NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 10:27 AM |
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Yogi doesn't know how to play, (toys, fetch, anything) but I wonder if what I'm mistaking as being aggression might be his way of playing?
If someone makes a sudden movement towards another person he goes into "attack mode" and growls and lunges at them, snapping. Okay, that obviously doens't sound like play and we've been discouraging that behavior but the reason sometimes I wonder is because the whole time he's wagging his tail and wiggling his butt around. He will never actually bite, so sometimes I do wonder if he's playing because of the tail wagging? And if you reach down to pet him during these incidents he will turn all sweet again.
The first ratty I ever met did the same thing when she was sitting on someone's lap and another person reached for that person. We thought it was funny at the time and still do but I know it's not acceptable behavior.
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 06/07/2007 10:33 AM |
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Tail wagging is not necessarily a good thing - something I learned fairly recently from watching the Dog Whisperer...dogs can actually wag their tails right before lunging to attack.
BUT the butt wiggling is a sign of play! Especially if he is getting down lower on his front end and wiggling his butt up in the air - total play! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 10:35 AM |
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| Hmm I'll have to see next time if he gets down lower on his front end, I don't remember! I think he does, though. Thanks for the info! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 06/07/2007 10:41 AM |
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Really sounds like he's just playing especially with the butt wiggle, not actually biting and turning sweet when you reach for him. It's how dogs play with each other if you watch them.
By someone reaching for another person - is this when you're playing or kidding around? He may think he's just joining in the play. You can redirect that to a more appropriate play, like to a squeaky toy or something. I'm sure the others will have some more advice! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 06/07/2007 10:43 AM |
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Hubby will aggravate Bob by patting my leg or hugging me. Bob will jump at him like he wants to wrestle. Bob also doesn't like it if hubby slides his glasses down his nose and looks at Bob over the top of them.  |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 06/07/2007 10:50 AM |
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Sort of does sound like play to me too. Daisy is like this when Hubby pretends to smack at me or when we're dancing or hugging or ... um, anything 
Reminds me --- we were dancing in the kitchen a couple of days ago and she kept leaping at us until we picked her up and held her so she could dance with us (so pathetic, isn't it?) |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 10:55 AM |
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Mitzy'sMom I can't remember how it started, but once we realized what he did fiance thinks it's funny and will now do it just to get the reaction even though I've told him we shouldn't encourage any aggressive behavior. At first we thought he was being protective of me but we soon realized it doesn't matter who it is. Fiance and his friend were kinda playing around and he chooses whoever looks like is getting picked on and goes after the perpetuator.
Well I'm glad he's probably just playing, it's a relief he knows how even if it's not the most appropriate of ways. He is terrified of squeaky toys, btw! Literally cowers and covers his eyes with his paws. |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 06/07/2007 10:56 AM |
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| Um, no. We call that a Bob sandwich. |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 06/07/2007 11:40 AM |
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Posted By NellBell25 on 06/07/2007 10:55 AM
Mitzy'sMom I can't remember how it started, but once we realized what he did fiance thinks it's funny and will now do it just to get the reaction even though I've told him we shouldn't encourage any aggressive behavior. At first we thought he was being protective of me but we soon realized it doesn't matter who it is. Fiance and his friend were kinda playing around and he chooses whoever looks like is getting picked on and goes after the perpetuator.
Well I'm glad he's probably just playing, it's a relief he knows how even if it's not the most appropriate of ways. He is terrified of squeaky toys, btw! Literally cowers and covers his eyes with his paws.
I don't know that it's not appropriate...with my dogs it's no big deal. Guess it just depends on whether you're ok with it or not.
Maybe Nora will check in and tell us if it's appropriate play or not. Meanwhile, at least you can be assurred that it isn't agression - as you can see from all our stories! LOL |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 11:45 AM |
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| The only reason I call it innapropriate is just for him in particular, because he's a fear-snapper (can't call him a fear biter as he has not actually bitten). He will snap at other dogs and children. So I guess I'm afraid even play-snapping might be encouraging it for him... |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 06/07/2007 11:49 AM |
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Ah, yep I can understand where you would want to be careful with that.
BTW - he's a cute little guy! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 06/07/2007 12:09 PM |
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| It's not funny... and is not acceptable behavior at all. If you allow this behavior to continue, you are running the risk of it getting worse.. especially if your b/f is encouraging it! |
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 12:54 PM |
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| Nora, is that because of his other temperment issues or just in general you don't think it's okay? Just curious. I do believe you're right at least in Yogi's case. |
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Paul
Feisty
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| 06/07/2007 12:59 PM |
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I fully agree w/ Nora here. NOT A GOOD IDEA. You should never encourage a puppy to do anything that you wouldn't want it to do as an adult---"play biting" can get much more intense as a dog gets older, and it stops being "cute" when the dog bites someone. Kind of like when children first begin to pick up new words, and some people think it's "cute" to hear them say a swear word----it stops being cute when they go to school and are still saying what they thought was cute 3 years earlier. |
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"Train now, or forever hold your leash"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberdad/ |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 06/07/2007 1:07 PM |
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Yeah, I think after re-reading your post - I should clarify that Daisy's behavior is like Pam's Bob, not Yogi. Daisy doesn't exhibit (nor would I suggest you tolerate) any growling, snapping, lunging aggressively, etc.
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 06/07/2007 1:36 PM |
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| Yes, clarifying what I meant, too - none of my dogs snaps or growls at US, they do to each other, but not to us. Guess that's the difference! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 06/07/2007 2:07 PM |
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Posted By NellBell25 on 06/07/2007 12:54 PM
Nora, is that because of his other temperment issues or just in general you don't think it's okay? Just curious. I do believe you're right at least in Yogi's case.
It is not acceptable behavior for ANY dog to act this way... regardless of age, breed, weight, temperment or any other thing.
Nip it in the bud.. now.
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 06/07/2007 3:04 PM |
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Okay thanks, I will definitely make sure we don't provoke him and correct him if he starts this. "No" and a time out maybe?
I was just wondering for my fiance's grandfather who is the ratty I mentioned who also does this. I will maybe just mention that Yogi does the same thing but we were told by a professional that it's not okay to let him do that, maybe they will think about it more... Though I kinda doubt it, they are the types who think because it's a small dog it doesn't need to be trained. |
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