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turning her face away from mind why

bigbear1traceybigbear1tracey
in Bull Terrier Character
Hi guys right I gone threw alot of topics and can't find the answer I'm looking for as maybe it's never been discussed sophie has a brilliant nature great with people kids other dogs etc but I've noticed something that I can't figger out I've just settled the dogs down for the night and gone to give sophie a cuddle on the sofa tryed to kiss her on the nose and she's pulled her face away from me so I've tryed again and she's turning her head away so I tryed again then she's put her head up in the air for god sake I'm saying to myself why does she not want any face to face contact is she pissed off cause I told her off earlier is it a warning to say leave me alone she doesn't always do this just sometimes she's not a licky licky dog but normal accepts kisses on her head nose and face I fill quite upset about it as I have no clue to why she's done that tonight .
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  • DjammyDjammy
    edited March 2015
    I am no behavioral expert when it comes to dogs. But as far as I know, turning the head when dogs great each other among themselves is said to be a gesture of respect - not ignorance, as some people think. The head is turned away in order to avoid coming across as offensive or dominant by direct staring.

    The behavior of your dog - although it may seem rejective to you - could actually mean quite the opposite:
    That your dog not only likes but also respects you. And wants to do things right.

    Another thing - many people are not aware of this either - dogs usually do not like it very much to be touched right on the head, especially when the hand comes directly from the front.
    Same goes for bending over the dog with your body when the dog lying on the ground.
    Among dogs such direct behavior often means dominance or threat. Dogs in a household need to learn that these gestures have a different meaning when humans do them. Some dogs never really manage to shake off the uneasy feeling and tend to retract their heads, when the hand comes.

    Those dogs feel a lot better when you pet their backs, shoulders or bellies.

    Just some quick thoughts. It's hard to really evaluate the situation without more context.


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  • philsergeantphilsergeant Palm City, Florida, USA
    Big Bear! I am so glad you picked up on this... it's a great subject!!!!  I know that just about everyone will have a different opinion, but it is nice to know that Bullies have the same gestures  (other breeds might have similar actions... but who cares, I have only known Bullies all my life).... I have the same reactions from my dogs frequently..... I can only say that I have felt that it's when they feel my expression is "false"... like, as you say, a goodnight kiss.... or  when you are "making a statement" with the gesture. To me they never turn away when you are sitting and genuinely loving them with devotion, but, if you are saying, "here, have a kiss, I'm going to bed", their reaction is "If you really loved me, you wouldn't leave me".... If Isabella is lying in my lap I could kiss her head a hundred times and she would just puurrrr.... but, if I am putting her in her crate and say; "goodnight my loveliness" and kiss her, she'll turn away and 'say', "okay, bugger off then".....  The other occasion I find the same thing is when we are trying to distract them from something else that has their attention.... Then, frankly, the attention is just not needed or valuable enough.... this is when they show that they (temporarily) take us for granted.
    In the beginning God created English Bull Terriers, in the image of EBT's, God created all other breeds.
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  • bigbear1traceybigbear1tracey
    Thank u for your comments I think I have found out what it is my dogs r only allowed on the sofa if they r invited they r not allowed to just jump up on when they fill like itit if they do they get a firm command which is OFF well sophie has been allowed to sleep on it of a night because the pup had a upset tummy and pooed on sophies bed so when I came down this morning sophie looked at me as if to say I'm on the sofa but I know I shouldn't be and did the same again when I went to kiss her she was waiting for the OFF command thinking she was going to get told off for being on the sofa obviously because she's had no bed for a couple of nights she's been able to just take her self in to the sofa which she's normally not allowed to do during to day is not a problem with the sofa as my old dog has a bed which comes down in the morning so they share that during the day so today I'll make sure I get her a new bed not to confuse her xxxx thanks again .
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  • DjammyDjammy
    edited March 2015
    @Philsergeant
    not with turning the head away - which she also occasionally does - but with other behaviors I have experienced the very same feeling that Bull Terriers WANT you to MEAN what you say and do.

    Not only when it comes to obedience, but also during play. When I am not really in the mood for training or play, but do it anyway in order to keep Djamila busy, she herself will only play halfheartedly and stop pretty soon. That does not mean that she will lay down and just rest afterwards. No way! She will keep trying to interest me in other joined activities - in my words: bother me :)
    It's really obvious that the point is not her not being in the mood for play. 
    She only doesn't like the bored way I'm DOING it that moment! 
    Only one example. 

    They are amazing creatures and they read us humans like an open book!
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