I've noticed on two ocassions recently that when meeting another dog out on a walk Glazby lays down straight away.  He has in the past been a little bit over excited when meeting other dogs whilst on his lead - I wouldn't say aggressive, just the usual little growls and sniffs.

Is him laying down a sign of submission?  Maybe he wants the chance to play with the other dog?  I always feel a bit guilty for dragging him away....

I would say it depends on a lot more than simply laying down - does he roll onto his side and avert his gaze?  Or does he lie on his belly, alert and staring at the other dog?

what breed is he? I've noticed collies do this and my GSD x  has started doing this too. Maybe it's a thing with herding dogs?

My lab does this all the time too, I have always believed it to be a submissive thing as she has never shown even the slightest sign of aggression ever. She does it off lead as well as on, if we approach other dogs in a field she will lay down and wait for them to come to her and then once they've had a sniff of her she goes into mad labby play mode! I'm really quite pleased she does it, as she works out for her self if the other dog wants to play or not.

My scottie does this, as soon as she spots another dog in the vicinity, flat on her belly, waiting for the other dog to notice her.  She even does it if there's a dog up ahead walking in the same direction (i.e. he can't see her as he's walking away from her).  She hasn't quite worked out that dogs don't have eyes in the back of their head yet, and it can be quite humourous to watch as I'm trying to walk on, and she's flat on the ground while the other dog gets further and further away :-D

I thought this was the 'play' position, am I wrong?

Digger, whats the difference between the two 'positions' you mentioned?  Millie does both, the second one (flat on her belly, alert, staring) when she's meeting a new dog in the park, but she also does the other one (rolling on side, averting gaze) sometimes when she's having a romp indoors with one of her friends.

I'm guessing that the rolling on side, averting gaze is submissive, the other one is ready to play, yes?

The 'play' position is usually front end down, back end up in the air - a 'bow', and usually irresistable! The lying flat and staring can be a prelude to play, but can equally precede a rush which can often lead to a squabble.

Hmmm, you're right, I think she does follow her laying down with a 'rush'.  I shall be analysing this from now on!

Hi all - Glazby is a boxer.  He does look rather alert when he does this.  He doesn't lay on his side and avert his gaze - its more a lay down and looking alert and interested in the other dog.

He's been to play with a friend's boxer a couple of times with no quarrells (just the usual argy bargy that goes on in doggy play).

Do you think he's wanting to play with the other dogs?  I do feel a bit guilty always keeping him away from other people's dogs when he's never done anything wrong - I just worry just incase!!

Maybe if he does it again then I'll ask the other dog owner if they'd have any problem with them having a bit of a play.  The thing is he's better with other dogs off lead than on lead when he can get a bit aggressive.

What do you think?
Thanks Hayley & Glazby

max always lies on his back with his legs in the air is this submission?

Hi Katyb,

Yep, that's a classic sign of submission - dogs looking for trouble or prepared to try and cope with it should it come along don't show their under belly.  They don't have to have all of their legs up in the air, quite often they just raise one back leg.

Regards, Teri  ;)

Hi Hayley,

A lot depends on what you mean specifically about  > on lead when he can get a bit aggressive <

Depriving normal, happy, friendly off-lead play between dogs when they're young can lead to them having an issue later on - what do you do when you meet other dogs both on and off lead?  If you tense up, pull him away, body-swerve them he will be getting the wrong signals from you.

Has he ever been off-lead since a young puppy to interact with other dogs either in a park or training environment?  If so, was he playful?

Without knowing what his usual posture is when greeting/meeting other dogs and also how you react too, it's not easy to second guess what his laying down in an alert fashion is saying to approaching dogs.  It could well be he's simply hoping to look non-threatening but doesn't want to appear submissive either yet he's eager to play if he receives the desired feedback ;) OR it could be he's weighing up potential competition and assessing how much force he needs to use

Don't be alarmed - there are other options too, rather than these extremes, but it's important to know how both of you normally behave when meeting other dogs.

Regards, Teri :)  

Hi Teri

I got Glazby a year ago at 18 months old.  His previous owners hadn't ever socialised him with other dogs however they hadn't had him very long and didn't know if he had been previously socialised.

Since having him I have worked hard on his recall which is now very good.  He has been out with a friends boxer on a couple of ocassions and they got on fine.  They were introduced on neutral ground off lead and were soon legging it around the field together tongues out - very happy dogs!!

When we are out on walks he is now generally off lead all the way however whenever we see another dog approaching I will always clip him back on the lead.  As we pass by the other dog when he is on his lead he will stand very still and will allow the other dog to come up and sniff him however he then tends to lunge forward at the other dog.  This lunge isn't aggressive in that there is no teeth involved but it is quite a sudden movement and generally means that I pull him back and away whilst the other owner recovers themselves!!

As I mentioned before, on the ocassions when we have let him play with the other boxer this has all been off lead and there has been no aggression.

This laying down stance has only began to happen recently.  He'll see the other dog, I clip his lead on (and give him fusses) and then he'll lay down, ears pricked forward and looks almost eager.

The reason I always clip him back onto his lead when we see other dogs is because I wouldn't want to cause any problems (I see lots of posts on here about people wishing that owners would be a bit more responsible and not let their dogs run up to other dogs on leads). 

I wonder however if I should give him a bit more of a chance when it comes to other dogs.  I have recently because of the lunging towards them tried to keep a wide berth from other dogs and their owners.  Should I perhaps ask them if they mind if he has a bit of a play off lead with their pet?  I hate to think that I'm depriving him of some happy friendly play.

Thanks for your advice.
Hayley..

Congratulate yourself on having him so well trained thus far - particularly as you got him that bit older as an unknown quantity :)  Good to hear too that you are being responsible about not letting him interfere with other dogs at will - if only there were more people like you!

Now, back to Glazby himself ;)  What you've explained so far sounds promising - he seems that his main reason for behaving as such is trying to please you with the down (plus all that fussing) but can't quite contain his exuberance hence very alert (and inclined to "lunge").  I think I'd try and make a point of asking an owner with a dog that you're confident is friendly and well behaved if it's OK to let them have a romp around together.  Personally, I'd probably try this out with someone walking a bitch rather than a male at first - just in case you are not noticing all the doggy signals.

Perhaps also practice that when he is in his "down and alert" pose, he still responds to you and your voice - so that you can check if he will focus on a command from you if necessary or if he's too wrapped up in the other dog.  Hopefully someone else will be along soon with some helpful steps towards guaging the situation best.

HTH meantime, Good luck
Teri :) 

Many thanks for your advice :-)  he is such a lovely boy (I know I'm biased) ;-)  I will definitely look out for any walkers with dogs and see if he can play with them - I really think this is what he wants to do!!

As you say, probably better a bitch as I'm sure she would put him in his place if he got a bit over excited!!  :-)

I will also as you mentioned make sure that he is still focused on me and what I'm saying when he's in his down position.  All of his attention seems to be on the approaching dog and so it will be interesting to see if he still listens to me!!

Hayley..:-)

sorry to interrupt again but why does max show his under belly to every dog then?

Hi again Katyb,

I actually answered you further up the thread - couldn't have noticed or perhaps I just phrased it badly ;)

That's a very submissive greeting between dogs - sort of "don't worry about me, I'll just play - so long as that's what you want" attitude <LOL>

He's a sweetheart obviously - just the kind I like to meet with mine (except one of my girls does that too so they may never actually get up :D)

Teri

what does hse do after that i mean does she lay down then growl if it is a little like under the breath growl it is a most likely play submission