- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Remember, please keep your comments to observations only, until opened up for discussion. No conjecture. That means no "why"s or "because"s. Goddit? GO!
Observation Skills - What do you see in this dog's body language? Episode 2
- Thread starter snowbunny
- Start date
Beanwood
Administrator
Puppy sniffs around the shrubbery. It looks like is sniffing the scent of the other dog in the yard. Puppy runs back and forth to the scent.
The large dog then appears in full view, puppy runs fast up to the fence, comes to a jarring halt, freezes for a second. Gaze on the big dog. Body still, ears forward. Then quickly darts away from the big dog. The big dog paces, tail up for a second, then level..watching the puppy.
Puppy barks from a distance for a second or two then sniffs the ground. Puppy looks up at big dog, body language of puppy is stiff and tense, indeed he startles at this point a couple of times, glancing towards the house. Body posture is also orientated towards the house.
The puppy then commences circular run-ins towards the dog, not getting as close as when he first approached the big dog. Lots of high pitched whiney barks from the puppy. This continues while the big dog settles into a down position watching.
The puppy continues this, human smooches puppy, puppy glances briefly and continues to run up and down at the big dog. Puppy then runs round to the bushes. Big dog gets more active, rushing at the fence. Puppy emits a rush of high pitched barking and sprints away. Puppy continues his circular approach, but with more space between himself and big dog. Some sniffing of the garden.
The large dog then appears in full view, puppy runs fast up to the fence, comes to a jarring halt, freezes for a second. Gaze on the big dog. Body still, ears forward. Then quickly darts away from the big dog. The big dog paces, tail up for a second, then level..watching the puppy.
Puppy barks from a distance for a second or two then sniffs the ground. Puppy looks up at big dog, body language of puppy is stiff and tense, indeed he startles at this point a couple of times, glancing towards the house. Body posture is also orientated towards the house.
The puppy then commences circular run-ins towards the dog, not getting as close as when he first approached the big dog. Lots of high pitched whiney barks from the puppy. This continues while the big dog settles into a down position watching.
The puppy continues this, human smooches puppy, puppy glances briefly and continues to run up and down at the big dog. Puppy then runs round to the bushes. Big dog gets more active, rushing at the fence. Puppy emits a rush of high pitched barking and sprints away. Puppy continues his circular approach, but with more space between himself and big dog. Some sniffing of the garden.
Puppy sniffs shrubbery, runs back nearer the house then returns more closely to bushes. Body position alert with straight upright stance, ears pricked, tail up. Dancing movements. *slightly confounded by presence of human with camera - puppy approaches shrubbery and fence more closely when human is close*
Big dog (BD) emerges with straight body line - deliberate movements, highly focused on puppy's position, tail flat but coming up. BD stops near fence not touching it with soft legs and head upright. Puppy approaches, bows. BD stays still then slightly raises front right paw (must do something else here but can't see what) - puppy turns sharply back towards the house squeaking. BD bounces at the fence, spins up and down the fenceline with head up, ears forward, tail fluffed, up and whipping. Returns to earlier position and stays still watching puppy.
Puppy now nearer the house looks at BD then back at house several times, sqeaking. Tail up. Panting. *another dog or two is barking off camera*
Puppy bends front legs then straightens a couple of times, sidetepping towards the house. Goes onto the veranda, all the time checking back towards the BD. Puppy goes out of shot. *Does the filming stop then restart again?*
Puppy bounds out from direction of the house and runs towards BD, does a couple of circles further away from BD and sniffs the garden. Runs a figure of 8 with bows towards the BD at the closest point, squeaking. Then another couple of circles stopping to mouth something on the washing line. Runs straight back into the house, tail up, bouncing movement. Human makes kissing noises and clicks, puppy comes leaping out and back towards BD where it stops with soft front legs, still squeaking. More circles, then close to the fence towards the shrubbery. BD follows the other side of the fence, bouncing along the fenceline close to the pup. Puppy tucks it's bottom under and runs fast back towards the house, squealing loudly. Continues original circles, more lively - sniffs the garden.
Big dog (BD) emerges with straight body line - deliberate movements, highly focused on puppy's position, tail flat but coming up. BD stops near fence not touching it with soft legs and head upright. Puppy approaches, bows. BD stays still then slightly raises front right paw (must do something else here but can't see what) - puppy turns sharply back towards the house squeaking. BD bounces at the fence, spins up and down the fenceline with head up, ears forward, tail fluffed, up and whipping. Returns to earlier position and stays still watching puppy.
