Why does my dog roll on his back when I scold him?
A dog rolling onto his/her back is a sign of submission. He is exposing his vulnerable underbelly to you. Plus, in my dog’s case, she just likes to have her belly rubbed (smile) . . . but he knows that you are upset with him for whatever he may have done and he is in a way saying to you “I am sorry dad/mom, please forgive me.”In a pack situation (and generally - you are perceived as the proverbial ‘pack leader’) the ‘non-alpha’ dog will roll onto its back to show submission to the alpha male or female in the pack. If another of the dogs shows aggression often times a younger, or less aggressive dog will roll onto its back to show submission AND that it does not wish to engage in combat with the aggressor.Same holds true for cats. Our cat will roll onto her back when we pet her not because she is being scolded (she’s a scrapper - and would just as soon scratch your eyes out when angry) but because she TRUSTS us and knows that the worst thing we will do is rub her belly.Animals do not expose themselves to possible hurt unless they completely trust their owner. The underside of a dog or cat (any four legged critter for that matter) is a vulnerable place (aside from the throat) in an attack situation.Hope this answers your question.
Why does my dog roll on his back when I approach him?
I have a 1 year old Blue Heeler with lots of energy. We adopted him from our local Humane Society :). My family and I have come to a consensus that he was beat in his previous home because when we first got him he would cower away when you approached him, (and for various other reasons). Now that he knows we love him and that we are safe that has subsided. But now he is picking up the habit of rolling over on his back when approached. It's not a scared/nervous gesture, he seems happy to see you, he just always rolls over! :D I guess what i'm asking is if this behavior is in any way related to the fact that he had an abusive previous home, or if it is just a way of showing his excitement? Should I discourage this behavior?
Why does my dog always roll on his back when I approach him?
It's a sign of submission. Your dog is saying, "You are my pack leader and I am acknowledging it. I am happy with my place as your subordinate. Reassure my position, my place in the pack, by showing me affection - thanks!" He sounds like a great pup!
Why does my dog roll on his back when I'm petting and playing with him?
Because you pet and play with him when he rolls on his back! Positive reinforcement is a powerful phenomenon, as certified by decades of solid scientific research. You can easily demonstrate its effects by switching the present contingencies and only attending to your dog when he is lying on his stomach. If you are consistent in doing this, he will quickly learn the behavior that pays off - lying on his stomach, if that is what you choose to reinforce. I only reinforce my dog when he is lying on his stomach, and that's the behavior I get. I don't mean to disagree with all this business about pack leader, dominance, and such, but the answer to your question should include the effects of your attention as a reinforcer, which I would argue is more powerful than phylogenic influences.
Why does my dog roll onto her back when I approach her?
She's submissive. Very submissive. Be happy she's not urinating when she does this. It will take time and a lot of training for her to, one, get used to you, and two, be trained to do something, such as "sit" when you approach her. You'll get there. My suggestion would to be to enroll her in a social obedience class, where she can learn manners, etc to be a good house dog. Good luck!
What does it mean when a dog rolls onto its back when I approach it?
I am at my girlfriend's house quite a bit. She has a dog that is quite ill-tempered and not friendly toward most people. She doesn't bite, but if someone who she does not know well tries to touch her, she exposes her teeth and growels. However, whenever I bend down to give her a scratch behind the ear, she rolls over onto her back with her feet in the air. I don't know what else to do, so I give her a rub on her stomach and she stays put as long as I'm there. It the stomach rub what she is looking for? I find this odd because there are only about 2 other people (my girlfriend and her sister) who are allowed to even touch her.
My dog rolls over on his belly and bites me when I rub his belly. Why does she do this?
I don't know the answer to your question, but I have one of my own. In your first sentence, the dog is male. In the second sentence, the dog has become female. Your dog is flipped over on its back. Can you not tell the difference?