Excitment and Hackles
- Thread starter VanillaBean
- Start date
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
It’s lovely to be here, thank you for asking.
Of course I’m missing the dogs which means I’ll also be happy when it’s time to go home!
Same for Chewie. I'm dreading the grey muzzle as it means losing his puppy licence!I'm just lucky because everyone seems to think Ella is a puppy. I never feel the need to tell them otherwise
I also don't think he knows he has hackles. He just gets all perky, tail aloft when he is excited. Oh and he shouts a lot. And we then have to explain that it's a happy bark...
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
W&S's go up with any sort of arousal: excitement, uncertainty, startle response... I use them as an indication of their state of mind, and depending on the situation, whether I have to intervene to calm them down. But when they're playing like lunatics, they will be standing straight up, too, and there's nothing about it that concerns me.
Squidge has no hackles. I think she was at the back of the line when they were being handed out
Squidge has no hackles. I think she was at the back of the line when they were being handed out
Beanwood
Administrator
Bramble has the most complicated hackle sequence I have ever seen....combined with the most OTT body language (think Penelope Pitstopp ...HELLLLUUUPPPPP!!!) dramatics. I am usually reassuring other dog owners at this point. Bramble flings back her head, hackles rise all the way down her back and tail which she tucks firmly under her body, she prances around, glances back at her poor victim, to make sure he is up for the game, before taking off as if the devil himself were after her! 
I think this started with Casper, who loves grabbing her by the throat and "murdering" her....
I don't really have normal dogs.
I think this started with Casper, who loves grabbing her by the throat and "murdering" her....I don't really have normal dogs.
That is the one good thing we have l, everybody thinks they are both puppies due to their size. Depending on circumstance I try not to correct...
I wonder if someone here has taken lessons from your dear Casper...
Think Vanilla must be the same, nothing on her body rises...but if an issue she stands stiff so always knows...
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
You have lovely dogs! Who wants Normal? Who even decides what it is?Bramble has the most complicated hackle sequence I have ever seen....combined with the most OTT body language (think Penelope Pitstopp ...HELLLLUUUPPPPP!!!) dramatics. I am usually reassuring other dog owners at this point. Bramble flings back her head, hackles rise all the way down her back and tail which she tucks firmly under her body, she prances around, glances back at her poor victim, to make sure he is up for the game, before taking off as if the devil himself were after her!
I don't really have normal dogs.
- Location
- Essex, U.K.
Maisy's hackles rise on her back and bum when she is excited and playing, which is totally normal and does not worry me. I understand that some people associate it only with aggression though so I sometimes feel I need to explain it as only high excitement to them.
All three of my dogs have their hackles raised when enthusiastically playing. Bing even growls as well! They have great behaviour around other dogs and on meeting strange dogs will engage for several seconds, if invited, and then move on. I never get to have conversations with other owners as we’ve got further down the path before they’ve noticed.
I’m too busy watching body language to really notice the hackles and will call them away if I’m not happy that everyone is cool
I suppose this means that they are beginning to grow up.
I’m too busy watching body language to really notice the hackles and will call them away if I’m not happy that everyone is cool
I suppose this means that they are beginning to grow up.
- Location
- Canada
Shamas meets all dogs with hackles up. It's part of why I have his sweater on him...makes hubby and AB nervous, thinking he'll fight. I've learned to pay more attention to the tail than the hackles. hackles and swishy wags are ok......hackles and stiff tail is no-go
- Location
- Essex, U.K.
There is so much body language to take in when they meet new dogs, tail up/stiff/down/wagging, ears pricked/half mast/relaxed, back rounded etc. etc. I find it difficult to assess before they have met, passed and gone on their way. I need to pay more attention 
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
I have this book which is very helpful xx
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Talking-Te...&s=books&sprefix=turid+,stripbooks,194&sr=1-1
xxhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Talking-Te...&s=books&sprefix=turid+,stripbooks,194&sr=1-1
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
I know what you mean! It all happens so quickly that I find it hard to keep up. Sure, if you watch a video in slow motion afterwards I can usually pick it out but in real time I struggle.There is so much body language to take in when they meet new dogs, tail up/stiff/down/wagging, ears pricked/half mast/relaxed, back rounded etc. etc. I find it difficult to assess before they have met, passed and gone on their way. I need to pay more attention
- Location
- Essex, U.K.
That looks a lot easier to take in than the one I have.I have this book which is very helpful
This is my book
It is not very clear and some pictures contradict the text eg. "the dog looks very calm" - but to me his eyes look really wild and not calm at all.
I can't get my head round it at ll.
Beanwood
Administrator
When reading body language, especially in play, everything is about context. With very familiar dogs it is easier to read, and even predict behaviour most of the time. With unfamiliar dogs less so. I err on the side of caution, and never let my dogs engage with dogs we don't know.
This is a clip between Otter and Benson...again all about the context. Otter is trying to push Benson into playing. You can see Otter wanting to be the "predator" and is desperate for a game of chase, she is stalking Benson,body and head slightly lowered, but at the same time waiting for signal to chase from Benson. I use a strong cue such as scatter to interrupt, mainly because she a horrid teenager and deliberately being disingenuous.
This is a clip between Otter and Benson...again all about the context. Otter is trying to push Benson into playing. You can see Otter wanting to be the "predator" and is desperate for a game of chase, she is stalking Benson,body and head slightly lowered, but at the same time waiting for signal to chase from Benson. I use a strong cue such as scatter to interrupt, mainly because she a horrid teenager and deliberately being disingenuous.
- Location
- Canada
Bramble has the most complicated hackle sequence I have ever seen....combined with the most OTT body language (think Penelope Pitstopp ...HELLLLUUUPPPPP!!!) dramatics. I am usually reassuring other dog owners at this point. Bramble flings back her head, hackles rise all the way down her back and tail which she tucks firmly under her body, she prances around, glances back at her poor victim, to make sure he is up for the game, before taking off as if the devil himself were after her!
I don't really have normal dogs.
I would absolutely LOVe to see this!
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Our 'oh sorry but he's still a puppy' doesn't really work now that he is 40 kilosThat is the one good thing we have l, everybody thinks they are both puppies due to their size. Depending on circumstance I try not to correct...
But he has a puppy face so that would count...