WHY DOES MY PUP DUCK WHEN I GO TO PET HER?

have you had her from new or did someone else have her first?
its usually a sign of fear that you might hit them.

Dogs do not like things coming at them from above their head or head on,it is a threatening gesture to them.I never ever go to pat a dog i've never met on top of the head as they will more than likely see it as a challenge,especially if it is a dominant dog.

The dominant one out of my dogs ducks her head whenever i go to pat her on top of the head,but if i come from underneath and slowly move to the top, she doesnt mind :) The most passive of my dogs lets me do it but you can tell she doesnt like it.

This is the most relevant explanation,there will be dogs who have been hit in the past to which this gesture has a double meaning :(

HAD HER FROM NEW SHE HAS NEVER BEEN HIT AND I CERTAINLY NO THE BREADER HASNT.

My dogs are as bold as brass but don't like this approach of being being patted on top of their heads.  It is almost as if they think it is rude.  I compare it to having someone waving their hadn in your face or trying to pat you on the head, you'd duck.

Also a dogs eyes see more to the side than ours, so could they perhaps have a bit of a blind spot in the middle???  I think this is true of horse, but read that it is not true of carnivores???  don't know there.

I was once told prick eared dogs didn't like being patted on the head, but prefered to be patted on the neck or chest.  Mine will put their own heads under your hand when they want affection.  It could be linked to how assertive or submissive the dogs are????

If someone goes to pat mine on the head they will usually move their heads around the hand so that their head is over it.  I always tell children to keep their hands down, and to ilustrate I put my hand up in front of their faces and they all step back and laugh and are happy to pet the dog on the neck, which also stops them trying to jump up to touch the hand that inevitably gets waved over the head.

Things approaching from overhead are often perceived as being dangerous, particularly if you're small, so the instinct is to duck out of the way! Greet your pup by getting down lower, closer to her own level, where such an enormous giant won't seem quite so intimidating!
:)

I agree, and always stroke and pet my dog on her chest area which she loves stroked, rather than the head.

Lindsay
X

I too always stroke my dogs on their chest area and then move up to their head and they don't mind at all, especially when I give them an ear rub :)

But when I stroke my fathers dog on the chest, he....um.....tries to mount me :P he's not in the slightest bit randy with anyone else And he's a very BIG dog, but whenever I see him, for the first few moments, I forget as I'm used to doing it to mine and then the front paws start to wrap around.

When I mentioned this to somebody once, he said that because he was a male dog, when the male mounts the bitch for breeding, his chest rubs on her back and this gives him the same feeling. Fact or fiction? I wonder ;)

Fact. :)

Definatley fact, our 15 week old HWV does it already!!

Thanks JG :) that one has always had me wondering.

But.......another stupid question coming up, how come when I do it to Murf, he just sits there and looks at me adoringly? And the thought doesn't enter his head, (I don't think) I put this down to his being a little naive in that department :P

HI HP,

Fact about the chest rubbing males info you were given   :D   Fact: bitches are excited at their rump being rubbed for the exact same reason :rolleyes: shameful behaviour!

Teri, :)

So Teri, in future, I will avoid rubbing boys chests and girls rumps :D or is it the other way round? ......Just kidding.

You learn something new everyday ;) Still haven't figured out the human etiquette, thought I was better at canine :P

I've learned that it's the same with birds (feathered) too - if you scratch a male bird on his chest he may well become all unnecessary (not very pleasant if he's perched on your hand!! ) and likewise a hen bird if you scratch the back of her head (where the male pecks during mating).

Ain't nature wonderful?!
:)

i didnt no that now i no why my collie loves a good old scratch on her butt lol :D

I shall not be doing that to Phoebe again   :D

Hi Chloe,

So long as you're retaining a modicum of self control (unlike rose :D) ) I think your Phoebe is entitled to a little "innocent affection".   Just for Gawd's sake don't rub Willis on the chest or *you* could be in need of urgent medical attention!!!!!!

Teri :P

Because you're going for the top of the head which is seen as dominance by your pup.  Approach from the side or under the chin.

Oh Lordy Terri :D My girls go nuts for the rump rub,Their eyes bug out and roll back,their lip curls up and quivers,just like elvis and they look at me with pure love in their eyes,or is that LUST?? ;)

I rub them there all the time,it's a bit hard not too when they stick their bums in your face demanding a rumprub 
One of them also like the very base of her tail rubbed,i put it inbetween my thumb and forfinger and rub up and down :o ,oh golly this sounds a tad weird as i'm writing it down,has this got anything to do with sexual inuendo aswell? They are both spayed,it's their fave spot,so who cares,right? :D

Hello Rose,

Not got any Links for me to follow? Notice you've been showing off recently - was going to ask Admin to check your posts because you seemed to be flying in the face of TOS - Teri's Obsolete Skills :D

> their lip curls up and quivers,just like elvis and they look at me with pure love in their eyes,or is that LUST??<

Certainly sounds lustful to me, questionable as to whos we're talking about - not an Elvis fan by chance are you?

>One of them also like the very base of her tail rubbed,i put it inbetween my thumb and forfinger and rub up and down<

Don't think I ought to comment on that :D :D :D

Teri, thoroughly mortified!