Here's another question for you board...

I am wondering about a body posture my dog will display if I approach from another room.

The scenario: he is on loose lead in the house. I am in the kitchen, out of sight, and he is allowed to be in other rooms too. He will generally settle into the front room.

Then, if I approach him from the kitchen, almost inevitably, he will have his ears up, head down/low *and out*. He will do this from sitting position or standing.

I thought it was a curious/alert/play type behaviour but ultimately submissive because head down...??? but my sister saw it and thought not submissive in anyway.

That is when we started pinpointing his head down/low *and* out. ALmost like he's ready to pounce...but definately alert...like he's expecting something.

Does this make sense?

Sounds expectant to me. Does his food come from the kitchen? Ever get treats from the kitchen?(brought out, not necessarily in the kitchen itself)

Head low and ears up means alert and watchful. The rest of the body posture decides if it is a prey type or play type etc.

Submission would be ears back or to the side and muzzle pointed down or to the side, ears up and eyes on you with muzzle just held normal(forward, not pointed down) is just alert and watchful.

Sounds that way, I should say as I can't see it Sounds cute

Hmmm, that is what I was thinking too when I read this..sounds like he is expecting something from the kitchen.......

I agree with Jennifer. It sounds expectant, as if he's saying "what's up, are we going to do something, you got something for me?", that type thing.

A dog is not always either submissive or dominant/aggressive. There's LOTS of in between, when they're just talking to you, communicating with you. I have more experience with GSDs than any other breed and they are, IME, very expressive, always talking, always interacting, always communicating. They pay attention to everything you're doing, very in tune, great thinkers.

 Quote: Sandy Moore

A dog is not always either submissive or dominant/aggressive. There's LOTS of in between, when they're just talking to you, communicating with you.

Oh, he's communicating alright...it is SO pronounced. I had wondered about it, but simply chalked it up as expectant, playful, but when my sis saw it, she thought it odd and very different (especially from her dogs).

I should also add, that she saw him do it when there was a toy with him...she viewed it as a guarding, however, very important note, he does the *exact* behaviour without a toy. (Toys are mine and he seems to understand this clearly)

He is...expecting Something...what, what's next...anything? That room is often times one we use to tug and toy...so, it would make sense that he's wondering about my random bouts of play that do in fact come intermittantly. Sometimes I have a toy, sometimes treats, sometimes nothing.

GLAD the weather is shaping up and we can get back outside for the NORM. Also, glad to hear I was kindof right in what I thought his body language was saying...

 Quote: sandy moore

I agree with Jennifer. It sounds expectant, as if he's saying "what's up, are we going to do something, you got something for me?", that type thing.

I'm in 100% agreement. As a matter of fact, when I get this look; I answer. For instance, this morning I walked into the living room where he was patiently waiting with that expectant look; how I am dressed is a huge cue to him for what's up for the day. Hiking boots I get a lot more excitement with that look. Today's Easter apparel left him questioning so I told him you are going to stay home and mind the house which he responded to by dropping to his bed with an abject sigh. He is now sleeping and won't bother interacting because he knows this is not his time (I think).

Same thing with food; if I fill his water bowl, but it is not feeding time, expectant look; I tell him okay drink and he may or may not go take a drink on the other hand if I say okay eat ( which is what I tell him when I've put out his food) he rushes to the bowl 95% of the time.

I can usually figure out what he is asking and I find I always respond, automatically, and the conversation runs as smoothly as if I was talking to a friend. LOL! Is this normal?

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

....I can usually figure out what he is asking and I find I always respond, automatically, and the conversation runs as smoothly as if I was talking to a friend. LOL! Is this normal?

I can't think of anything more normal

Maybe not "normal" when looked at statisticly; I mean that in a good way though
I know what you mean, Lady asks me things, alot of the time she smiles when asking me to open her cage door or something. I realize that I have said she smiles, but she its with her tail, but its a smile; the same way you smile and ask "could you do this?" to translate a non urgent, pleasant requests....I didnt analize it till now...
And I concur with the rest about your dogs behaviour; expectant, especially if he does it with toys. :laugh: