Jekyll and Hyde

[Mommy2Max]

aka - Submissive and Dominant

Max seems to have a twin personality. This week, I began taking Max to half day daycare. I wanted to give him a chance to be part of a pack, socialize and blow off some energy. He really loves it and comes back pooped. They even have cameras so I can log on to see how he is doing. He doesn't go every day because I'm home with him but, I wanted to give him a different type of experience.

As many of you know by now, Max is a humper! We had him neutered a month ago and he has calmed down a bit but, not that much. He tried humping my husband's leg the day after surgery :) Humping is supposedly, a dominant behavior.

Two weeks ago, Max started turning over on his back and exposing his belly. He does it for tummy rubs, when he wants to play tug of war - which we discourage - but he seems to think it makes it harder for us to get what he has (and it does LOL) and also if he thinks he is in trouble. We don't hit him nor does he even get repremanded much because he is really well behaved overall. I noticed this week, when he went to daycare that he does it with other dogs when they come up to him and smell him. I believe that is submissive behavior.

My question is....Is Max confused or just trying to figure out where he fits in? The behaviors seem quite contraditctory. He rolls on his back to submit and then tries to hump the dogs. Sneaky little doodle. :D

~Danielle

[Kim]

I was watching my Tivo'd Dog Whisperer yesterday (from last Friday) it was an episode with a humper (lol). Ceasar stopped the humping before it happened. It was an episode about a Mobile Grooming Service, maybe they have the episodes available online?

I know that isn't your question - but it reminded me of the Dog Whisperer!!!!

[Mommy2Max]

LOL - I have seen all the episodes available through DVD. I remember an episode where a dog would try and hump one of the owner's sons. The dog was as big as the kid. Poor thing!

We don't even allow Max to jump on us but, he is the most persistant thing and will just come back again and again. I've used water bottles, cans with coins, bitter apple, "No"..etc. The only thing that seems to work best is the sit - down - stay command. He is 5 months old so his attention, although improving, is still pretty short.

He can be the same way with mouthing. The whole "yelp" thing makes him come back for more. I'm pretty thick headed so, maybe it rubbed off on him. :D

[Adina P]

I don't believe that most dogs are as cut and dry as either 'dominant' or 'submissive' - one dog may be more submissive toward dogs and more of a pushy dog with people or vice versa. And he is still young and probably testing to see what he can get away with (not in a conniving way...but as any child would do...learning) and where he can fit in (as you said).

By the way, tug-of-war is a game that can be used for GOOD! It is a great way to teach a dog to chill as well as to 'drop it' and 'take it' -- I know one doodle owner whose behaviorist taught her to use tug as a way to teach her dog 'settle' by having her 'settle' between tugs in order to get more tugs. I don't think it's a bad game at all as long as you play it on YOUR terms.

[Mommy2Max]

I'm sure you are quite right. I too can be either dominant or submissive (no comments from the peanut gallery) LOL.

Max does know when to stop. I only have to say "that's it" or "easy" and he knows to stop or ease up. He will fetch a ball and bring it back but, he likes to tease us and have us try to get it from him. I don't go after him for anything. If he brings it to my hands, I will try to get him to "drop it" but, he prefers to do the whole tug of war thing. I've been playing tug of war a bit more lately because he is teething and I feel it helps him get those teeth out. Oddly enough - he chews (like a bully stick or other toy) far less since teething!

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

I must admit that Yankee's behaviour confuses me at times too. I have seen him act both submissive and dominant with other dogs. It just may be that he can be dominant with some dogs but not others and knows his limitations. Max is probably testing the waters to see where he fits in.

[Lynne B]

Good healthy dog play means that dogs take turns being dominant and submissive. It sort of evens out the game for them...As far as humping, I would interrupt it but don't put too much into it - my trainer said it is a sign of excitement more than anything else, she said her female dog still 'humps' other dogs when she gets excited and she's been spayed for years and is not normally a bossy or dominant dog. Cesar Miilan overplays this whole dominance/submissive thing- dogs are usually a mix of both dominant and submissive and slip into either role quite nicely depending upon the circumstances

[Mommy2Max]

Max is definately an excited dog! That is when he displays the humping behavior the most.