My 5 month male GSD is from good working lines. When I purchased him the breeder thought that the pup was not schutzhund material because he was too submissive (spontaneously rolls on the back). This was o.k. because I purchased him mainly as a pet. The dog has otherwise good nerves.

My question is do dogs/puppies who are considered Schutz. material also expose their belly or is that a characteristic of submissive puppies ?

In all of my life any time a dog/puppy rolled over on their back it was in submission.To my knowledge that is the expression of submission in dog language....If this means your pup couldn't do Sch later in life, I really don't know.

Rolling over is also a sign of comfort and confidence. A dog who rolls over may not be showing submission. It could simply be the dog is comfortable enough in this situation and trusting enough to show you its most vulnerable area. Rolling over is not always submission.

I believe a puppy is submissive when you can hold them on there back and they don't wiggle/try to bite you. Try just holding your puppy on its back and see what it does.

Robert

When you roll the puppy over you have to look into its eyes to really tell. Just because it is laying there does not mean it is submissive. I have some awfully submissive pups if it does...lol

If they have high confidence they don't perceive a threat to that position. There is more to it than simply being on the back.

Hey Karmen,
Sounds like a question for you!! Why don't you tell the folks out there about Dante (aka "Doodle Bug") LOL

For those of you who do not know Dante, he is Andante von der Vogel Haus SchH3, owner bred, trained and handled. Shown at 2 national events last year.........I will let Karmen explain the rest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Originally posted by Cindy Easton:
Hey Karmen,
Dante (aka "Doodle Bug")

For those of you who do not know Dante, he is Andante von der Vogel Haus SchH3, owner bred, trained and handled. Shown at 2 national events last year.........I will let Karmen explain the rest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Doodle Bug??? I gotta see this.LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Yes the Doodle Bug... Dante is proud to be a dog that shows his belly well.. really he's showing his package <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Yes, we even have a command for it (show me your weenie). He flops down rolls over and proudly shows his "stuff". At last years Nationals every competitor got a picture of them and their dog after obedience. Mine is a picture of Dante (aka Doodle Bug) rolling over on his back. He's the man <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> By the way he went 90 P in both National events <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Oh and he sucks his stuffed animals too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> - <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> A big green dragon <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> So in my opinion showing the belly (or weenie) does not mean your dog can't do SchH. Doodle Bug proved that long ago.. Now on to Alabama and more framable pictures.

p.s if anyone is interested in seeing the picture I'm more than happy to email it to you

I gotta see that photo Karmen...

Now I don't feel so bad for calling Gunther "pookie" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Heck Debbie has a PSD that occasionally gets called "woobie". Poor Anna.