Lowers his head

[Zimmstx57]

I did some searching and what he is doing might be the "play bow" but I'm not exactly sure what that is if someone could explain it more clearly it would be appreciated, thanks.

This is what he does: When he's in his cage and I walk up to it the whole time I'm walking towards him he's lowering his head like he wants to lunge at me or something, but then I just open his door and he's fine and just walks by me or sits in front of me to get petted.

There was another time a couple days ago he did this: We were outside and he was siting in the grass as I brushed him, and so I go to throw away the fur and as I'm walking back he does the head lowering thing again the whole time I walk up and as I go to pet him he moves quickly at my hand like he wanted to bite me but he didnt open his mouth and ended up just wanting to be petted.

So overall he has never done anything wrong, which I'm kind of assuming most people are going to say since he hasn't done anything wrong then why am I worrying? but I just wantedsome confirmation on this and weather other dogs did it too, thanks!

[moondog]

That's his prey drive being triggered. He's set to pounce. Have you ever watched a border collie? They are famous for this.......anything that catches their eye and they go into the head-lowered, body crouched position. Doesn't mean they are going to act on it, just means they are in prey drive.

My dog does this.....for her it's a game. I walk down the side of the house at night to put garbage in the can and she waits on the patio in pounce mode, head lowered and ready. As I walk back towards her....SPROING!!!.....she pounces at me, but always stops short and then spins to go grab a ball and take a zoom around the yard with it. As a wee babe, my pant legs did suffer some damage, LOL, but she has learned as she has matured how to play the game "legally".

[Shane]

Just to be 100% clear, when he lowers his head is it horizontal or is it bent over in a "head butt" position?

[Zimmstx57]

horizontal, sounds like moondog knows exactly what I'm talking about

[Shane]

Thanks. I had to be certain because a friend once thought my last Rottie was aggressive for head butting her when he wanted attention.

I think moondog nailed it as well then.

[tla0126]

Beau does this and adds in a silent bark. When I wake up on a Saturday or Sunday (sleeping late) and I'm just laying in the bed, he'll jump off and bow and silent bark... He cracks me up. For Beau, it's a play invite... =)

[Alistair]

My understanding is that a play bow (my Great Dane does it all the time and looks comical) is head hotizontal to and on or almost on the ground, front paws and elbows on the ground and bum in the air.

If the dog is stood up normally and is dropping his head, even with it horozontal to the ground, it may be a submissive or fear posture...showing you the top of his neck.

[iluvdakota]

wow im so glad i have read this
mine rottie dakota (6 mnths old) does the same thing,
there is a baseball field behind where i live and we go out there several times a day. he loves to play fetch with sticks , but when he tires he will lay down in the grass with it.
once i start to walk towards him he lowers his head as well...1st time i thought he was gonna lunge and attack, he looked so serious lol...but he didnit...he waited till i was close, jumped up and got all playful licking my hand

i thought this was cute....
but what was cuter was there is a wall (waist height ) that seperates our parking lot from the field.
dakota will be on one side not wanting to come home, i will be on the other side trying to coax him around the wall
well then this turns into a peek a boo game
dakota will put his head down i go closer to wall to see him he picks up ..then it starts..back and forth me and him up and down

ive been mentioning this to every1....really got to me..where did this pup get this game frm? are they really that smart?