THIS SECTION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns you have regarding things that are not included in this section yet!
ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR AGGRESSION
An aggressive altercation is defined as when a dog engages in the below listed aggressive behaviors, WHILE ALSO displaying the aggressive body language described below.
Aggressive body language often includes, but is not limited to:
- standing rigidly with tense muscles
as if "on guard."
- raising the hair on its neck and back
- maintaining an erect and upward
pointing tail that is NOT wagging
- elongating its neck toward the sky to
make itself look taller
- broadening its shoulders.
These are the brief warning signs of a potential oncoming attack. This body language alone is NOT grounds for dismissal from The Manda Pack, LLC. The body language MUST be accompanied by the aggressive behaviors described below in order to warrant removal from the group.
Occasionally, a dog may display aggressive body language when it is nervous about a new dog or person arriving at the dog park. In this case, if the body language is temporary, and does not accompany aggressive behavior, the dog does not need to be removed from the group – this type of situation is typical for a dog who is tentative, cautious, or nervous, and they are not being aggressive.
Aggressive behaviors often include but are not limited to:
- When a dog lunges at another dog or
person
- bears its teeth
- growls
- barks loudly and rapidly in a way that is
more intense than typical barking
- claws or scratches at another dog or
person
- mouths/bites/nips another dog or
person
- A dog’s lack of response to human
intervention, such as verbal commands,
blocking with objects or body parts,
physically restraining, pulling, or
gently pushing the dog.
While engaging in these behaviors, your dog must ALSO be displaying the body language that signals aggression (which looks different from body language during rough play, as described below).
Playful Body Language, which is required of BOTH dogs:
- bodies are relaxed (not rigid or
tense)
- tails are wagging
- hair on the neck is NOT raised
Playful Behavior includes:
- the dogs take turns being on top, or
laying belly up
- the dogs take turns chasing, and being
chased
- the dogs take turns playing tug-o-war.
- circling or hiding behind large obstacles
- performing a "play bow," where a dog
thrusts its front legs forward onto
the ground, while keeping their
backside in the air - this signals the
desire to play. Their tail can either
be wagging or erect in this situation
- staring at each other waiting for the
other to perform a play bow to
initiate play
- fluctuating between these
aforementioned play behaviors.
Rough play: If the dogs are displaying body language that is consistent with play as mentioned above, they MAY display these behaviors and it is NOT considered aggression.
- wrestling
- bearing teeth
- growling
- barking
- groaning
- mouthing each other
- nipping each other
- scratching.
If a dog is engaged in rough play, they can be stopped more easily with human commands, blocking, pulling, etc.