. If the punishment is given after the event the poor dog will have no memory of why it is happening. My dogs don't want to do wrong, they want to please me because I provide their food & more importantly the interaction that they need.

It doesn't matter if a dog is indoors or outdoors, big or small, fierce looking or fluffy - it will only bite if it feels threatened & it will of given warning signs.

pokertalk

Discodog wrote: »

Dogs are not Wolves, they do not behave or react like Wolves. But even more importantly Wolves don't behave & interact the way that we used to think they did. There is remarkably little real aggression in a Wolf pack because an injured Wolf would weaken the pack. This is so important that every pack has a "Peacemaker" who's job it is to defuse any arguments & prevent injury.

One key thing that separates Wolves from Dogs is that Dogs have developed a unique language that they only use between humans & themselves so not dog to dog. Every dog will exhibit this "language" but unfortunately not every human takes the trouble to understand it.

So the prime cause of a dog biting is probably miscommunication. For example a study showed that when school children were shown an image of a snarling dog most thought that it was smiling. I suspect that a totally unprovoked attack by a dog doesn't exist unless the dog is suffering from a brain injury. The problem is that us humans do not realise that we are provoking the dog.

So a wild dog pack relies on cooperation & understanding to work & this is how I relate to my dogs. They live in the house & we are all in a partnership. I don't dominate them, I do impose some minor "boundaries" but I never need to force the point because they understand. I never really punish them because it is usually pointless - a dog can only relate to an instant punishment. If the punishment is given after the event the poor dog will have no memory of why it is happening. My dogs don't want to do wrong, they want to please me because I provide their food & more importantly the interaction that they need.

It doesn't matter if a dog is indoors or outdoors, big or small, fierce looking or fluffy - it will only bite if it feels threatened & it will of given warning signs.

did that book you ordered arrive?:D any use?

Discodog

pokertalk wrote: »

did that book you ordered arrive?:D any use?

If you mean In Defence of Dogs by John Bradshaw yes it did. It confirms a lot of what us dog owners already know to be true & yes it's very good.