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I'm a foster mom - dog not human

I'm a foster mom - dog not human (post #68776)

plantlust on Mon, 01/04/2010 - 15:11 (updated 01/04/10 - 01:50)

Ipke-Kitchen Kvetch

This past Friday, I took home Leo (he's really looking more like a Charlie to me - Charlie of the Sorry Charlie tuna fame), a cocker spaniel/black lab mix. He's all black w/a white ascot and a docked tail. Leo is supposed to be a year old but he acts very puppy-like. He constantly licks the chins/mouths of my other 2 dogs. He is GREAT in the car (it is sooo refreshing to have a new dog that doesn't throw up on car rides, not to mention one who has no clue that he could possibly climb a fence) and absolutely loves my niece & nephew and sleeps thru the night.

Sheba, my older dog, warning growls at him when he's too much for her but Kitty finally got him to play with her outside.

Leo needs a little marketing to find his forever home, so I'm going to work on a "cute" photo and a better description of his personality. I'm working thru Rover Rescue, which is a local canine rescue organization. They work closely with southern high kill shelters/pounds.

Question tho: Leo is doing this snapping thing with his mouth. It seems to occur after I've been "gone", upon my return. When I first get up in the morning, he makes a few yipping noises and then snaps a couple of times with his jaws. I'm trying to figure out if this is a cocker spaniel thing or just a Leo thing. There is no actual biting or lunging involved (tho he does mouth my hands and try to play). Is this some dog activity I've never seen before? Afterall, I didn't know that dogs smiled until I got Sonja (freaked me out until I figured out her body language was happy to see me and so she smiled).

Hug your mom, if you are still lucky enough to have one.

Dogs are generally considered (post #68776, reply #1 of 3)

by hambiscuit in reply to plantlust [original] on Mon, 01/04/2010 - 17:16

Dogs are generally considered to be puppies until they are about two years old, so the dog is playful for good reason. Labs in particular need time to mature.

I can't tell from your description if the dog is snapping or not, but the rule at my house is that dogs are never allowed to put teeth on people. They catch on to that quickly if you are consistent. The 'mouthy puppy play' can't be allowed, since the teeth come in contact with human skin. Dogs can't differentiate the difference in using teeth for play and not for attack.

Good luck! Hope you find him a good home!

Ooh, how wonderful! I don't (post #68776, reply #2 of 3)

by AnnL in reply to plantlust [original] on Tue, 01/05/2010 - 15:08

Ooh, how wonderful! I don't know about cockers, but Mals do the air snapping thing, it's one reason why their nickname is Maligators. :-) It's an excitement/play thing and as long as there's no attempt to bite or snap AT you instead of just snapping at the air, it's not something you need to worry about. Teeth on skin should not be allowed. I usually find if I turn my back on the dog and ignore it when it tries to mouth my hands, they get the message pretty quickly.

Enjoy and bless you for fostering! There are so many dogs out there that need a second chance.

Ann
"The elders were wise. They knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; they knew that lack of respect for growing, living things, soon led to lack of respect for humans, too." Chief Luther Standing Bear, Lakota Sioux

A very good description of (post #68776, reply #3 of 3)

by plantlust in reply to AnnL [original] on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 11:41

A very good description of the air snapping thing is:
Looooong time ago, on a TV show called Garfield Goose. Garfield (the goose hand puppet) did the same snapping thing w/the 2 parts of his beak.

I haven't seen the snapping thing lately. I REALLY have to get him to ease up on the licking/biting activity. My other dogs are getting VERY annoyed with him. Time to start a bit of training tonight. On the plus side, he's still GREAT in the car, no accidents in the house and he comes when I whistle! Smart little guy, for sure.

Hug your mom, if you are still lucky enough to have one.

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I'm a foster mom - dog not human