I have noticed something interesting with Aspen and am wondering if anyone else has noticed the same thing or can explain. So we have been working on socializing Aspen and that has included many toddlers or young children. When Aspen plays with adults, even ones he's just met on a walk, he will bite at them. However, if it is a little one, such as a child, he doesn't bite. Mind you, Aspen is only a tot himself as he is just a couple days over 10 weeks. I know that dogs are very intelligent, so I am wondering if he doesn't bite at them because he just knows he shouldn't?
I think they know! Stanleys like tigger most of the time but with my 90 year old Nanna he's always been so gentle and just follows her around calmly
I think they sense age far better than we do. We have only sight to go by. Dogs and other animals also use smell and body language. I think we use body language too. We can see a person or animal is moving differently than, say, everyone we work with. We can usually tell if an unfamiliar animal is young or old. I don't think all adjust their behaviour though, according to age. Oban is a big galloot, I would never trust him around the toddler in our family. Not that he would bite but knock him down the stairs? Yeah, he'd do that. He's just not careful. Whereas we once attended a work picnic where one young GR played full contact football with the men but stepped carefully and gently with the babies and toddlers, even when they had the ball.
Both of ours seem to be more gentle around elderly and small children. In their view I don't count as elderly
Homer is definitely much more gentle and patient when playing with my dad and uncle when they've visited. H was going through a phase of pulling on the lead quite a bit with me but walked calmly next to my dad as a guide dog would. My dad's eyesight is not that good, he tripped over while walking H who just waited looking very concerned. He is also so careful with my little niece. He loved teaching her how to play ball, usually he gets quite excited but was gently placing the ball in front of her, again and again with endless patience. As she was crawling about he gently stepped around her. He ran to the for once, stopped to go around her carefully the bounded on to see who's knocked on the door.
