I was wondering something. It occurred to me while I was cycling a couple of weeks ago and now I think of it whenever I'm out riding. If dogs see their master as the alpha male or alpha female of the 'pack' so to speak, shouldn't they see other humans as potential rivals in the pack? If that's not the case, because of the fact that they're domesticated, why do so many dogs go crazy when they see another dog (or at least start barking at the other dog). Shouldn't they react the same way with other humans? Do domesticated dogs listen to the commands of any human, not just its master? It has been so long since I've had a dog that I don't remember, I guess.
This is a prime example of the stupid things that run through my head.
Also, Ozzie seems like his old self again. No crapping all over the place, no throwing up after meals, no hiccups, although he always used to get the hiccups when he was younger, it's just that when he got them lately, it would generally be followed by a Royal Puking Session.
This is a prime example of the stupid things that run through my head.
Also, Ozzie seems like his old self again. No crapping all over the place, no throwing up after meals, no hiccups, although he always used to get the hiccups when he was younger, it's just that when he got them lately, it would generally be followed by a Royal Puking Session.
No, it's not that strange a thing to run through your head. Dogs are all very different in my experience. Some listen to anyone, others listen to only their masters, and yet more listen to no one at all. We raised chihuahua's and rottweiler's and dobermans. (Yeah, I know, quite the mix.) I think dogs are threatened/territorial around their humans when other dogs come near, maybe a protective 'i'll kick your ass' gesture. I have honestly not encountered a lot of dogs who get along with strange ones, there must be something protective. I've never heard the alpha male/female owner theory. Thinking back our own dogs were actually quite protective of us, but since we were on a big ass farm not many people were around anyway. Strangely enough, we never had a single vicious doberman or rottweiller in all the years we bred and raised them. In fact, they would hide from strangers, very very funny. People refused to leave their car when they'd see one of them, meanwhile they were hiding under the porch shivering until they knew the stranger wasn't gonna get them. the chihuahua's were the vicious little buggers. Though, I'm lying, the doberman and rottweiller we kept as pets rather than sold, both owned seperately of each other, only ever went after one person, and it was the same neighbour when he'd stop by. Turned out he was a pedophile amoung other things. The dogs had good taste as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, I digress, and more than likely didn't help at all. Sigh. It's hot here. How about there? <g>