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Stretching - What does it mean?

Discussion in 'Behavior' started by OntarioSheltie, May 29, 2009.

  1. OntarioSheltie

    OntarioSheltie Forums Celebrity

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    Whenever my husband or I talk sweetly to Sadie, she answers by wagging her tail and stretching. It can be predicted most times, she does it so often, she does a little bow with her bum in the air, then stretches out her back legs behind her.

    It's very cute but I've always wondered, what does it mean? I've never seen a dog do this before. Is it a sign of submission?

    I should try and get it on video this weekend, given the frequency that she does it, it shouldn't be too hard to record.
     
  2. OntarioSheltie

    OntarioSheltie Forums Celebrity

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    I looked online a little while ago and couldn't find anything about dog body language that mentioned stretching. Of course since I just posted this, I found this article, which seems to make sense to me.

    http://www.clickertraining.com/files/canine_body_lang_pre.pdf

    I'd still love to hear if anyone else has any ideas or if you've read something somewhere!
     
  3. MisfitBrian

    MisfitBrian Forums Enthusiast

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    I actually have video of Max doing the "stretch" that I'll post later. I believe it's more a sign of being comfortable than anything else. My Dr. said that humans are the only animal that doesn't stretch automatically when they wake up.
     
  4. JessicaR

    JessicaR Forums Enthusiast

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    Belle does the same thing! first she stretches her front then she drags her back legs about a foot. I always thought it was so cute when she does this. Belle is also the only one of my dogs to do this.
     
  5. mcguiregirl2248

    mcguiregirl2248 Forums Enthusiast

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    Rasha does it too! Every time you talk to her when you are standing up she stretches. It is funny!

    Thanks for posting the article, that was interesting to read the author's opinion about the stretch and what it means.
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2009
  6. Aztec

    Aztec Forums Enthusiast

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    Aztec does this as well. I never knew why, I just assumed he did it because Laika did it...Laika does it because when I was teaching her "bow" I said "good girl" so often that she now bows every time she hears the words "good girl":smile2:
     
  7. OntarioSheltie

    OntarioSheltie Forums Celebrity

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    I guess Sadie's behavior is not so uncommon after all! Good to know :smile2:
     
  8. Ania

    Ania Forums Enthusiast

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    Actually, that's true of adults. We are too busy right off the hop thinking about this and that that we don't listen to our bodies anymore. If you observe infants and small children, they do stretch when they wake up.
     
  9. davemize

    davemize Forums Enthusiast

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    That's interesting, Anita. So, the same mind that lets us modify our environment (one of the signs of intelligence) also lets us overcome some instincts.

    I still circle three times before laying down, though.
     
  10. MisfitBrian

    MisfitBrian Forums Enthusiast

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    :lol: wait, what?
     

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