Aggression
How to unlearn human aggression by observing your dog’s innate though civil behaviors
That’s right. In 2007, there were 33 fatal dog attacks in the United States. See the picture to the left? It is a Rottweiler. A study published in September 2000, found that Rottweilers and pitbull type dogs are responsible for the vast majority of fatal dog bites, with Rottweilers, number one. In fact, in 1997 and 1998 pitbulls and Rottweilers were responsible for 67 percent of all fatal dog bites.
How to unlearn human aggression by observing your dog, are you nuts? No, just observant.
A dominant or threatening animal will point his muzzle as a weapon directly at his victim.
To calm the threatening animal, the other dominant dog, as a means of deflection will slightly turn his head to the side. So, the next time you are approached by an angry co-worker or spouse, hell bent on falsely accusing you of something; rather than face the accuser head-on or chin-to-chin; glance in another direction or look up in the air as if you are trying to remember the details.
Dogs yawn to ‘turn down the volume’ of an angry master or ‘pacify’ the threats of an aggressive dog.
When approached by your supervisor or spouse about something that was done incorrectly and you wish not to involve yourself in an argument or fight, visibly take a deep breath. This signals that (a) you will accept the verbal assault (b) you value the person delivering the message, you are just not overly concerned with the content, and (c) you are not interested in retaliation or retribution.
Dogs will turn their eyes away to avoid the direct eye-to-eye stare of an aggressive dog.
Co-workers and even spouses are pretty territorial. Told that you re-allocated a portion of the budget to suit your department’s needs at the expense of someone else’s could be reason for a fist fight. If you are guilty, just set your eyes on your accuser’s mouth, chin or nose. You are not interested in fighting; because whether you or your opponent win or lose, the decision has already been set in stone.
Dogs blink to break a dominant stare and show submission.
Once I told my boss point blank that I was going to achieve a target set by the uberboss and that I was aware that he/she was undercutting me. Then I blinked my eyes. The supervisor noticed and commented, “You are blinking.” I said, “Yes, I have lazy eye.” With this gesture, I implied ‘We are almost equals, but I will accept your leadership.” (Coren, 2000).
Dogs signal distraction (scratching himself, sniffing the ground, or glazing into the horizon) when approached by a threatening dog.
Someone entering your office preparing to accuse you of whatever? And you really don’t remember? Or you don’t have the foggiest notion what your spouse is talking about and when whatever it is/was occurred or didn’t occur? Start to shuffle papers on your desk. Check your calendar or personal planner to review your schedule on the day of the incident. If you take enough time, your partner, boss or colleague will not get the adrenalin rush of a potential fight, will calm down and re-think the issue, and move on to the next target.
A smart dog understands that every fight brings the risk of death and livelihood. Therefore he will choose to fight; if he must, only as a last resort.
Of the estimated 74.8 million dogs in the US, there were just 33 fatal dog attacks. Maybe most dogs are much smarter than we give them credit?
Upon reflection, I think about a phone conversation I had with my husband just yesterday. He was upset that I had not taken out the trash or the recycle bin. As the new me, I exclaimed, “That isn’t fair. If whatever it is you want to argue about isn’t a threat to life and it doesn’t lead to incapacitation, then I’m not arguing.” I slammed the phone. Non aggression, I’ve getting better. I guess now I need to work on my diplomacy.