Puppy now nearer the house looks at BD then back at house several times, sqeaking. Tail up. Panting. *another dog or two is barking off camera*
Puppy bends front legs then straightens a couple of times, sidetepping towards the house. Goes onto the veranda, all the time checking back towards the BD. Puppy goes out of shot. *Does the filming stop then restart again?*
Puppy bounds out from direction of the house and runs towards BD, does a couple of circles further away from BD and sniffs the garden. Runs a figure of 8 with bows towards the BD at the closest point, squeaking. Then another couple of circles stopping to mouth something on the washing line. Runs straight back into the house, tail up, bouncing movement. Human makes kissing noises and clicks, puppy comes leaping out and back towards BD where it stops with soft front legs, still squeaking. More circles, then close to the fence towards the shrubbery. BD follows the other side of the fence, bouncing along the fenceline close to the pup. Puppy tucks it's bottom under and runs fast back towards the house, squealing loudly. Continues original circles, more lively - sniffs the garden.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Puppy excited bouncing around looking around corner along fenceline.
Big dog arrives, puppy stops and looks, keeps body low but bum up a bit, tail down, big dog is lying down and still. Big dog and puppy separated by fence.
Both dogs seem so move at the same time, puppy away from fence creating distance then barks. Big dog bounces along fence line 2-3 times. Puppy runs around in circles at a distance from fence making yelping noises, Big dog is seen at fence.
Camera holder is trying to attract puppy. Maybe using clicker (or click like noise). Big dog is behind fence lying down.
Puppy running back and forth away from fence but getting closer. Puppy runs along fenceline, so does older dog, puppy makes a squealing sounds, runs quickly away, body low, tail down.
Puppy continues to run back and forth but staying away from fence.
Camera holder moves a little towards fence and tries to attract puppy with noise but puppy staying back and moving out of sight.
Big dog arrives, puppy stops and looks, keeps body low but bum up a bit, tail down, big dog is lying down and still. Big dog and puppy separated by fence.
Both dogs seem so move at the same time, puppy away from fence creating distance then barks. Big dog bounces along fence line 2-3 times. Puppy runs around in circles at a distance from fence making yelping noises, Big dog is seen at fence.
Camera holder is trying to attract puppy. Maybe using clicker (or click like noise). Big dog is behind fence lying down.
Puppy running back and forth away from fence but getting closer. Puppy runs along fenceline, so does older dog, puppy makes a squealing sounds, runs quickly away, body low, tail down.
Puppy continues to run back and forth but staying away from fence.
Camera holder moves a little towards fence and tries to attract puppy with noise but puppy staying back and moving out of sight.
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Puppy is uncertain and appears to be torn between approaching and keeping a distance. I’d say the sniffing is a displacement behaviour (the puppy is not actually interested in a scent). Please delete if this is going beyond observation and into inference.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
We didn't really finish this one, did we?
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
You're right, Jac, so even though Rachael is over the line between observation and conjecture, I'll let it through and open up for discussion! 
- Location
- Isle of Man
The puppy appears to be trying to get the Big Dog to play/chase. When it doesn't work the puppy looks uncertain, torn between going behind the house and staying to watch Big Dog. Puppy then can't contain itself and has a few zoomies, still looking for the chase/play. Still Big Dog doesn't join in (because he's stuck behind the fence). Puppy engages in displacement behaviour, sniffing the ground. i think puppy has given up the idea of a chase now and the next bit of bouncing about is for it's owner.
PS I want that puppy.
PS I want that puppy.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
It looks to me like the puppy wants to play with the older dog when it appears and is giving off play signals, but doesn't maybe understand the fence is stopping the dog. It gets a bit of a surprise when the big dog does responds and goes off a little scared initially then gets brave again and tries to initiate play again.
I think the big dog wants to engage but knows the fence is a barrier.
I dunno really.
I think the big dog wants to engage but knows the fence is a barrier.
I dunno really.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Watched just now with Carbon and he was making worried head tilt faces at the end when the puppy is yipping. So CARBON thinks the puppy is scared but still wants to play and that puppies are silly that way. He also wants to play with the puppy himself because he is BORED and stuck indoors with a boring human (me).
In summary, I have no idea...I'm a really poor judge of dog body language so here to learn from the masters. Very good idea for a post/thread, @snowbunny!
In summary, I have no idea...I'm a really poor judge of dog body language so here to learn from the masters. Very good idea for a post/thread, @snowbunny!