respectful dog !!

My 18 month boarder terrier rolls over onto his back when ever he meets a new dog, it does not matter if the dog is younger, older, bigger or smaller. We have thought and been told that this is a nice thing to happen as most dogs can be aggressive when they meet other dogs for the first time, but it is slightly embarrassing, we have tried taking him away from the situation and telling him off, but most of the time we just seem to make excuses. I know he is being respectful to other dogs but its getting a bit too much. Will he grow out of it?

Hi, he is rolling on his back because he is saying to other dogs please don't hurt me, I'm nice! He has possibly picked up this behaviour from past encounters if some dogs have been particularly aggressive, he now feels threatened by most other dogs and this is his way of coping so I don't blame him for showing his belly!

Dogs body language is a very complex thing and something I am trying to learn about more indepthly so I can decipher it since I got my new pup. It could be the way that other dogs approach, if they approach very confidently and he feels nervous by this, he feels the most appropriate way to diffuse the situation that he feels may develop is to show his tummy. I definitely would not tell him off for this though as this could possibly make the situation worse. So, when another dog approaches, your dog will think that you might be about to tell him off, thus worsening the problem. I would also not give cuddles or words of reassurance as your dog may take this as meaning this behaviour is to be encouraged. It may also just simply be your dogs nature.

I would give plenty of gentle praise; eg tell him he's a good dog, for any displays of happy, tail wagging, relaxed, confident behaviour around other dogs.

I would build up your relationship with your dog (the same goes for other members of your family) through training and play, be a good leader for your dog to want to follow and hopefully it will then feel more confident while out with you on your walks. Your relationship build up will not be something that happens overnight, it will happen gradually and it needs to continue. Don't worry, I am not suggesting you don't have a good relationship with your dog! I think we could all improve on these things, including me! Good luck!

P.S. I bet he's gorgeous, I love Border Terriers!!!

thank you so much for that encouragement, he is such a lovely dog, with a very good temperament. Thinking back to when he was a lot younger he did heave a few encounters with others dogs so it might have stemmed from that. I have also noticed that most of the other dogs that approach him, their fur stands up on theirs back and they are low to the ground, which is threatening, so no wonder he rolls over. He is so funny he rolls over and then when he has that dog on his side he runs around them in circles, his favourite game is to be chased. Thank you

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NICOLA

• Last online: 8 Jan 2008
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• Registered: 29 April 2007
• From: Lancashire

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thank you so much for that encouragement, he is such a lovely dog, with a very good temperament. Thinking back to when he was a lot younger he did heave a few encounters with others dogs so it might have stemmed from that. I have also noticed that most of the other dogs that approach him, their fur stands up on theirs back and they are low to the ground, which is threatening, so no wonder he rolls over. He is so funny he rolls over and then when he has that dog on his side he runs around them in circles, his favourite game is to be chased. Thank you All your dog is doing is being submissive to other dogs and saying i respect u and what ever u says goes, my 14 week old puppy does it with my 6 year old cairn terriers.

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Laura Cannon

• Last online: 9 hours ago
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• Registered: 9 August 2006
• From: Winchester, UK

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My border submits to some dogs but not to others - don't worry about it! Sounds like your dog just has a sweet personality. It is much better to have the submissive dog than an aggressive one. You probably won't have to break up any fights, which would be much more embarrassing.