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Just For The Lick Of It

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JUST FOR THE ~LICK~ OF IT

by Dr. Robbie Lee

There are so many things for us to learn about the critters that we love and adopt into our lives and homes. Oh I know, we think that we are so advanced, and that we know so much, and in some ways, we have come a long way, but I have come across some things that are absolutely true, but at the same time humorous, so I thought that we might have fun with them. Want to join me? How about sending in factual bits of information that you have learned, that can be fun, and at the same time informative, for all of us to know. Let's have some fun with this.

It was more than 10,000 years ago that dogs started to become domesticated. As the cave dwellers stored their food, the canines could of course smell something good to eat, have you even known a dog that couldn't smell your food from a mile away,? So they started congregating at the cave entrance. As the cave dwellers found out that these animals could be good alarm systems, in case of marauding enemies, or other wild animals trying to gain entrance to their dwellings, they would leave scraps of food outside of the entrance for our furry friends. Thus domestication began, and has been passed from mother to pups from that day to this. Most of the wild has of course been bred out of our loveable furry family members, but there are still remnants that we will have fun learning about. 

BARKING

Did you know that most of the wild breed of dogs, i.e., foxes, wolves, and coyotes really bark very little? Now their puppies bark a lot. Barking is a puppy trait. Here is an insight to your furry friend. They are always in some way, a puppy. In a continual type of adolescence if you would. Forever young! What a wonderful thought.

What you have to remember before you shout, "shut up," to your adolescent, is that they are really trying to talk, and they are really trying to tell you something, that at that moment, they think is important. Now as the adult, it is up to you to listen, and then figure out what they are saying. Doesn't that sound like being the parent of a teenager? If it is something that is of a protective nature, for example, "There is this weird guy walking up to our door," or "a man with a big sack is coming here again," maybe, "Uncle Jim is here again and just pulled up in the driveway," or, "Oh boy, oh boy, daddy's home." Maybe that bark is for help. "I'm caught behind the couch again." Or, "Baby Sally is out of the yard." Or just a plain, "I love you pay me some attention." Whatever the time, or circumstances, it is plain, it is the only way that your dog can speak to you, and he has something to say that at that moment, he thinks is important. Dogs bark to warn us of danger, because they are happy, because they are confused, or because they are frightened. And one thing is for sure, the more you yell at them to stop, the more they want to bark. You have just established a cool way of communicating with them, and they want to continue it. Now if it were only so easy with our human teenagers!

REMEDY:

So, if you want your dog to stop barking for the moment, the best way is to keep your cool and your voice low, but firm, and say, "NO." Now your dog will think you are a party pooper, and he may be disappointed that you don't want to converse with him, but he will get the message, and only bark when it is important. For those of you who have dogs that think they are protecting the house from any and all delivery people, the way to retrain your little boy/girl, is to take them out on the leash to meet the delivery person. Have a treat with you, give it to the delivery person to give to the dog. But first, show that you approve of the delivery person by shaking hands with them and being light hearted. This helps to tell fido that you like the personand you are accepting of them. If you don't see the delivery person on his way to the front door and his knock elicits the barking, be sure you greet them with an easy attitude, and with that bowl of treats that you are keeping at the door. Allow the delivery person to give one to the dog. Pretty soon your dog will be happy to see them arrive.

DOES THE TAIL WAG THE DOG? 

No, not really, but you will have to admit, at times you would think so. Just as our Canids family members bark, and that has meaning, so do those wonderful wagging tails. There is a language in the long or short weapon they wield at the end of their wonderful bodies. It is saying volumes that we just don't take the time to understand.

In the wild, the position of the tail, and how the animal uses it is an important communiqué to the rest of the pack. It will be the means of whether or not the animal is accepted into the pack, allowed to eat, protected, or mated with. Even though that tail is an extension of the spine, used for balance and beauty, it also is like their telephone. It will communicate many different things in just a, "wag of the tail."

Now if you take the time to notice, dogs only wag their tails at other animals, of which he considers you one. Have you ever seen a dog wag his tail at the TV? Or the coffee table? No of course not. And when he wags his tail at the couch, he is communicating with YOU! "Can I get up there too?" 

EXPLANATION:

There are several types of tail wagging. Let's see if we can help you understand what is being said to you. It can tell you the mood of the moment, and let you be on alert as to the frame of mind of your furry friend. That wonderful tail can say; "I am interested in that, I am challenging that, I will dominate that, I feel very confident right now, I am relaxing now, I am scared right now and feel threatened, I am confused right now and don't know what you want me to do, or, I will protect you now and I will be aggressive."

1. If your dog holds his tail mostly horizontal in a relaxed way, it usually is saying that he is curious about his surroundings. He is not particularly feeling aggressive, protective, or challenging yet.
2. Now if you see that horizontal tail become stiff, make sure YOU are in control, the dog is getting ready to either challenge another animal or person for being in their territory, or he is getting ready to become very defensive. 
3. If your wonderful little communicator walks around with his tail held high, but not stiff or curled over his back, he is telling all who can see, that HE is top dog in the area. I am confident, and I am in not only control of myself, but my area also. 
4. If your furry friend puts his tail between his legs, he is begging not to be harmed either by you, the circumstances or another dog. It is a way of saying, " Please don't hurt me, I will submit to your wishes," or "Please don't abuse me any more." This is also a universal way of a dog entering a pack by saying, "I want to enter this pack so please don't hurt me. I am willing to be submissive to the Alpha dogs."
5. A tail that the dog holds lowered but in a relaxed way says just that; they are relaxed and just waiting to see what the conditions of the time revel.
6. If you have ever seen a dog whose tail becomes suddenly bushy, you know to watch out, because your dog is becoming aggressive, ready to either attack or defend. This is a sure sign that YOU are the one that will have to control the situation. Also, if the tail is held high, stiff, and wagging a mile a minute, be alert to the situation. This is another sign of aggression. 
7. If your dog has a lowered tail, one that is relaxed, and moving slowly from side to side, it means that they are relaxed and feel comfortable in the surroundings. I once had a wonderful black Lab that would wag his tail in circles when he was happy. 

MYTH:

A wagging tail means a friendly dog. As you can see, that is not always the case. You have to always be alert when you approach a new dog.

TIP: 

Just because you love dogs, doesn't mean that the dog knows that right away. Ask the owner if the dog is friendly, and if the answer is, "Yes," then put your hand slowly out palm up. The reason for palm up is that dogs have come to associate palm down with either petting or hitting. You don't know which is the case for a strange dog. Palm up is normally associated with the giving of food. So reach slowly toward the friendly dog, 
allow them to smell your hand for a minute or two, be observant of their reaction, and if all seems friendly, then pet the dog with a GENTLE hand, lowered voice and a smile.

There are so many ways our dogs try to TALK to us. They learn to understand us when we speak to them, because they love us and want to please. If you love your dog, and want to please him, then learn to understand HIS language.

Next time we will talk about;

Why Dogs Howl
Why Dogs Lift Their Legs, sometimes on something not appropriate. 
Why Your Dog Is Intent On Embarrassing You; by sniffing other people?

In the meantime, have fun with your family member with four legs, love them and care for them to the very best of your ability, because it is for sure, that they will do the same for you!

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