Staring and Marking - what does it mean?

[Patricia Dianne]

Good morning guys, I just have a quick question - what is the meaning of the "staring" thing. Is it an undesirable thing? I've noticed my guy doing it and I thought it was just because he's still young (7 months old) and the person (it's always a person) has simply caught his interest .... I let him look/stare for a second and then I tell him to 'come on let's go'. Should I be stopping him from doing this staring thing, will it go a step further than staring and if it does what would the next step be? Thanks.

[Patricia Dianne]

Sorry guys, one more question, why do you not want your dog to pee where they want (in my case a 7 month old male - going to be 8 months old on the 23rd) when they're out for a walk? I sorta of thought that part of the reason for the walk is to let them go to the washroom when they're out. Should I be stopping him from peeing when he wants when he's out for his walks - wouldn't yanking his leash and stopping him from peeing get him frustrated - I'm not sure I want that kind of control over him - or am I looking at it the wrong way? Thanks.

[sophie's-mom]

One thing about the peeing, I don't know about anyone else but I think it is tacky rude for someone to let their dog piss in my yard or on my tree or on my electric pole where it drives my dogs crazy!

Let your dog piss in your own yard. I don't allow my dogs to do it I sure as heck don't want someone else's dog doing it!

And if I see them allowing it I will walk outside and tell them to, "let your dog piss in your own yard!"

[alexav]

Personally, I cannot stand a male who whizzes on everything vertical.

I teach my pups to "go potty" when they hear the phrase. That should be your first step.
Allow the dog to empty his bladder in his own yard before you go on a walk and then YOU pick a spot on your walk to allow him to go again, preferably not on your neighbor's prize winning Bagonias.
A walk should be for exercise and not for a male to drag his handler from tree to tree and shrub to shrub, sniffing and marking the world.
Most people don't teach this figuring that "males will be males"... That's why you should never buy anything from Petsmart that has been displayed on a lower shelf! BLECH!

[Sargeant_C]

Staring is a bad sign that can cause more problems later on..such as when dogs get into fights they stare down at each other and then the fight is on. So always always break a stare.

As for peeing there is several reasons..one is If I do not own a dog I do not want my dog peeing in my yard. It is a sign of marking. Now if I am at a park then yes the dog will pee possibly poop (pick that up) and if we cannot get home right away such as camping then yes the dog will pee and poop right there.

[alexav]

Originally Posted by Patricia Dianne

I've noticed my guy doing it and I thought it was just because he's still young (7 months old) and the person (it's always a person) has simply caught his interest .... I let him look/stare for a second and then I tell him to 'come on let's go'. Should I be stopping him from doing this staring thing, will it go a step further than staring and if it does what would the next step be? Thanks.

At his age, I would guess that he is simply curious. I too would continue on my way after a second or two with a happy "let's go".
If the interested look is followed up by posturing, hair raising, and growling, then you have some work to do.
He's young and inexperienced, let him look and go on about your business without being to gruff or concerned.

[Judi W]

Especially with a young adolescent male, the pissing around the 'hood is his way of expanding his territory beyond his own property. It is not a good idea to allow the emerging adult to start claiming property not his own. That doesn't mean he can not relieve himself, but it should only be allowed at a site or your choosing, not his own and once or twice on a walk should be the limit. It is what happens in the mind when allowing a dog to expand his territory. Dogs who yell threats and hostilities at other dogs when out walking usually started and are allowed to think they own the place. So, instead of waiting until you find that happening, just don't let it develop.

A "stare" vs a glance usually indicates unease or challenge. Same as the above, just stop it from turning into a full blown thought or action.

[Patricia Dianne]

Thank you guys, I ALWAYS pick up his poo if we're out for a walk and I guess I never thought about the pee thing being just as bad/gross - something new to work on!
I'll also keep an eye on his stare thing - he hasn't shown any signs of aggression or unease when he's staring but as he gets older I'll keep a close eye on it.
Thanks for the helpful feedback.

[Judi W]

Why wait until he is older? Interupt the thoughts now and establish a good habit.

[Patricia Dianne]

So Judi when I catch him staring now should I react immediately as opposed to giving him a few seconds to scope the situation out is that what you mean - not to allow him to do the staring thing at all even though it doesn't appear (and I know the key word in my sentence is appear what with me being a new Rottie person) he is being aggressive - I am working on not letting it get into an aggressive situation is that right?

[RottiMomCT]

A casual glance to see what's going on is acceptable. A hard STARE at someone or something is rude, and may signal that he's about to set off barking and acting like a fool.

Better to avoid the 'display of idiots' as my husband calls it by avoiding allowing him to stare at something.

Posture will let you know if it's a hard stare or something that peaked his curiousity and he's just checking it out. A solid square stance, high up on his toes, very alert, tail up, eyes wide, ears forward (sometimes hackles raised) is a hard stare. A relaxed posture yet alert stance is less of a worry, but still shouldn't be allowed.

There's no reason for him to be staring at anything unless he's really into a good book or movie . If he gets to staring, call his name and get his attention back on you. If you can't keep his attention, walk in the other direction with him.

As for the peeing when out for a walk - I don't allow it unless we are on the public trails that everyone uses. I do not allow the dogs to mark anything in the park such as the rocks, trees, picnic tables, etc. Once onto the trail and there is lush green weeds around us - he can pee all he wants as long as he can do it before he gets to the endo f the lead (6 foot lead, he is 6 feet ahead of me, I get 6 foot past him and we go...he has about 12 feet of leash to pee-and he knows it).

[miccmill]

In my dogs case, she is fear aggressive so when she stares (and I don't mean a curious glance) and marks, these are manifestations of her worry or unease.

When I don't allow staring and marking, I'm telling her "Nope, this is not an appropriate way to handle your fears, let me show you what I want you to do" She's shown me she can handle being redirected and is open to training in general so that's what we do.

Your guy is young and no doubt of sounder temperment than mine so the advice you're getting from Alexav, Judi and others is going to apply better to your little guy.

[miccmill]

Better to avoid the 'display of idiots' as my husband calls it by avoiding allowing him to stare at something.

OMG! that is so funny. That's exactly what it is too.

[jazzie23]

That's interesting, Jazmin (3 months) stares quite a bit. I never thought it was anything negative. When something is of interest to her she'll sit down and stare.

Well, we are cutting it out

[scooterjohansen]

Originally Posted by jazzie23

That's interesting, Jazmin (3 months) stares quite a bit. I never thought it was anything negative. When something is of interest to her she'll sit down and stare.

Well, we are cutting it out

oooppps I gotta ask why would you want to cut out instinct and penalise the dog.