March 10th, 2009
How comfortable is your dog house?
This is a question posed by a visitor to the website.
My first thought when I read it was define comfort, and then visions started swirling around my head of this woman walking around in big fuzzy pink slippers with loud gaudy silk jammies.a cigarette jammed between the corners of her lips and as she walked about, a pink boa trailing, dropping pink imitation feathers all around.
We as human beings always transpose our human feelings towards our pets, we call our self the dog/cats mommy and daddy. And the constant feeling of guilt we carry due to our own insecurities coupled with our lack of animal social behavior, we humanize our pets
OK stop, it’s a pretty legit question
We at pawhomes build dog houses and have been doing so since 2003. Our dog houses are build to shelter the dog from the elements, we claim our dog houses will keep your dog warm dry and safe from the elements and this is basically what our reputation as dog house builders is built upon.
So, why do I find it difficult to answer this very innocent question, how comfortable is your dog house?
It’s really not, from a builder’s point of view, as long and the dog inside the structure
Is warm with it’s cold,
Is cool when it’s warm
Is dry when it’s raining outside. The dog is then said to be comfortable.
Most dog live in the moment and are really very adaptable to changes in their environment as they occur, without any thought or drama to the occurrences. So if a dog is not stressed beyond it’s usual adaptability then it’s constantly comfortable, but if we then install our human idiosyncrasies the question then take on different answers, depending on our comfort level dictated by our own socioeconomic level in society
Tags: comfort, outdoor dog house, society, socioeconomics
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February 11th, 2009
On a walk with my niece Jules, we saw this dog walking around, sniffing and marking his spots. I noticed Jules get really uncomfortable, and she said, “I’m scared”. As the dog got closer, Jules started to tense up even more. You could sense the fear and panic in this little 10 year old. The dog, who had now noticed us, stopped unsure, and let out a soft bark. Its ears were up -and to the side, tail wagging slowly from side to side, head down slightly and lips pulled back in a smile.
Cautiously we approached the dog. After the initial smell and a few rubs on the head we kept walking. Jules looked back a few times and realizing that the dog by now had forgotten all about us, said, “how did you know?” “Know what?” “That it wouldn’t bite”. I said the dog told me so.” How?” by it’s body language.
Watch the Tail:
· When the tail is wagging from side to side and is relaxed, it feels safe and so are you
· When the tail is wagging, high and stiff, watch out. It’s frightened don’t approach.
· When the tail is loose and wagging slowly, the dog isn’t too sure about you. It will not bite or back away. Approach with caution
· When the tail is erect, it is showing confidence, usually when meeting other dogs. Alpha dominance.
· When the tail is low and not tucked between the legs, the dog is relaxed in its environment.
· When the tail is tucked between the hind legs, it is frightened or could be in a submissive position.
Watch the Ears
· When the ear are up and forward, the dog is alert
· When tilted to the side, it is not sure
· When flat to the head, and teeth showing – it is aggressive.
· When his head is lowered and its ears are back, Its either a submissive position or is stressed.
Putting it all together
· A relaxed dog will wag its tail in a neutral position, the eyes will appear soft with no trace of threat or tension, the mouth may be slightly open, and the ears look relaxed (rather than fully alert). And the weight is evenly distributed on all four legs.
· A submissive, or frightened dog will make itself look smaller by contracting its body. Tucking its tail, flattening its ears, looking away and showing the whites of its eyes.
· A dominant or aggressive dog will try to appear larger. Will stand absolutely erect, hold its tail either straight out or up, and raise the fur on top of its back ( called a Hackle). The mouth is usually closed and eyes make contact with its adversary.
· When a dog wants to play it will greet you with its rear-end up, front end low, tail wagging, eyes lively.
· ‘I am Top dog’:- When a female dog mounts another dog, or stands on its hind legs with her paws on another dog’s back, or your leg, it has more to do with dominance than sex.
· When a dog flicks its tongue up to lick its nose over and over again, it’s a sign that its uneasy or stressed. Depending on the circumstance, tongue flicking can lead to snapping.
Tags: aggressive, bite, body language, dogs, dogs body language, dominant, frightened, playful, puppies, scared, stressed, tails, uneasy
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