hello there

any ideas why my pup (7months) has started to stalk dogs when he comes across them on a walk.... as soon as he sees them he wants to lie flat on the floor, and this can be from quite a distance away..  sometimes he will lye flat and not move (I then find it difficult to get him back on his feet, despite my tugging on his lead) other times he creeps forward... and when he gets up to the dog he just stands still with his tail down or sometimes he leaps forward....  hmm.... 

I have also been taking him to training classes and ring craft classes since a young pup and recently to shows, and he doesnt show this behaviour there...   is he just playing?

Hi my boy does exactly the same  - he looks like his is out on a hunt!  I know with our boy that they would have been used for hunting so guess this is just hs natural instict although I don't encourage it.  When he has done it and met the other dog he has always been fine.

What breed do you have?

breed?

Hi michelled ... he's a soft coated wheaten terrier....so guess used to creeping around for vermin! 

Yes he is definately following his natural instinct I have two SCWT's bitches that will both do this and over the years I have learnt to recall them when they start to stalk small dogs..... as I know what is coming next - the charge followed by the roll - not nice if you are small & on the receiving end. Wheatens are not usually aggressive but they do like to play rough-house!

My lab does exactly as you describe! It really does look like she is stalking and can be quite embarresing if she is on the lead and won't budge!
If she is off lead, she does the same, when ever another dog approaches, but she is the most playful dog in the world and I think that this is all it is. If she knows the other dog and it is a play friend, she often pounces when they get near, but if she doesn't know the other dog she waits till they come to her, lets them sniff her and then gingerly she will start her play banter! Maybe I am wrong but I have never tried to stop this behaviour as it's better than her rushing over to dogs, gives me a chance to pop her on the lead if I need to.

My JSI bitch does this all the time.  When the "other" dog (usually my 7mth dog) is deemed close enough, she will pounce.....:)

Hi Chud,

Your dog is playing.  My dogs do this with each other.  Usually they will start with front end down and year end up and if that does not get a response they flatten out and wait for their "victim" to approach - at which point may charge.  :-)

Stacey

Unfortunately this charge at the end can be misinterpreted by fearful, aggressive or badly-socialised dogs as an attack, and a fight can sometimes ensue. :(

Yes my gr does exactly the same, he is just waiting to play, but it does depend on how the other dog interprets it, i normally find with labs and other gr's this is fine, don't know if it's the way they read each others body language or just pure coincidence. But with some other breeds it seems to wind them up.

hi... you're right, some dogs don't like the sudden pounce!... my boy is such a softy tho wouldn't hurt any of them.
Thanks for the replies...

I feel it's natural instinct myself just coming to the fore, my doberman used to do it. Dont forget before dogs where domesticated they did use to hunt.  It's all part and parcel of growing up.

Regards Frank

hi frank, did your doberman just grow out of it then? at what age?