Dog Community

Dog acts strange around human heads ?

Posted : 8/20/2006 6:35:07 PM

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I'm sure I'll spend a lot of time reading through the various topics, but a curious problem with one of my dogs has led me here, so I'll begin with that. I have two dogs. One is a Golden/Chow mix (femaile) and the other is a Black Lab/Springer mix (male). Both were born early January of this year, so they are about 8 months old. Both were acquired from rescues at approximately 5 months of age. Both are fixed.
Here is the problem, the Lab/Springer mix (Tully) is very mild and sedate. He prefers nothing more than to just lay around and sleep. He is extremely gentle and friendly. This dog (male) will tolerate being pushed and pulled by kids. He tolerates being 'beat up' by the female (Meg) even though he exerts dominance and can send her running with a glance. What Tully can't tolerate is being touched by anyones head. He's ok with other dog heads, but if I or my kids hug him and touch our head to any part of his body he jerks away and growls. If you repeat the action a few times he will even start snapping. I've tried to duplicate this behaviour by using dolls and stuffed animals. He appears to know the difference and does'nt react. I have also tried putting my leg on him or pushing on his body with my hand. I thought that maybe he was just scared of being crushed. No, it appears that the only thing that will trigger this behaviour is a human head. I can apply pressure to his hip with my hand and get no reaction. I do the same with my head and he freaks out.

Any ideas what could have happened in this dogs past that lead to this 'head' aversion ?

nfowler

Posted : 8/21/2006 8:01:24 AM

I know far more experienced people will respond, but I'll pop my two cents in here and say that there are dogs who see our heads/faces as threats and some of them never get over it (totally). My trainer rescued a dog from the forest--he'd been out there for quite some time--and to this day, some 10 years later, he growls and will snap if he gets hugged. He's gone through training (though he's never gone as far as their show dog) and they work with him, and he has gotten pretty darn good with people and situations. He's incredibly friendly and I really like seeing him and I'm not at all afraid of him--I just know I can't hug him or kiss his head/face. That's all.

So--perhaps the new rule will be that nobody hugs him and all is well.

How old are your kids?

Gerald Wurmlinger

Posted : 8/21/2006 8:10:43 AM

Thanks for your reply. My kids are 17, 12, 9.

Our Vet told us that Chows sometimes are averse to being hugged. So, he hugged out Golden/Chow mix to see what would happen. There was no reaction. Next time we go in with the Lab/Springer mix I'll have him do the same and see what he thinks about the behavior. The Lab/Springer mix came from raid where all animals were removed from a home. It was the typical 'cat-lady' story where someone had dozens of animals and could'nt provide proper care.

Jerry

Gerald Wurmlinger

Posted : 8/21/2006 8:19:27 AM

Here is a pic

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/21/2006 8:25:26 AM

being hugged is a very aggressive action to a dog. Some dogs will desensitize to it, but I don't think any dogs ever accept it as the affectionate gesture humans intend it to be. I'd recommend you never hug any dogs, ever, and try to keep people from hugging your dog.

jones

Posted : 8/21/2006 9:11:29 AM

Patricia McConnell has these great photos in her book The Other End of the Leash of dogs being hugged by their owners, asking who looks happy in the photos... the humans are beaming but the dogs look resigned at best. [sm=lol.gif] Since there aren't a lot of practical scenarios in which a human head MUST contact the dog, and since your children are older, I think you have a very manageable situation in which no one puts their head on Tully. [

] You might see this like - my friend Maude is a really nice girl but she just hates it and freaks out when people grab her boobs. Well, don't grab her boobs and everyone will be happy. Your pups are really gorgeous by the way!

Caprice Christian

Posted : 8/21/2006 10:06:28 AM

ORIGINAL: jones

[] You might see this like - my friend Maude is a really nice girl but she just hates it and freaks out when people grab her boobs. Well, don't grab her boobs and everyone will be happy.

Jones - You crack me up![sm=lol.gif]

MrWurm, my parents have a lab/pit bull cross who is the kindest and most affectionate dog, but HATES to be hugged. He hasn't growled at us, but he will turn away if you bring your head anywhere near him. And if you don't stop he gets up and leaves. It just makes him really uncomfortable. So I agree with everyone above, that there should be a no hug rule!

By the way, your dogs are so gorgeous!!!!

spiritdogs

Posted : 8/21/2006 1:41:40 PM

jones [sm=rotfl.gif]