Does your Greyhound ever turn its head away from visitors or kids?

Does your Greyhound ever turn its head away from visitors or kids?

If you see your Greyhound turn its head right away from someone, it’s saying in Dog Language: ‘Please go away.’ If its nose is almost touching its side, it’s saying: ‘Please go away…please…I’m begging you…’

Your Greyhound might say this to visitors and children. You don’t want this sort of misunderstanding to end in a growl or a nip – so help your stressed dog out. Ask the human to leave it alone and pretend it doesn’t exist or put the dog in a safe room where no children can annoy it.

All dogs use this polite signal but Greyhounds usually say it more elegantly than any other breed!

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Why little dogs love sitting on your lap…

Why little dogs love sitting on your lap…

Little dogs love sitting on your lap because there is a basic rule in the Dog World: If you can sit or lie on it – you own it! Dogs win enormous amounts of points from sitting on your lap. It’s the fastest way to elevate a small dog to the Boss job – whether they want it or not!

If your dog is well behaved and sits on your lap – then I have no problem with it. However…if you have a little dog who’s become an aggressive, hissy-fit throwing megalomaniac – then it’s time to dethrone the little emperor.

Insight: Small, aggressive, yappy dogs are stressed personalities. They have been forced to take on a big job that they can’t cope with. All that aggression is a symptom that your little dog is carrying too much responsibility on its tiny shoulders. It’s like it’s having one long nervous breakdown.

Shy little dogs really can’t handle being the Boss – so if you have a really anxious small dog, stopping it from curling up on your lap will really help.

Remember: Sitting or lying on a human lap is like a drug for most dogs – even though they hate the responsibility of being Boss once they get the job – they LOVE the high of winning those wonderfully megalomaniac lap points!

Solution: Give your little dog a raised cushion or mat in an unobtrusive place near you – but not where it will feel too important. Have it totally exhausted during the transition period. Clip on a leash so it can’t stray far from its new cushion. Act bored and sleepy and ignore your dog. Yawn and look away if it protests and increase the exercise the next day. The more points you win in other areas of your dog’s life will really help dethrone this little emperor.

EXTRA TIP: If you have a small dog who dislikes going on your lap then WOW! You have an extremely wise, sweet natured dog with natural impeccable manners! If it looks at you on its mat, simply close your eyes sleepily for a second. This is a lovely, polite way to say ‘thank you’ in the Dog World.

Please don’t stare at your dog all the time.

Please don’t stare at your dog all the time.

In the culture of the Dog World, it’s extremely rude to stare at another dog all the time. In our human culture it’s similar to standing toe-to-toe facing someone, yelling non-stop.

Solution: Start thinking your eyes are like powerful spotlights. If you stare intently, they become like laser beams. If your eyes sweep calmly and bored over your dog, it’s much easier to cope with.

Insight: Dogs will react to staring in different ways, just as people do. Hyperactive dogs get switched on and go wildly active. The longer you stare, the more hyperactive they get. Wise dogs think you’re an ignorant yobbo and wander off and turn their back to you and go to sleep. Some dogs are more stressed and anxiously keep closing their eyes hoping you’ll listen to their polite signal and look away.

Apology time: If you catch yourself staring intently at your dog and its uncomfortable, simply look away in a bored way, sleepily closing your eyes. Your dog will love you for giving it such a polite dog apology! Remember – if you want a civilized dog – you need to learn some manners of the Dog World!

Are your feet always pointing at your dog?

Are your feet always pointing at your dog?

It’s very bad manners in the Dog World to always have your feet pointing in the direction of another dog. This is because it’s seen as a bit confrontational. Unfortunately, most humans are fascinated by their dogs and sit or stand with their toes constantly following their dogs around the room or yard.

This cultural rule is part of the ancient language of dogs – very high dog culture – so some modern breeds may be more tolerant to it than others. However all dogs understand that it is bad manners to ‘stare with your feet’.

It is extremely stressful for shy or stressed dogs to have humans always having their toes pointed towards them.

Solution: Get in the habit of angling your body and especially your feet away from your dog at all times unless you’re giving a direction request. This really takes the pressure off your dog. Don’t make a big deal of it, just act bored and lazy. Your dog will adore you for showing such lovely high cultured manners!

What’s your dog saying when…?

What’s your dog saying when…?

…it lies down with its chin flat on the ground and looks up at you?

