If Nelson doesn't get his way, or something he wants is taken away, or if he is just really tired and irritable, he does this strange sulk. I've not managed to capture the "sulk" on camera, but he puffs out one side of his top lip. If it's a big sulk, both sides of the top lip are puffed out. It really looks quite ridiculous, however it's good to recognise it and know that it's time to try and get him to relax and sleep a bit. Does anyone else have a dog that sulks?
Hi, Yes my lab is just two years now and if he realises we are going out he's on his bed puts his head on his legs and has a big sigh, and wont even look at me, trainer says dogs cant sulk because its a human emotion but believe me he does a great line in sulking!!!
It never happens when we leave him. It's more when things don't go his way. e.g. if we take his rawhide chew away from him. Then sometimes it is when he is "annoyed" at something and he is about to do something mischievious, and then his tail might wag too. Sometimes the lip puffing means he is about to (softly) bite your hand or arm in protest. Maybe "sulk" is the wrong word. I don't know if "pout" is any better. But for sure this lip puffing thing is something we have come to recognise. I can't believe we have the only labrador that does this.
We used to have a Setter that wouldn't look at my husband when he was working afternoons, she loved him to bits when he was on mornings or nights (it interfered with her routine as walks were usually after lunch). This looked a lot like sulking!
I have managed to capture the sulk/pout (please excuse the poor photography skills, you should have seen the ones I discarded ). The sulk/pout is much more pronounced in real life, but you can get the idea from the picture. Imagine you have pushed your tongue hard against the inside of your top left lip, so that it sticks out. That's what it looks like. We had just done a bit of heel work inside and he was annoyed because he hadn't yet been given a pork treat.
I get that that look too sometimes with a little lip curl. Usually when I've ended a game which he wants to continue. Then he'll take himself off to lie in a huff upstairs. Or find something he knows he shouldn't have, like my glasses case (he's still not quite been forgiven) to chew. I know there is research that dogs don't have human emotions, I don't think they've studied Homer though.
Mine makes this funny, frustrated noise almost like a deep, long, rumbling protest. It's hilarious. Normally when he wants to go for a walk and we're taking too long or busy doing something else
I know that lip curl pout well. That could be a photo of my boy. I always interpreted it as a “ please”. Like, please can we play more or please can I have that back you jerk for ending my fun. Then I get a huff and he lays down with a sigh and has a nap.
Maxx has a special place that he goes to sulk. Yes definitely sulk and I don't care what the experts say. He creeps behind our small stepladder that is hanging low down on the wall and peeps out with one eye and stares whilst quietly huffing and snorting in utter disgust! Mostly when he has politely (NOT) asked for a piece of whatever food we are preparing or eating and he doesn't get it.
