(105) Laws That Rule the Dog World

There are certain social laws that rule the dog world. I am learning these laws by ovserving Max and Beeker in our family. Here are a few that I have learned and I am sure that you can come up with some that you have witnessed when your dog plays with other dogs. The first that comes to mind relates to ownership of toys or food. It’s the Love it or Loose it Law. If a coveted object (read: chew toy, bone, etc) is left behind, it is open season and another dog is able to retrieve it as their own. For example, right now Beeker was chewing on one of the antlers we got his past weekend. When I got up to go get something from the refrigerator; Beeker left the antler behind to follow me. Max, viewing this coveted antler, snatched it right up and started chewing on the antler. Beeker looked back at Max, but was not able to regain control of the antler because of the dog law. As soon as Max got up to check the door, Beeker got up and went right to the left antler and took repossession of the antler. An associated law states that when a dog has finished eating, and has left his bowl, other dogs can then check to see if any morsels have been left behind. Not until the dog has left the bowl, can another dog approach the bowl. Another important dog social rule is the bow to request play. This is a common courtesy one dog bestows upon another, requesting that the first dog would like to engage the second dog in some play. This allows the second dog to choose to play or signal back that, “now is not the time to play”. A dog’s social etiquette states that when greeting another dog for the first time or when first meeting another dog, it is appropriate to be smelled from behind and to smell another dog from behind. We know this as a dog’s way to identify each other like finger prints on humans. Dogs do this by smells. The who, what, when’s of the dog world. We have observed and read about the dominate dog rule. This social rule states that the most senior/powerful/ dominate dog in the group gets to go first. In the wild, this probably meant that the most powerful dog got to eat first, however, this means that the dominate dog goes through the door first. I have witnessed Maxie going first and sometimes Beeker gets to go first. I wonder if in a random group, one where people were not present, if the dominate dog would go first?

As I think about these observations I wonder if these are social rules in the dog world or if they are just observed behaviors? Is there any difference? Dogs know how to get along with other dogs. They are taught what is important from modeling after other dogs. They are taught from puppyhood, how to get along with other dogs. When Beeks was just a little puppy, we were visiting my sisters’ home where four other dogs were present. Max was there, Jesse James was there, a young lab, Callie was present, and an older dominate lab, Bullet was there as well. All five dogs were sitting in my sister’s family room, each lying next to their owners. Callie’s owner brought out chew for all of the dogs, while the owners enjoyed a snack of our own. All dogs obediently sat eating their own respective chew, except for Beeker who quickly consumed his and decided he would try to get the chew of the dog lying next to him, who happened to be the oldest and most dominate dog, Bullet. It took one short look and the quietest growl from Bullet to let Beeker know he had crossed the line; EVEN attempting to get Bullet’ chew, was bad dog etiquette. Beeker turned tail and moved over closer to Max. I could just see Beeker thinking about trying to get Max’s chew too but he learned that such things were not tolerated.
I know there are other dog world Laws, you may have observed these and others as well. It’s good to know that dogs have social rules and laws that keep their world orderly and also help young pups grow up with dog approved socialization.