Turning Away From Me

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm hoping someone may be able to give me insight into something Banjo does that sort of bothers me and I'm not sure what it means.   He will come over and sit next to my chair and stare longingly at me (which I think is SO CUTE!) but as soon as I reach to pet him (usually on his neck/chest area) he turns his head away from me.   I'm just not sure what it means.   He doesn't leave....but he immediately turns his head away.  It's like when I'm petting him he acts disinterested....although he seems to enjoy it because he stays around for as long as I'll pet him.    What is this?????

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

cute :) maybe

[Erin]

Hershey does this to an extent. She come over and want a little attention, get petted and then immediate sit or lay in a position where her back is to me. It almost feel like she watching out or guarding me. She's never exhibited ANY guarding behaviors (growling, being defensive, etc...) - but every time she sleeps in bed with me, she'll jump in, make sure that I'm ok up at the head of the bed, and then settle down facing the doorway (I face away from the door). It's almost like she's making sure no one sneaks up on me?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Gracie Doodle will do this. My DH can be reading the newspaper or I can be on the computer or doing something. She will come up and just stand or sit and stare at you. When we turn to give her a pat she pulls away. But not always. I think what she is saying is that I have been on the computer way to long and she wants to go play. I'm sure of it because if I stand up she bounces out the room in front of me and heads to the door. Other times she just wants a head rub. When she does pull away it is because she is trying to tell us that she wants something.

[Carol and Banjo]

Banjo isn't pulling away he simply turns his head. It's like...."yeah....scratch my ear, chest, whatever....I'll sit here...but I'm going to act like I'm not here". He does do what you have described as well....and I think you're right about that Nancie....it's a "I want you to come PLAY with ME!"

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Hunter does something similar to this however, she comes over and put her paw on your lap or arm and then looks away. You can keep petting her and she will only look at us if we say her name. LOL Funny doodles they are :-)

[GBK]

Dog's use the head turn as a calming signal. Here is a great link to other ways they signal:

http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1

[shelly]

Carol ~ This has turned into a very interesting post... so many new things to learn about....remember the days you found a dog roaming around, took them in, searched the neighborhood for missing dogs, then kept them for your own, never knowing 1/8 of all of this 'doggy talk, signals, "healthy food, training tips'... LOL Now we all spend hours looking up helpful hints on the internet, go to training classes, and only by 'the best' of everything!

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm embarrassed to even remember our childhood dog. He'd never ever been to a vet...my dad would douse him in flea powder now and then...he had the run of the neighborhood along with all the other dogs...he ate grocery store dog food AND Chinese food when we did...if he didn't come home for a day or two no one worried....oh...I could go on and on! He was a great dog and had a long life!

[shelly]

I know... same here..And, to add to your list - when they had an 'accident' in the house my dad used to put their nose in it and hit their nose... still makes me wanna' cry. . they had the run of the neighborhood, only went to the vet if something 'serious happened like a limp or something, drank from the toilet bowl.....the ONLY thing our dogs were NOT able to do that Tori can is go upstairs to the second floor of our house and (guess this makes 2 things - lol) go on the furniture....

[Susan and Sasha]

I have to get in on this conversation too...
This is what is was like for a lot of us...
That's just want is was like when we were kids...
It's not too much different than the foods we ate...and what we eat now...
Now...we know how important it is to eat organic eggs...milk...produce...etc...and...when we were kids...did we even know what the word "organic" was?? (smile)
I think it's all about what we are learning...and knowing what is best and the most healthy thing to eat...for us...and our dogs...
That goes for our understanding about training...vet care...etc...
I'm thankful for all that we have learned...so that our Children...and our Doods...and now We ...will have a Better Quality Of Life...
But...Oh...Don't We Want To Make Life Better For Our Children...and Our Doodles??
.Better Than the Life That We Knew Growing Up...and...I Think That This Is A Good Thing...(smile)
Oh...The Memories...

[Carol and Banjo]

..".Better Than the Life That We Knew Growing Up".....hmmmml.....as a child of the 50's - 60's...exposed as I was to both parent's cigarette smoke (in the car) and at the dinner table...riding "loose" in the car (no seatbelts back then!)....staying out all day "til the street lights came on" (mom and dad don't know where you are)....drinking Tang (the drink of astronauts!) .....eating Sugar Pops for breakfast and fluffer nutters for lunch....canned veggies at dinner.....we survived it all....and I wouldn't trade one minute of it. Wonderful times!

[Susan and Sasha]

That's What I'm Talking About Girlfriend...
Barbies...Hula Hoops...Hop Scotch...Captain Kangaroo!! Lol...
What ever happened to the Great shows...like Leave It To Beaver...Father Knows Best...I Love Lucy...The Donna Reed Show...Ozzie and Harriet!! (did you think Ricky or David was the cuter one??) Or...maybe a little bit farther back...Gidget...oh how I loved that show!! (smile)...
And...The Beat...Goes...On...