Most times when Ella meets another dog, both dogs are on lead. I know this is different from the UK as we have to have our dogs on lead but I think Ella is very used to it and we never really have any problems. Occasionally Ella will meet a dog in the park and both (or multiple) dogs are off lead. I'm a real novice at this but I often see bowing and curved bodies (when they go around in a circle sort of nose-to-tail) and a often run around a bit. I believe that these are all pretty good signs. However, Ella usually has her hackles up as well. After a couple of minutes they go down. I'm wondering if this is a signed of over excitement or perhaps a little nervousness? It doesn't appear to be angry or aggressive but it doesn't necessarily look great when your dog is running around with their hackles up. What do you think?
It just means she is aroused. Hackles, or piloerection to give it it's proper name , happens both in excited dogs, fearful dogs or aggressive dogs. The clues are in the rest of the body language as to what is the cause of the arousal state.
Hackles up is generally thought to be an arousal thing - might mean nervousness or excitement. Not necessarily anything 'bad' though. Just a sign that your dog is in a heightened state.
Ripples hackles go up when he meets other dogs - he's constantly in an overexcited state . Unfortunately it does sometimes cause concern to other dog owners.
My Twiglet raised her hackles very easily - and she was far from nervous! im sure it was excitement. Tatze almost never raises hers - but when she does it's when she's worried/concerned. Mollie doesn't seem to have any hackles - but she's a super super confident monster and maybe a bit young at six months, she probably still looks to me and Tatze for her protection, so doesn't feel the need to react. It's an interesting subject I'd like to learn more about. Is it a bit like the 'hairs on the back of our neck'? I find mine raise when I'm excited more than scared .
Brambles has practically a mohican running all the way down her back when she is excited, from her shoulders right to her tail! Like a mexican wave . I am used it now, but some other dogs owners have viewed her with some trepidation. If there were any other behaviours such as stiff posture or staring then yes I would be concerned too. Bramble is usually in full play mode when it happens so I have put it down to "Hi I am SUPER HAPPY to meet you!
We have been told by our trainer that for Harls and other dogs we, as humans, must look at the rest of the dog/puppies body language to see what state of arousal the hackles are accompanying. Harls gets them when she is excited or fearful. lol. When she is excited, they go up and then she shakes her whole body and they are gone. She is such a funny pup. But other puppy owners have felt that she must be aggressive when her hackles go up, I suspect it is because she gets excited around other dogs too. But Harley has never been aggressive with another dog, or her feline brothers.
My lab has the super obvious ones as well, going straight down to his tail. He gets it when he's scared, usually when in the back garden and someone suddenly appears in view and surprises him. He then gives the most scary, deepest bark. He really sounds and looks terrifying with the hackles up as well. The thing is, he isn't being aggressive, he is just a scaredy cat and is so soft and gentle, he runs in and immediately grabs his stuffed toy and needs cuddles. But of course, no one else knows this :/
Coco's hackles raise like a huge bush on his shoulders - he does it when he's barking out of the window at something or nothing - so I guess this might be a combination of excitement and being unsure. I've not yet seen it when faced with another dog.
Snowie raises his when he meets another dog who is being stiff towards him. Then he also tiptoes stiffly and hairs rise up. No aggression from Snowie, just showing he's very unsure of this dog. Maybe he's also a little scared, I'm not sure, cos he's a super-confident dog and doesn't scurry away. He also raises them when a rude puppy invades his space in the rudest way, perhaps tries to mount him, body bashes him. He doesn't respond in any other way; simply tries to quietly extract himself from the situation, but the hairs are raised. If it's a young male (older than a puppy) doing this, he usually mounts it - I'm guessing he's telling it off and saying, I'm older and dominant. I pull him off immediately cos I know no-one likes their dog being mounted. My husband was afraid when this started - hackles raised - that Snowie was becoming aggressive. Started showing raised hackles at about three years of age. I was sure it's not aggression. Glad I've read this thread - makes me more certain it's not given the rest of Snowie's behavior. And btw I thought they were "shackles" when I first used the word a few years ago!!!!!!
Interesting topic! Quinn's hackles go up when she is intimidated or nervous...always off leash around other dogs who are playing rough, humping or if she's just unsure about the situation. I would say her tail is also between her legs when her hackles are up about 85% of the time...which tells me she is not excited but nervous/fearful. I have never seen her hackles up in any other situation.
Axel's go up when meeting other dogs then when they start running around they go down. So I always put it down to being unsure of the dog running up in to his personal space
And also the context that the dogs are in. Body language gives us clues but you must also pay attention to the context as you can see similar responses which mean different things. As my mentor would say 'It's all about the context"
Libby's hackles were raised and she was barking with nerves at the stone red lion at the local pub!! She's so stupid sometimes
Monty doesn't raise his hackles at other dogs, or not so I've ever noticed. However he does raise them on the back of his neck and shoulders when someone knocks on the door, he's 3 and a bit and has been happening for the last 8 months or so. It also ties in with him doing a short but loud howl or warning bark, alerting us to someone at the door. As soon as we go to the door he stops completely, like he's done his job and now we take over. Might be coincidental but around May last year we gave him (almost) free run of the house as felt he could be trusted. Does he now feel the need to guard the front door a bit more....
This happens with my 6 month old lab Tillie when we go to the dog park and she is around other dogs. I thought it was just probably excitement (she gets easily excited), but I also notice that she foams at the mouth. Is that just over excitement too?
