 Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Lauren Jeffery ]
#268312 - 03/08/2010 07:45 PM |
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Don't know the hows, the where's, or herefores on the feelings I've read from some that 'know', nor do I think I can defend or define why.
But, there are a couple of people, whom I respect their experience with dogs, opine that hackling ALWAYS represents an insecurity.
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: randy allen ]
#268313 - 03/08/2010 08:00 PM |
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I read somewhere once that hackling at the shoulders is a sign of a confident/aroused state of mind, and full back hackling is insecure/unsure. That could be completely wrong, though. Much of the information I have found before I found Leerburg is wrong!
Learning about dog body language is cool. Owning a shepherd puts you in the front row to see some of the clearest signals a dog can give. They are so expressive with every part of their bodies 
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Lauren Jeffery ]
#268321 - 03/08/2010 08:22 PM |
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I read somewhere once that hackling at the shoulders is a sign of a confident/aroused state of mind, and full back hackling is insecure/unsure.
That was probably the Volhards; I believe they wrote that hackling from the neck to the tail along with ears pulled back and tail tucked is a sign of insecurity/anxiety and that hackling at the shoulders with tail high and ears erect is confidence/confident-aggression/arousal.
But once I started to watch more carefully for hackling at the shelter (when it was pointed out to me that it's way harder to see in a short-haired dog but no less common than it is in a long-haired dog), I saw too many exceptions to really bear out that rule of thumb.
JMO.
That is, I agree with Al. 
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Lauren Jeffery ]
#268322 - 03/08/2010 08:25 PM |
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Owning a shepherd puts you in the front row to see some of the clearest signals a dog can give. They are so expressive with every part of their bodies
And long-haired ...
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#268329 - 03/08/2010 08:56 PM |
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Al brought up an interesting manifestation of the action. Hackling in the rear from excitement as opposed to raised fur in the shoulders, two different things.
I'm pretty sure the people I'm thinking about were talking about hackling in the shoulders.
I suppose the thought goes something like, the confident dominate dog doesn't need to display, nor does he/she get aggitated....he/she just is and ready to face what ever.
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#268339 - 03/08/2010 09:04 PM |
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The long haired thing is so true. I don' recall ever seeing my weimaraner's hackles.
Of course, he only had four states of mind: hungry, goofy, pointing or sleeping.
Thanks for clearing things up once again Connie. 
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Lauren Jeffery ]
#268344 - 03/08/2010 09:17 PM |
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I call it doggie goosebumps!
Benny hackles at the shoulders when he is excited, or when he is unsure. He also does this when reacting aggressively but just as often when he is not being agreessive and just excited.
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: randy allen ]
#268347 - 03/08/2010 09:18 PM |
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Al brought up an interesting manifestation of the action. Hackling in the rear from excitement as opposed to raised fur in the shoulders, two different things.
I'm pretty sure the people I'm thinking about were talking about hackling in the shoulders.
I suppose the thought goes something like, the confident dominate dog doesn't need to display, nor does he/she get aggitated....he/she just is and ready to face what ever.
That shoulder thing makes sense, now that you say it, because of the hackling there going back to making oneself bigger and more imposing, or as you say, displaying.
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#268358 - 03/08/2010 09:46 PM |
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Not being nearly as experienced as others here, I offer this:
I'm generally more mindful and watchful of the "Whole Dog" reaction than any particular body part.
That is, if Casey's hackles are up, but her ears are flat, her tail is mid-level, her forelegs are low, and her rump is up, that tells me she's interested in play and fun, despite the raised hackle message of "Tense!"
Likewise, if her ears are up and forward, her tail is stiff, her body is tense, and her gaze is focused, but the hackles are flat, I know she senses trouble.
I guess, really, it comes down to this for me: No set of actions applies to all dogs, and it's the handler's job to know how to read their dog. That's not something that can be taught, most times... it has to be learned.
YMMV.
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Re: raised hackles when chasing squirrel
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#268384 - 03/08/2010 10:40 PM |
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Al brought up an interesting manifestation of the action. Hackling in the rear from excitement as opposed to raised fur in the shoulders, two different things.
I'm pretty sure the people I'm thinking about were talking about hackling in the shoulders.
I suppose the thought goes something like, the confident dominate dog doesn't need to display, nor does he/she get aggitated....he/she just is and ready to face what ever.
That shoulder thing makes sense, now that you say it, because of the hackling there going back to making oneself bigger and more imposing, or as you say, displaying.
So what about when their entire back stands up, Yote looks like he has a mohawk sometimes.
He has a separate neck hackle for when he is being a jerk, and a lower down hackle at the base of his tail when he is excited or really amped up.
But he also does the full back hackle
The last time I saw it was when he had a raccoon cornered in the garage, he sounded mad by his bark, but I don't know if it was fear, or prey, or defense.
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