This is a very clear signal in the Dog World – and about the most polite and respectful thing your dog can ever say to you. Its saying: ‘OK, I trust you to be in charge now. Look how good I’m being for you. Look how flat my chin is on the ground.’

If your dog ever does this for you – congratulations – you’re acting like a wonderful leader!

You can reply with this signal: Look completely sleepy and relaxed. Look into the neutral distance above your dog. Sleepily close your eyes for a long second. Repeat a few times and then just ignore your dog.  This is how you politely say in Dog Language: ‘Thank you and well done.’

Why shouldn’t you pat shy dogs on the chest?

Why shouldn’t you pat shy dogs on the chest?

All dogs love having their chest rubbed. Not only do they find it arousing, but they also start to feel extremely self-important. The more you rub – the more you’ll see your dog’s chest puff out.

Dogs love having their chest rubbed and will sit obediently while you do it – but only so you’ll obediently rub more. They love winning lots of points from you this way because it’s so easy and extremely pleasurable! Much easier than racing you up and down the stairs while dodging your feet!

Chest rubbing is a problem because the more points your dog has – the more likely it is to misbehave. Perhaps your dog will start a fight with another dog. It might bark more when you go to work. Maybe your dog will pull on the leash next time you go for a walk.

However, shy dogs have an extra problem. They get really stressed by being forced to be the Leader. Rubbing your dog on the chest is clearly telling your dog: “You’re my Boss – and I’m your willing follower. See how submissive I am to you?”

Your shy dog may be getting a short-term high from all the chest rubbing – but deep down it will become extremely stressed. Leaders never give chest rubs in the Dog World – that’s a task for the weakest of followers. 

Is your dog pretending to be scared so you become a willing servant?

Is your dog pretending to be scared so you become a willing servant?

Some dogs pretend to be frightened and anxious so they win lots of easy points from humans. They especially trick kind, unselfish, gentle people into running around after them like servants.

Think about it. All they have to do is shiver a bit, cower anxiously, dart away in fear or lower their head nervously and every human within reach bends over backwards to please them.

Remember – this isn’t personal – your dog instinctively wants to follow a worthy leader. If you’re acting weak then your dog will want to test exactly how weak you are. Having a really weak leader is stressful for any dog – but particularly shy, anxious dogs.

Solution: Ignore all manipulative behaviour and give relaxing signals in dog language. Act sleepy, blink slowly and yawn. Most importantly – don’t let a clever actor of a dog trick you into losing challenges! No matter how nervously your dog behaves, keep winning your points and act like a strong, confident leader.

If you act like a wonderful confident leader who knows how to win more points than your dog in THE GAME – you’ll see shy dogs blossom!

Why does your dog jump up on you?

Why does your dog jump up on you?

Dogs don’t jump up on humans because they’re excited to see us. Dogs deliberately jump up to plant their paws as high as they can so they can leave their smell nice and high. Their scent pads leave a telltale smell on you that other dogs can smell.

Your dog wins at least 10 points every time it puts its paws high up on you. Just jumping around you is also a way of invading your personal space and a way of herding and controlling your movements.

Jumping up is extremely dominant behavior and you should have zero tolerance to it. 

Solution: Fold your arms, raise your chin nice and haughty, and walk bored but confidently straight through your dog. If it squeaks or yelps just keep walking – it knows what to do – get out of the way. Once you win more points in all other parts of your dogs life, it will stop wanting to dominate you so much.

TIP: Dogs especially like to dominate humans as they enter or leave your territory. So keep a careful eye out for your visitors or children. Ask them to ignore the dog and not look at it or touch it.

You can tell if you’re winning THE GAME when your dog stops wanting to jump up on you…good luck!

Is your dog gathering a collection of trophies?

Is your dog gathering a collection of trophies?

Dogs have a motto: ‘If you can keep it, you own it’.

Dogs who win toys, balls and bones from humans parade them around on victory laps, they tails held high like banners. They leave them around their bed or in display areas on the lawn so everyone can admire them.

Each of these trophies are worth points. If a human tries to take a trophy – the dog works out how to get it back – and now its worth even more points!

Solution: Personally, I advise people to dump all trophies. If you really want your dog to have some, don’t touch the trophies with your hand or make a big fuss of them. However any aggressive dog should never own a trophy – these dogs just use them as excuses to nip humans.

Does your dog control your visitors?

Does your dog control your visitors?

Pushy dogs always want to dominate visitors. They bark at them, herd them, jump up on them, lean on them, tread on their toes, block their way, lick them and nudge them for pats.

Each one of these things wins your dog a point – so by the end of the visit your dog can win thousands of extra points. This is why your dog can be so naughty for hours after your visitors go home.

The trouble with this situation is that if your dog wins more points than your visitors then it’s allowed to nip them.

TIP: Children are particularly tempting targets for dogs to throw a constant stream of challenges at.

Solution: Ask your visitors to completely ignore your dog and pretend it doesn’t exist. If your dog is too excited to settle when visitors are around, tie it up in a corner on a mat or put in the laundry till they go home. The more points you win in other parts of your dog’s life will help it act in a more mannerly, respectful way when visitors come over.

Does your dog keep blocking your way?

Does your dog keep blocking your way?

Little and big dogs will deliberately block your way to prove they’re in charge of you. Each time they do this they win 5 points. They will stand, wsit or lie in your way. They will walk slowly right in front of you so you’re forced to slow down to their snail pace. Some dogs like to walk slowly in front of you car as you’re driving into your driveway – again so they slow down your pace to obedient speed.

Dominant dogs are also clever at getting you to step over them or around them. They love lying across doorways so you have to step over them or edge around them. Polite humans are great to win these sorts of points from.

Solution: Raise your chin up nice and high and haughty, fold your arms, act very aloof and march straight through your dog as though it doesn’t exist. Ignore any squeaks or yelps. If your dog is having a surge of dominance and won’t stop getting in your way, tie it up on a mat in the corner of the room and ignore it for a while.

Is your dog nudging you for pats?

Is your dog nudging you for pats?

If you pat a dog when it nudges you, it instantly wins a point. Problem is, if your dog scores more points than you, it gets to be your Boss.

TIP: Dogs especially love dominating kids and visitors this way.

Solution: Simple. Don’t pat a dog just because it nudges you. I know some people may find this very hard to do! Your dog can sit or wait for a pat – just not nudge you. If you feel like your dog is pestering you for pats – just send it away.

Is your dog standing on your feet?

Is your dog standing on your feet?

Dogs aren’t as clumsy as you think. When they stand on your feet, it’s a deliberate way of dominating you. They score a few points each time they get away with it.

Warning! Dogs pretend to get over-excited if you’re going for a walk. This gives them a chance to “accidentally” tread on your feet. It’s a clever way for dogs to score plenty of points before they even step out the door!

Solution: Create a bubble of personal space around you, which is should be like a force field. When your dog enters this space, it has to be calm, polite and respectful and not step on your feet – even a corner of your toe!

If your dog won’t stop stepping on your toes – or that of your children – do this: fold your arms, raise your chin and look haughty and start walking up and down on the spot in a bored, tireless way as though you could keep it up for hours. Your dog will learn to step back out of the way!

Ignore all squeaks and squawks if your dog gets under your feet. Some dogs know as soon as they make a distressed sound, you’ll immediately crouch down and lavish them with concerned attention. These dogs play their unsuspecting owners like violins! So don’t be fooled – and don’t let yourself get walked all over like a doormat.  

Why your dog loves racing up the stairs ahead of you…

Why your dog loves racing up the stairs ahead of you…

Most dogs love racing humans up stairs. It’s a great way to win points from humans..

Solution: Win points in all other areas of your dogs life and it will stop trying to dominate you so much. If your dog is being too chaotic and dangerous on the stairs, simply tie it up for a while. This will teach it to be more polite and respectful.

TIP: Dogs get extra points for tripping you over – or blocking your way once you reach the top or bottom of the stairs, forcing you to step around them. If your dog starts testing you out, simply raise your chin haughtily and walk straight through it in a bored way as though it doesn’t exist – and don’t mind treading on its toes!

EXTRA TIP: Sometimes your dog will test you on the stairs if it’s wondering why you’re acting unusually weak or distracted. It wants to see exactly how weak you are. Dogs only follow worthy leaders who are capable of doing the job – and they will test you when you’re sick, injured or pregnant!

SUPER EXTRA TIP: Dogs also love winning points by grabbing control of other narrow thoroughfares around your house like doorways, verandahs, gateways and hallways – so walk straight through your dog, chin raised in a bored haughty manner.

