Laddy is a 20 pound Sheltie, turned in as a biter. He has never shown
any sign of hostile, defensiveness, etc. He is timid, meek and
fearful--even after four years of living like a king.

Lately, and with some intrepidation, I've begun to play a little
rougher, turn him upside down (which he enjoys, if I pet his belly) and
so forth. It seems to be bringing him out of his shell.

I've done this with many shelter dogs, with great results! Now, I'm
trying it at home.

Its not enough knowing that it works; I want to learn why it works. So,
my question is: is this just luck, or is there some mechanism that
causes these dogs to come alive and lose their fear? Is it just a matter
of their gaining self confidence, building trust, etc.?



________________________
Whatever it takes.

Michael A. Ball wrote:

Laddy is a 20 pound Sheltie, turned in as a biter. He has never shown
any sign of hostile, defensiveness, etc. He is timid, meek and
fearful--even after four years of living like a king.

Lately, and with some intrepidation, I've begun to play a little
rougher, turn him upside down (which he enjoys, if I pet his belly) and
so forth. It seems to be bringing him out of his shell.

I've done this with many shelter dogs, with great results! Now, I'm
trying it at home.

Its not enough knowing that it works; I want to learn why it works. So,
my question is: is this just luck, or is there some mechanism that
causes these dogs to come alive and lose their fear? Is it just a matter
of their gaining self confidence, building trust, etc.?

I suspect that rowdy play, romping and games like tugging build their
confidence because they are sort of like play between packmates.
Getting physical with them and allowing them to get physical with you
makes them feel accepted, like a member of the family or pack.

I don't have any research or cites to back this up, it's just my
interpretation of what I've seen and experienced.

Kathleen said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I suspect that rowdy play, romping and games like tugging
build their confidence because they are sort of like play
between packmates. Getting physical with them and allowing
them to get physical with you makes them feel accepted,
like a member of the family or pack.

I don't have any research or cites to back this up, it's
just my interpretation of what I've seen and experienced.

Add me to that data point.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"Rocky" wrote in message
...
Kathleen said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I suspect that rowdy play, romping and games like tugging
build their confidence because they are sort of like play
between packmates. Getting physical with them and allowing
them to get physical with you makes them feel accepted,
like a member of the family or pack.

I don't have any research or cites to back this up, it's
just my interpretation of what I've seen and experienced.

Add me to that data point.

I also agree. Based on my experiences with Muttley, as well as Lucky and a
few other dogs, they seem to respond well to a strong physical interaction.
I have seen Muttley act fearful when someone acts very tentatively and
cautiously with him, whereas those who act confidently soon gain his trust
and then he interacts normally with them. In his case, "normally" may mean
just ignoring them, while with those he does not fully trust, he may act
warily.

Paul and Muttley

Michael A. Ball wrote:

Laddy is a 20 pound Sheltie, turned in as a biter. He has never shown
any sign of hostile, defensiveness, etc. He is timid, meek and
fearful--even after four years of living like a king.

Lately, and with some intrepidation, I've begun to play a little
rougher, turn him upside down (which he enjoys, if I pet his belly) and
so forth. It seems to be bringing him out of his shell.

I've done this with many shelter dogs, with great results! Now, I'm
trying it at home.

Its not enough knowing that it works; I want to learn why it works. So,
my question is: is this just luck, or is there some mechanism that
causes these dogs to come alive and lose their fear? Is it just a matter
of their gaining self confidence, building trust, etc.?



________________________
Whatever it takes.
I have never tried this with the dogs at our shelter. It sounds like a
good idea, for dogs that aren't fear aggressive. I think the basic idea
is obvious. You show that you are stronger than them, but not in the
least interested in hurting them, and very interested in having fun.
Knowing that they don't have to be in control to have fun and be safe
has to build confidence.

Michael A. Ball wrote:

Laddy is a 20 pound Sheltie, turned in as a biter. He has never shown
any sign of hostile, defensiveness, etc. He is timid, meek and
fearful--even after four years of living like a king.

Lately, and with some intrepidation, I've begun to play a little
rougher, turn him upside down (which he enjoys, if I pet his belly) and
so forth. It seems to be bringing him out of his shell.

I've done this with many shelter dogs, with great results! Now, I'm
trying it at home.

Its not enough knowing that it works; I want to learn why it works. So,
my question is: is this just luck, or is there some mechanism that
causes these dogs to come alive and lose their fear? Is it just a matter
of their gaining self confidence, building trust, etc.?


Oh, and also, if you've got a dog that seems especially shy or reticent
about your play overtures, try adding a pant-laugh.

Pant-laugh is a sound that dogs make when inviting one another to play.
It's a hollow, breathy noise that a human can approximate by imagining
you've taken a bite of food that's too hot, that you can't spit out in
polite company (mouth slightly open, sides of tongue curled up, short,
sharp inhalations).

Mine react to a pant-laugh by running around to find a toy and bringing
it to me. An article I read says that the sound of a pant-laugh played
over a speaker, with no human or other dog present, has the same effect.

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:07:45 -0600, Kathleen
wrote:

...Oh, and also, if you've got a dog that seems especially shy or reticent
about your play overtures, try adding a pant-laugh.

Pant-laugh is a sound that dogs make when inviting one another to play.

Thanks! I'm going to try that starting tomorrow! I have a young female
German Shepherd in my section who is so shy. If I can't bring her out of
her shell, she'll be killed. She is making progress, but very, very
slowly.

The pant-laugh might do the trick! For the dogs in my care, whatever it
takes! :-)

I've actually done this before (usually on all fours), but had forgotten
about it; and never knew it had a name. Thanks for the reminder.


________________________
Whatever it takes.

On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:56:36 -0700, (William
Clodius) wrote:

I have never tried this with the dogs at our shelter. It sounds like a
good idea, for dogs that aren't fear aggressive. I think the basic idea
is obvious. You show that you are stronger than them, but not in the
least interested in hurting them, and very interested in having fun.
Knowing that they don't have to be in control to have fun and be safe
has to build confidence.

Are you a shelter employee, or a volunteer? I'm an employee (kennel
attendant), until I clock out: then I'm a volunteer (working with dogs
that are afraid and/or have messed up coats). What I do as a volunteer
is always far more rewarding.

One of the dogs I'm working with is a young female German Shepherd,
Ingrid. On our third day, I knelt and put her front legs on one of mine.
I hugged her and petted her, then let her go. She has begun turning to
look at me. I know these sound like silly, insignificant steps, but they
mean a great deal, for a dog that would rather hide in her dog house.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to try the pant-laugh that Kathleen
reminded about! I don't Ingrid knows much about playing or fun, or even
security, but you never know what good memory might be triggered.


___________________
A dog's life is too short; their only fault really.

"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message
...

Lately, and with some intrepidation,

"Intrepidation" is not a word.

"news" said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message
...

Lately, and with some intrepidation,

"Intrepidation" is not a word.

"Plonk" is not in most dictionaries, yet we know what it means.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.