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!