What does giving a dog eye contact be going to to the dog?
I asked 2 questions this morning about the way my puppy react to the behaviorist last night and got a choice of pretty mean answers. I spoke to the behaviorist on the phone tonight and she told me since she has never acted like that until that time (she was scared and barked non stop and run anytime they tried to touch her) that she believes the fact that she kept looking into the dogs eyes spooked her and once she quit doing it she kinda settled and sat with ME on the floor but solely let them touch her twice without running off.
SO my interview is what does looking into a dogs eyes mean to a dog that it could spook a 6 month old puppy into a reaction similar to that when she has NEVER reacted to anyone that way earlier.
Thanks
ok i read your other questions. nation can be pretty mean on here sometimes :-/
but to answer your question, eye contact is a dominance piece. she probably freaked because they were in her territory, staring her down. lol. i hold problems with my minpin mix pup trying hard to be in charge, it have gotten to where if i stare him down he will put his ears back and tuck his tail and be well brought-up. it took awhile to get the point across and im still working on it but it works.
and your other questions, i just needed to say that a good way to socialize your dogs, particularly if being in a place approaching a dog park makes you uncomfortable (totally understand that, im like peas in a pod way) is to invite friends over (one at a time not like a party because that could be scary for the pup too) friends that hold dogs, and just sit with them and let them play, permit your dog get to know your friend. this is how i have been socializing my minpin mix pup because he go on the attack at strange people, objects, cars, and animals. in a setting where he can sense that you are at make less burdensome around a new person and a new dog, he will cram that it can be fun. :o)
you can do this with anyone you know, even family members next to pets. invite them over AND take your pup to their place so he gets used to being surrounded by a strange place and playing with new people and animals and he will be great within every situation!
Eye contact is a dominance thing. If you stare at a dogs eyes, it's basically like trying to dominate it, similar to staring it down. I can stare at my dogs eyes and they will look away because they know I am dominant over them, but I would never try to stare into a strange dogs eyes like that because it can make them turn vicious since they see it as a threat.
Answers: Eye contact shouldn't be a scary thing to a dog and it isn't to a dog with a appropriate, stable temperament. In fact, eye contact is a requirement when you're training a dog in acquiescence, agility, and lots of other dog sports. A dog is required to make eye contact with you before he's given a release, for example, or given a treat, several other things. All of my dogs have always willingly given really biddable eye contact.
I don't know your dog's whole story, but the fact that you called a behaviourist contained by the first place means your dog has a problem, so it stands to reason she couldn't tolerate a stranger trying to engender eye contact with her. Your dog would see that as a threat. Does she make eye contact with you? If not, did the behaviourist propose working on that? Did the behaviourist suggest Tellington Touch as a great way of calming your dog - it works for closely of behavioural issues on shy/aggressive dogs.
Looking...staring...into a dog's eyes is a threat. And scary to them if they don't know you. If you are training a dog, next it is a whole other thing. And if you love your dog, and they know it.you can go over into their eyes and they will gaze back, lovingly.
I hold always been told to give a dog direct eye contact, to show that you are contained by control of them & you are not afraid of them. Eye contact shows authority. If you stare at a stranger's dog, they may find it as a threat. Like, you are trying to take over. Eye contact shows dominance.
