Personal Learning Story
Why is something worth learning? The easiest answer to that question, for me, is because knowledge is power. And something that’s exciting to think about it that you will never know everything, so there is always more to learn and higher goals to reach. Recently, I worked at a doggie daycare in town. I was an “Animal Caretaker” and as part of the position, I had to learn about animal behavior, specifically when multiple dogs are playing together. I started out loving animals, but not very knowledgeable on breeds, behaviors, or the difference between good play and bad play.
I learned cues to watch for in dogs, such as baring teeth, raised scruff, and anxiety behaviors, to indicate that a dog is nervous or uncomfortable playing. I also learned playing styles that are not appropriate in playgroups, such as third wheeling, herding, fence fighting, nipping, “referees,” and the “doggie nerds” that do not understand or respond to social cues given by other dogs. Each of these behaviors is not only annoying to other dogs, but could be dangerous to the dog committing the behavior because others could get frustrated and redirect on this dog. Healthy ply includes the dogs taking turns on which one is dominate and which one is submissive.
I learned about how specific breeds play together. For example, Pit Bulls make a lot of eye contact when playing. This intimidates dogs of other breeds, but works wells when two pits are playing together. Shepherd breeds like to herd other dogs while they’re playing by nipping legs and ankles.
I was forced to step outside my comfort zone in this job. I had dogs of massive weights jumping on me, I was bitten a few times, I had to walk dogs on leashes that drug me all around the store, I bathed and clipped nails of dogs that did not want to be touched, I put myself in the middle of large dogs scuffling, and we even had an elderly dog pass away at our facility. Each of these things were new experiences for me, but in the end made me a better dog lover and owner and will help me as I continue to volunteer with rescue dogs.
I learned cues to watch for in dogs, such as baring teeth, raised scruff, and anxiety behaviors, to indicate that a dog is nervous or uncomfortable playing. I also learned playing styles that are not appropriate in playgroups, such as third wheeling, herding, fence fighting, nipping, “referees,” and the “doggie nerds” that do not understand or respond to social cues given by other dogs. Each of these behaviors is not only annoying to other dogs, but could be dangerous to the dog committing the behavior because others could get frustrated and redirect on this dog. Healthy ply includes the dogs taking turns on which one is dominate and which one is submissive.
I learned about how specific breeds play together. For example, Pit Bulls make a lot of eye contact when playing. This intimidates dogs of other breeds, but works wells when two pits are playing together. Shepherd breeds like to herd other dogs while they’re playing by nipping legs and ankles.
I was forced to step outside my comfort zone in this job. I had dogs of massive weights jumping on me, I was bitten a few times, I had to walk dogs on leashes that drug me all around the store, I bathed and clipped nails of dogs that did not want to be touched, I put myself in the middle of large dogs scuffling, and we even had an elderly dog pass away at our facility. Each of these things were new experiences for me, but in the end made me a better dog lover and owner and will help me as I continue to volunteer with rescue dogs.