Member

Posts: 23
From:Iowa
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-13-2003 03:56 PM         

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Hi all,
We have a 5 month old English Bulldog. Her name is Lucie. She has the best temperment I have ever seen in a dog. And if she didn't snore, I would never find her in the house!
Anyhow, when my daughters boyfriend comes over, he gets on the floor and plays with Lucie, be it fetch the ball, or just mildly wrestle with her. Then he will get at her level and look her right in the face and I tell ya, Lucie immediately lays down, and she will roll over on her back in a submissive sort of way. Her ears go back, but her tail (short as it is) is still wiggling. She turns into a big ole marshmallow! Me and my daughters play with her on the floor alot, and Lucie is good at that, but she will playfully nip at us and try and bite our hair.
Lucie never does that with the boyfriend. Of course he has shorter hair, but its so comical to watch how she acts around him. I think its a male thing. Or maybe his cologne...not sure.
My husband plays with Lucie on occasion, but he won't get on the floor with her like the boyfriend does. But he is 50 yrs old and has a bad back.
I am not worried about her behavior, but was just curious as to why she acts so submissive around him. He never raises his voice or strikes her. It's just amazing how "tame" she gets when he visits.
What do you all think?

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Posts: 536
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-13-2003 05:56 PM         

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I think its because his voice is probably deeper and because of the way he interacts with her - - being very forward. So she may view him as more of an authorative figure and you girls more like playmates. Maybe everyone else is a bit softer spoken as well.

Sounds like you all have fun!!

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Posts: 480
From:Harrisburg,PA USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 08-13-2003 05:58 PM         

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By himing staring at her in the face that is him showing a sign of dominance toward the dog. Kind of like a staring contest which ever one looks away first is the submissive one. So your dog most likely is more of a sumissive dog to begin with and when he stares her in the eyes she shows submissive posture. ITs nothing bad with it she is just showing him that she submits to her and she knows that he is higher in the pack order.

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Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 08-13-2003 06:03 PM         

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I think she for some reason respect him more. It probably is his voice. My poo is more submissive with me but not my hubby.

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Member

Posts: 23
From:Iowa
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-14-2003 08:48 AM         

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Thank you all for your replies...I thought the same thing. It's just so funny to watch how she acts towards him.
Gotta love your dogs! Have a great day, all!

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Member

Posts: 132
From:Brewton, AL, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-14-2003 12:35 PM         

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Hi Bulldog mommy!!!
What Lucie is doing is submitting to your daughter's boyfriend and play with the others. Remember, dogs are pack animals, and a pack is never a democracy. There will always be an "alpha". By starring her in the eyes, the bf basically told her "I'm the boss, so you'd better behave!" All the other members of the family are her mates in the pack, and she is obviously the Omega. Make sure it stays like that, and she doesn't try to challenge anybody else's "rank" within the pack. A good method is with "nothing is for free" rule - give her treats AFTER she does something you told her to do right - be it sit, or stay, or lay or whatever...
Otherwise it sounds like you guys are having loads of fun there!!!!

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Posts: 3
From:Pine Bluff, ar. USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-14-2003 04:31 PM         

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Hi Bull Dog Mom...I have a Dachshund, she is now about 4 1/2 months old. I have the EXACT same thing going on here. My Husband is retired Navy and with her all the time because I am back at work (School Secretary) When I come home Chelsea is at the door waiting her tail wagging she's barking all excited.. I pick her up and she smothers me in kisses THEN>>>>She will nip my nose!!! She is all over me like I am another dog to play with and Chewing on me..My hubby looks at me and says she never acts that way with him...What do we do?????????

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Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 08-15-2003 04:10 PM         

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Navywife: My terrier mix does that almost to a T. From the get go I have been the dominator, and telling him whats wrong and right to do. I can't stand it when a dog jumps all over people, let alone my own. I teach him to sit, to wait, to back it up when he is too excited and wants to barge thru the front door pushing us aside. He listens very well to me. My husband comes home and everything changes. My husband lets him break all the rules. He is down on the floor with him chewing on his nose. I try to tell him that for him to be even better than he is now we all need to do the same thing. I say if you are having trouble with your dachsi, you need to be very firm with him. The minute he starts doing something you don't like let him know it. Be firm with him. Let him know it hurts. They really do shape up when they know their limits. Make him do some tricks for you for his food. Once he sees your are in charge of one of the things he lives for he will shape.

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