This is just a musing from this morning, and thought it could be either fun or interesting to others...  As many of you know, I have a lot of dogs, and never have any arguments... I am an avid body language watcher, and allow dogs to use their own abilities to manage themselves, but knowing their language allows me to step in if ever I need to, which is rarely.

This mornings events were quite amusing,

I have a 2.5week old litter in the livingroom, and over the last few days, dogs have gradually been allowed back in... It was Raymonds turn this morning.  Raymond is my 8months old Flatcoat, very calm and reliable, at least as reliable as an 8month old pup can be :-)  He went over to the puppy pen, and Beanie, as expected, rushed to him, a friendly throaty growl, and he backed off from the pen... his nose got the better of him, and went up close.  Beanie muzzled him (placed her mouth over his)(She has a wonderfully soft mouth)  and again, a throaty warning growl... Raymond tilted his body to the side, turned his head and allowed the muzzle to continue...  All was well... this behaviour was an appeasement, and Beanie dropped the stance, and Raymond walked away.... Just a few minutes later, the same thing happened... with the appeasment behaviour....

The third time, I stifled a laugh... Beanie was further away, so, when Raymond again went back to the pen, he automatically tilted into appeasement mode before Beanie got to him.  Beanie never bothered with him at this point, he has shown that he was not a threat, before she could admonish him

Clever tactics or just a smart scheming boy :-)

Smart lad!
We have a new addition to our home too and, at 13 months, she is just one big puppy!
I have spent the last few weeks closely watching and learning from her interactions with our 3 year old bitch and marvel at how quickly she learns from her - and accepts admonishment from her.
We could nag and nag until we're blue in the face but I know it only needs one warning from my older girl to stop a potential issue in its tracks.
I'm absolutely loving watching them together and they are proving to be good friends.  Sometimes its just about knowing WHEN to step in isn't it. :-)

> As many of you know, I have a lot of dogs, and never have any arguments...

Sounds like the same household!  I have a houseful, and, like you, I have always been interested in doggie language. I get quite cross when people tell me that their dog knew they had done wrong "because he wouldn't look at me"  Grrr!

I like to watch carefully to see if my dogs will work out things for themselves, rather than interfere and try to change any sort of pack order.  And top dog changes according to the situation.  Your girl, in this case, is in charge.  The youngster was advised that was the case in this situation.  But I have dogs that will hold anothers mouth, and it's usually when I've heard some sort of argument brewing.

While I would always intervene if I thought that anything would happen, I think that we can barge in too early.  I think that you are totally calm around "situations" and this contributes to allowing them sort things.

My favourite pastime is watching dogs body language and you are so right kayc you soon learn that most dogs can express a fantastic language between themselves without our interference, the more dogs you have the more apparent how things work.

I'd say your Flattie learnt fast and understood well, now if only some human mothers taught youngsters as fast. :-D

My youngest dog will do the mouth holding technique with a friend's Bedlington when he comes to play over--they get on really well outdoors on neutral territory but my boy always 'reminds' him when it's his house, it's his rules :)

> when it's his house, it's his rules :-)

They can be right clever clogs at times!  :-)

Oh brilliant Kay :-)

I too love watching a pack of dogs interact. Having one dog is good but when you have a whole pack of them it is brilliant.
Was out walking Kai and Oscar yesterday morning and one of the girls who has a horse on our land was about with her young Boxer bitch, the 3 of them played and went about their hunting for ages and we just stood there and watched them - made my morning with their antics :-D

KayC - love your tale and bow to your experience and observations. 
I've posted a few times about the possibility of dogs not being able to read the body language [BL]of black dogs.  Thinking now - maybe it's non-black/lighter coated dogs  that have difficulty in reading the BL of black/dark coated dogs purely 'cos they're used to reading their Mum's BL.  The light and shadow that dogs see in black/dark coated dogs' BL appears differently, or not at all, to these dogs.  whereas black/dark coated dogs learn from birth how to interpret the signals better.  [Maybe this applies to people too?}

Hi Heidi, personally I haven't noticed any difference in colour variation behaviour, but have heard many people telling of how their dog, or A.N. other dog has a dislike of blacks, whatever the breed..

Although I have all three colours, the majority of my dogs are black, however, the best Alfa I have ever had was a yellow.  She was top dog inside and out, whereas now, the patterns change and I have a pack leader at home, yet another girl takes the lead away from home.. both are black.

I wonder if the inability to see a black dog correctly impairs a dogs ability to read the body language correctly.. try photographing a black dog.. it;s not easy.  yet yellow and chocolate in the same light can come through beautifully, showing superb outline (not talking standards here, just stance) , blacks tend to end up more of a sillouette.