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Do dogs understand what our kisses are?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 30th 04, 11:24 AM
Robin
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Default Do dogs understand what our kisses are?

I know its nice to think they do, but when you read books about the
language of dogs (which I've only skimmed, not read completely), many
things that THEY do, we misinterpret as affection, when it might be a
communication asserting their dominance, such as placing their paw in
your lap. I believe I read that their licking us is NOT a sign of
affection but of something else, I don't recall what.

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this subject, when we
hug and kiss our dog, especially when its done with emotion, do they
know its a communication of love, or might they be perceiving it as
something else?

Robin

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  #2  
Old October 30th 04, 01:57 PM
Leah
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Robin wrote:
I know its nice to think they do, but when you read books about the
language of dogs (which I've only skimmed, not read completely), many
things that THEY do, we misinterpret as affection, when it might be a
communication asserting their dominance, such as placing their paw in
your lap. I believe I read that their licking us is NOT a sign of
affection but of something else, I don't recall what.


I don't think *every* time a dog puts a paw on a human that it's an act of
dominance. Dominance is the boogie-man - some people see it everywhere, even
when it doesn't exist. :} I think some dogs are touchy-feely, just like some
people are touchy-feely. And though some people will deny that dogs lick us
for affection, I believe that they do. Not always - sometimes there's
submissive chin licking, sometimes they're tasting what we've eaten on our
fingers, sometimes they're grooming us, but most often it's a "kiss."

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this subject, when we
hug and kiss our dog, especially when its done with emotion, do they
know its a communication of love, or might they be perceiving it as
something else?


If they enjoy it, I believe they see it as affection. I've read that it's not
natural for dogs to "hug," as in chest to chest, but I think some dogs either
naturally enjoy it or are trained to read it as affection and enjoy it. I know
that two out of my three dogs have always loved hugs, and one (MacKenzie, who
was a year old when I got her) started out a bit uncomfortable with it, but now
solicits it. All three of mine have always loved to be kissed, and will close
their eyes, wag their tails, and snuggle in to me when I'm smooching on them,
occasionally trading me some gentle licks. Madigan solicits kisses by putting
her cheek or nose up to my lips, because that's where I love to kiss her.

They don't naturally hug and kiss each other for affection (muzzle licking is
an act of submission), so I suppose that's why some people will insist that
it's not a sign of affection to them. But most of them *do* naturally snuggle
into and kiss us as very young puppies, so I can't read it as anything else.

As adults, however, I think a lot depends on conditioning. If you try to hug
and kiss a dog who's not used to being hugged and kissed from puppyhood, you
may lose your face. :} And, of course, some dogs are only comfortable with
being that physically close to their owners, not strangers.

Because children will often run up to a dog, grab it, and start hugging and
kissing on it, I use a "gotcha" exercise in puppy class to help child-proof
them. I have the owners grab them from behind when they're not looking, say
"Gotcha!" loudly and cheerfully, either grab their collars and/or pick them up,
and begin hugging and kissing them while giving them treats. That way they're
trained to see being suddenly grabbed and hugged as a familiar act of affection
instead of a threat, and it's less likely that they'll panic if it happens.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums


  #3  
Old October 30th 04, 01:57 PM
Leah
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Default

Robin wrote:
I know its nice to think they do, but when you read books about the
language of dogs (which I've only skimmed, not read completely), many
things that THEY do, we misinterpret as affection, when it might be a
communication asserting their dominance, such as placing their paw in
your lap. I believe I read that their licking us is NOT a sign of
affection but of something else, I don't recall what.


I don't think *every* time a dog puts a paw on a human that it's an act of
dominance. Dominance is the boogie-man - some people see it everywhere, even
when it doesn't exist. :} I think some dogs are touchy-feely, just like some
people are touchy-feely. And though some people will deny that dogs lick us
for affection, I believe that they do. Not always - sometimes there's
submissive chin licking, sometimes they're tasting what we've eaten on our
fingers, sometimes they're grooming us, but most often it's a "kiss."

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this subject, when we
hug and kiss our dog, especially when its done with emotion, do they
know its a communication of love, or might they be perceiving it as
something else?


If they enjoy it, I believe they see it as affection. I've read that it's not
natural for dogs to "hug," as in chest to chest, but I think some dogs either
naturally enjoy it or are trained to read it as affection and enjoy it. I know
that two out of my three dogs have always loved hugs, and one (MacKenzie, who
was a year old when I got her) started out a bit uncomfortable with it, but now
solicits it. All three of mine have always loved to be kissed, and will close
their eyes, wag their tails, and snuggle in to me when I'm smooching on them,
occasionally trading me some gentle licks. Madigan solicits kisses by putting
her cheek or nose up to my lips, because that's where I love to kiss her.

They don't naturally hug and kiss each other for affection (muzzle licking is
an act of submission), so I suppose that's why some people will insist that
it's not a sign of affection to them. But most of them *do* naturally snuggle
into and kiss us as very young puppies, so I can't read it as anything else.

As adults, however, I think a lot depends on conditioning. If you try to hug
and kiss a dog who's not used to being hugged and kissed from puppyhood, you
may lose your face. :} And, of course, some dogs are only comfortable with
being that physically close to their owners, not strangers.

