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Originally Posted by R-Teddy  I was going to say the same thing. My Shih Tzu does this all the time, not just when he potties. It is definitely a dominance thing.
I have to warn the OP however, as "CUTE" as it may seem right now, you really shouldn't let him do it. right now its just a toy, but later on it may be with other dogs, as my zeus does. being TOO dominate can get them in trouble and lead to fights. I wouldnt encourage it. Whenever I see my dog do it I stop him. Also when they do that they likely are starting to think THEY are the master of the house, not you. and that is never good. |
Oh, I don't think showing so basic and instinctive a behavior as bull-kicking and snorting to spread their scent and feel dominant over the territory they just marked or the toy they just tossed, ran to catch and shook hard - a very instinctive, fixed action pattern like digging up their bed and going around in circles before lying down or automatically licking a wet dog, is them attempting to dominate their human. Bull-kicking is just one of many behaviors canines so unthinkingly perform that I don't think they feel they are showing dominance over their human when they do these things but are just claiming that territory over other dogs or their toy, which is merely proxy prey to them.
I don't think a true leader living with a dog will be affected in any way because his dog instinctively spreads his scent after waste elimination or demonstrates some ego after he's "killed" his toy. My Tibbe does both of those things all the time but he never, ever tries to assume a leadership or dominance role over me as our relationship is already clearly defined and there is no doubt in either of our minds who is the pack leader. I think he's just being a dog and performing one of his involuntary fixed-action-patterns just like when he instinctively tries to eat his own vomit.