CALL it crossed signals.
Many dog owners are not sure how to display leadership towards their dog. They conduct themselves in ways where they think they're in control of their dog and the situation, but the dog interprets the behaviour differently.
Miscommunication between dog and owner results.
As an example, while on a walk with my dogs the other morning I came across a young gal whose behaviour towards her dog was a classic example of those crossed signals.
I noticed her approaching us with her dog off-leash so I immediately called my dogs to my side and placed them on-leash. This is something I have always done regardless of whether the area is considered offleash or not. It allows me to gain immediate control of my dogs - thereby establishing my leadership role - and the situation because I can never be sure of the ability of the other owner walking the dog.
As we got closer the young woman grabbed the dog's collar, she then moved to the side of the trail and waited for us to pass.
"So far, so good," I thought, although having a leash instead of the collar grab would've been better, to prevent injuries.
As soon as they got to the side of the trail the dog got missile lock on us. In other words, there was nothing this woman could do to make the dog budge. This dog was clearly in charge and she had no idea.
What should have happened is this: if she had a leash she should have popped the leash attached to the collar a few times to get the dog's attention and break the predatory stare.
Then she should have moved further off the trail to a point where the dog was not so overstimulated by the sight of the approaching dogs.
But that didn't happen, so I got my dogs in a heel on my right side, because she was seated on the left side of the trail (a good reason to teach your dog to heel on both sides of you).
When we were within 30 feet of her, she crouched down beside and slightly behind her dog. In her view she was getting closer to her dog, to help it feel comfortable or maybe gain better control. Instead, the dog viewed this as: its momma has shrunk herself down as small as she could and is now behind me! The dog was now in front of - and the same height as - the owner, which to a dog means: "You, my dog, are now in total control as I can't even stand up to display my grand size like all top dogs do." In other words, the once-leader has now become extremely submissive and fearful as it hides behind her dog.
What should have happened is the owner - having a leash - would have placed herself in front of her dog so they were faceto-face, but she should have remained standing upright. The dog would be forced to look up to her in acceptance of her leadership position. If the dog attempted to dart around her or sneak a peek at us as we walked by she would use spatial pressure, meaning walking into or bumping into the dog's chest or feet with her legs or feet to get him to back out of her space. By claiming the space, she establishes her leadership position and control of the situation.
So given the fact that this woman handed over her leadership position on a silver platter of good intentions what do you think the end result?
Yep, as we passed by the dog lunged out at the back ends of my dogs. Since the owner was grabbing onto the collar with all her might she was yanked to the ground and unceremoniously dragged along the gravel trail by her large boxer-mix dog.
How your dog perceives your leadership through your behaviour should match how you perceive your leadership through your behaviour, otherwise miscommunication an accidents are bound to happen.