Because children will often run up to a dog, grab it, and start hugging and
kissing on it, I use a "gotcha" exercise in puppy class to help child-proof
them. I have the owners grab them from behind when they're not looking, say
"Gotcha!" loudly and cheerfully, either grab their collars and/or pick them up,
and begin hugging and kissing them while giving them treats. That way they're
trained to see being suddenly grabbed and hugged as a familiar act of affection
instead of a threat, and it's less likely that they'll panic if it happens.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums


  #4  
Old October 30th 04, 05:59 PM
Alison
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Default

Licking is a calming signal and I think it relates to when wolf cubs
lick their mothers mouths to make then regurgitate the food they have
brought them back from hunting. Dibby my dog licks a lot when he gets
anxious. It's supposed to be submissive sign. Behaviourists are now
telling us not to get to hung up on submissivenes and dominance.
I kiss my dog on the top of his head because he is so cute. I don't
know what he thinks this means but he doesn't seem to mind
Alison

"Robin" wrote in message
...
I know its nice to think they do, but when you read books about the
language of dogs (which I've only skimmed, not read completely),

many
things that THEY do, we misinterpret as affection, when it might be

a
communication asserting their dominance, such as placing their paw

in
your lap. I believe I read that their licking us is NOT a sign of
affection but of something else, I don't recall what.

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this subject, when

we
hug and kiss our dog, especially when its done with emotion, do they
know its a communication of love, or might they be perceiving it as
something else?

Robin

--
Do not email if posting response. To email, replace x with 4



  #5  
Old October 30th 04, 05:59 PM
Alison
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Posts: n/a
Default

Licking is a calming signal and I think it relates to when wolf cubs
lick their mothers mouths to make then regurgitate the food they have
brought them back from hunting. Dibby my dog licks a lot when he gets
anxious. It's supposed to be submissive sign. Behaviourists are now
telling us not to get to hung up on submissivenes and dominance.
I kiss my dog on the top of his head because he is so cute. I don't
know what he thinks this means but he doesn't seem to mind
Alison

"Robin" wrote in message
...
I know its nice to think they do, but when you read books about the
language of dogs (which I've only skimmed, not read completely),

many
things that THEY do, we misinterpret as affection, when it might be

a
communication asserting their dominance, such as placing their paw

in
your lap. I believe I read that their licking us is NOT a sign of
affection but of something else, I don't recall what.

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this subject, when

we
hug and kiss our dog, especially when its done with emotion, do they
know its a communication of love, or might they be perceiving it as
something else?

Robin

--
Do not email if posting response. To email, replace x with 4



  #6  
Old October 30th 04, 06:51 PM
Sionnach
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Leah" wrote:

I don't think *every* time a dog puts a paw on a human that it's an act

of dominance.

Same here - in fact, I'd go far to as to say that most times, it ISN'T
"dominance".


Dominance is the boogie-man - some people see it everywhere, even
when it doesn't exist. :}


Very unfortunately true.



sometimes they're grooming us,


For my part, I think grooming can be a form of expressing
affection/closeness. Dogs don't generally groom each other at random; it's
something usually reserved for pack members they're comfortable with.




  #7  
Old October 30th 04, 06:51 PM
Sionnach
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Leah" wrote:

I don't think *every* time a dog puts a paw on a human that it's an act

of dominance.

Same here - in fact, I'd go far to as to say that most times, it ISN'T
"dominance".


Dominance is the boogie-man - some people see it everywhere, even
when it doesn't exist. :}


Very unfortunately true.



sometimes they're grooming us,


For my part, I think grooming can be a form of expressing
affection/closeness. Dogs don't generally groom each other at random; it's
something usually reserved for pack members they're comfortable with.




  #8  
Old October 30th 04, 06:54 PM
Rocky
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Default

Robin said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this
subject, when we hug and kiss our dog, especially when its
done with emotion, do they know its a communication of
love, or might they be perceiving it as something else?


Heh, that they put up with such affectation is an indication
that our dogs like us.

I have more trust in dog communication when it's initiated by
them, though. Little things, like Friday getting on to my bed
in the middle of the night and sniffing my nose before he
settles down.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.
  #9  
Old October 30th 04, 06:54 PM
Rocky
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Robin said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

For those of you who are trainers or well-read on this
subject, when we hug and kiss our dog, especially when its
done with emotion, do they know its a communication of
love, or might they be perceiving it as something else?


Heh, that they put up with such affectation is an indication
that our dogs like us.

I have more trust in dog communication when it's initiated by
them, though. Little things, like Friday getting on to my bed
in the middle of the night and sniffing my nose before he
settles down.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.
  #10  
Old October 30th 04, 06:55 PM
Sionnach
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Posts: n/a
Default


"Alison" wrote in message
...
Licking is a calming signal


Licking CAN BE a calming signal; that doesn't mean it always IS a calming
signal.

One of the biggest problems I have with the current fad of ID'ing "calming
signals" (I'm not aiming this at you, Alison, but commenting on what I've
been encountering in RL) is that so many people don't get it that every
single time a dog lick, sniffs, etc. is NOT an automatic indication that the
dog is "stressed" or "trying to calm".




 




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