[Katiebell]

I really got a kick out of this!!!
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[Dr. Smith]

I've got the same one from a year or two back, but the main caption/title is "Lab Identification Chart"

Doc

[Dr. Smith]

Started a refresher course of advanced obedience with our Labbie last night. He gets exercise, but with both of us physically limited, he doesn't get a lot of socialization with other dogs/people, which is where he needs some work. He's also only 2, and if you know Labbies, you know their brains don't fully gel until somewhere between 4 and never....

This class was small - only 5 dogs, 3 of them chocolate Labbies, one mastiff mix, and one.... I don't know (some kind of chow mix who does not play well with other dogs). Several of the other handlers kind of freaked when they saw our dog working... until the trainer confessed that we were semi-regulars, I'm a former assistant, and our dog already (sort of) knew what he was doing (snicker!)
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Doc

[Katiebell]

I have a 3 1/2 year old Boxer mix named Zip. He is so perceptive and intelligent - he understands basic commands and picks up on human non-verbal communication. Lately I've noticed that while he knows his name and a few key words (i.e. Daddy, out, and home), his reactions mainly depend on how I say something and my body language at the time. I find animal behavior so fascinating!

Check out my photo album dedicated to Zip!

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Katiebell
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his reactions mainly depend on how I say something and my body language at the time.

That's because that's how dogs communicate naturally. They don't sit around in the pack barking at each other; it's ALL body language. Most training programs/regimens (obedience, agility, shutzhund, sporting.... big list on:

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rely heavily on hand signals & body language. Dogs spend much of their conscious time studying/watching us to pick up on our cues, which can make it seem like they're psychic/telepathic. They're also very ritual oriented, which has a lot of connotations....

Doc

[Katiebell]

Zip is definitely ritual-oriented. He goes to be at the same time every night and gets in his cage just before my fiancee and I gather our things for work. When I am home, he follows me and always keeps an eye on me. Is this because he's protective or doesn't want to be alone?

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Katiebell
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When I am home, he follows me and always keeps an eye on me. Is this because he's protective or doesn't want to be alone?

Probably a little of both. I'm hesitant to say without actually seeing the behavior. Dogs are social animals; they want to be with the pack, and part of being in a pack is watching out for each other (Have you seen Ice Age?); that's why they get along so well with humans - we live in "packs" too - families, communities... and we take care of each other. He's also keeping that eye on you to learn about you and your cues (as I mentioned previously).

Overly protective and/or separation anxiety behaviors have telltale traits.

Separation anxiety can occur if/when owners make a big fuss over comings & goings. (Spoze you were a little kid and your family got you all worked up like you were going out to have fun, then slammed the door and left you alone for several hours. Same when they got home and you wondered what you missed. It's not that bad, but...) Dogs with SA can also get destructive because they're basically frustrated and have little other outlet.

Protectiveness is usually more a show of aggression if anyone comes within what the dog perceives as its territory. Unfortunately the anyone can sometimes be another family member.

Either behavior should be corrected/dealt with. I hate to go into particulars, because it can get a little controversial with different theories - almost like childrearing. There's a lot of information online and in books, but again - good & bad, like everything else.

Doc

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Katiebell
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Zip is definitely ritual-oriented. He goes to be at the same time every night and gets in his cage just before my fiancee and I gather our things for work.

Picky, picky, but it's not a cage - it's a crate!
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Doc

[Katiebell]

Zip wouldn't stop staring at me last night - neither I nor my fiancee could get him to break his gaze. What was going on?
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[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Katiebell
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Zip wouldn't stop staring at me last night - neither I nor my fiancee could get him to break his gaze. What was going on?
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Sounds to me like he was staring at you.
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Did it feel like he was burning a telepathic hole through your skull?
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Humans are so thick - they just don't get it!
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What's even creepier is when they stare at a corner of the room when there's nothing there!
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He was trying to communicate something to you. <shrug> Most likely he wanted some attention or had some desire/need, but what kind can be a guessing game until you study him enough to figure it out. Maybe he wanted to go out (for a walk or otherwise), wanted some petting, wanted to play (although that usually has other cues), a snack, a drink... ??? Did you possibly change/miss some regular activity/ritual that he was expecting? (Like... supper?
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)

There's an old saying that kids & dogs are alike - they're always on the wrong side of a door (and a lot of other analogies). It's true, and it's also ironic, because while we tend to anthropomorphize dogs a lot (in fact, too much), dog brains are still so very different from ours. PBS's NOVA re-ran an episode entitled Dogs Decoded this week. If you act quickly, it should still be available for streaming for a few more days:

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Whatever Zip wanted, he was trying to ask "politely" (for a dog - in a dog's terms). Like children (or humans or other living things for that matter) dogs are expert opportunists and manipulators; they're equipped with all that cuteness, and they know (learn) how to use it to their advantage. They're smart enough to know/understand that what worked once may work again (which is why they're trainable), so they'll keep trying, in order to get what they want. They also want to please/curry favor. We can help them there by leading; making known what we want/expect of them, and reward them for compliance.

If it's convenient for you, you can try to figure out what he wants. If not, tell him (calmly) "no", then expect to get that dejected hang-dog look of rejection. Ignore it; he'll survive. You're the pack leader; you make the rules and decisions.

Doc