Careful! Dogs love stairs as places for proving they’re faster and stronger than kids – so keep an eye on this before it becomes dangerous!

Is your dog ignoring you?

Is your dog ignoring you?

If your dog sometimes acts suspiciously deaf when you call it, then it’s trying to prove again and again that it’s your Boss.

It wins a point every single time it ignores you. If something important is going on and it ignores you, then it wins even more points. Aloof, snobby behavior also wins extra points.

Solution: If your dog likes using this challenge against you, be prepared. INSTANTLY step in every single time your dog ignores you. For example clip a leash on it and make it walk a few steps with you. Or walk straight through it with your chin raised and a bored, haughty expression on your face so your dog is forced to move out of your way.

Remember: Every second your dog gets away with ignoring you is worth a point, so don’t just stand there watching your dog helplessly – DO SOMETHING!

Dogs that get away with ignoring you are on their way to becoming little furry emperors.

Is your dog invading your eardrums with noise?

Is your dog invading your eardrums with noise?

Dogs can use lots of noisy barking to dominate their humans and other dogs. Every bark can be worth half a point. Now you can understand why some dogs race around yapping their head off – they’re trying to score as many bark points as they can.

Even when you tell them to be quiet and they stubbornly reply with a soft bark – that soft sound is worth a fraction of a point.

Solution: Develop zero tolerance to barking on your property, especially inside your house which should be a sacred, tranquil inner-den area. Make your home and yard a bark-free zone. Now your dog can bark down at the local park which is neutral territory. Its barks can escape up into the open sky and aren’t so invasive. Now your dogs barks aren’t worth many points at all.

Is your dog winning points by luring you into taking Submissive Steps?

Is your dog winning points by luring you into taking Submissive Steps?

WELCOME TO THE SECRET GAME ALL DOGS PLAY.

Does your dog ever ignore you – or deliberately misbehave?

Here’s why.

Dogs play a secret game every day. I call it The Game.

Whoever wins the most points, earns the right to be Boss.

Did your dog trick you into walking extra steps towards it?

Sometimes you might see your dog start walking towards you – then stop – and wait. It might be wearing a baffled, bored, lazy or nervous expression – ha! Don’t be fooled!

Your point-hungry dog is trying to lure you into taking Submissive Steps towards it. Every step you now take towards your dog at this point earns your dog powerful points! Clever, huh?

Solution? Start walking firmly away as though you’re doing an important task. Most dogs will follow after you to see what you’re up to. 

Or you can crouch down and sway from side to side playfully. Most dogs can’t resist this and will walk all the way over to you. As it gives in and walks up to you, stand up with your chin raised. If your dog won’t budge – clip a leash on and walk backwards a few steps. Whatever you do, try not to let your dog feel like the center of attention – otherwise – guess what? You’re handing more points to your dog!

TIP: Think about when you’re just about to clip the leash on your dog. Don’t even take half a step towards your dog! That last half step is extremely powerful and worth extra points! 

On the walk, does your dog keep stopping to sniff?

On the walk, does your dog keep stopping to sniff?

If so, your dog is trying to win valuable points in The Game. Dogs love this game! Whoever wins the most points earns the right to be Boss. Dogs have lots of ways they can win points – especially out on the walk.

Stopping to sniff and making you wait…and wait…and wait…is a classic way to win lots of points against humans. For every second you stand around patiently waiting for your dog to endlessly sniff – it thinks you’re being nicely obedient and submissive. Really dominant dogs will sniff for longer and longer, testing to see exactly how submissive you’re prepared to be.

Why bother stopping your dog from sniffing while you wait? If your dog’s point score is higher than yours out on the walk, then it gets to do what it likes. It can drag you around on the end of the leash. It can lunge out and attack other dogs. It can make the entire walk a nightmare experience. It can earn enough points to misbehave when it gets home.

Solution: Easy. The moment you sense your dog’s testing you by dominantly sniffing and making you wait – do this, Start walking, firmly dragging your dog along after you. If your dog’s too big and strong to do that, casually walk through it with your chin raised until you break that stubborn, concrete stance. Some people don’t mind their dog constantly sniffing as long as they keep up a nice steady pace at their side.

TIP: Very dominant dogs will test you out at the very start of the walk around your letterbox and front gate – and again on the way back, just before you go inside your gate again.

Come on – it’s time to win points in The Game so you can have a more enjoyable walk!