Bull Kicking
 

My Oreo has a habit of kicking his hind legs back like a bull when he is playing with his toys. With the toy in his mouth, he turns the toy to the back and trys to back kick it. I normally have seen this with with other breeds of dogs but only after they've went to the bathroom. He also does this to me when I'm on the floor with him playing sometimes.

It was kind of funny to see him do it early on but now I'm a little concerned. Does anyone know what habit means?

Thanks
TJ

I am interested in thoughts on this too because I have one that does it.


Molly will bull kick when she is playing with her toys but especially do it when she wants to get in one of the beds Macy is in. Molly will stand in front of the bed and bull kick with her back legs and growl until Macy gets out of the bed. Molly will then jump in looking very pleased with herself.

"I'm large and in charge, in case anyone here does not know that!"
Ruff tuff powder puff!

Yup, Ali does it when she potties (wants a treat) or she thinks it's time to eat.

Haha I've never really thought of it as bull kicking, but now that I've read it, I think it's perfect! Billi does it sometime's after she potties and every once in a while when she's playing and I get a kick out of it every time! It's so cute! Glad she's not the only cutie doing it!

It's almost always a sign of dominance and marking territory. It's a sign of kicking up the grass, dirt and spreading his scent from his paw pads and/or pee/poo all over his territory to mark what he considers to be his. Some back-kick after play or excited activity or when feeling dominant over a toy/object in their possession.

:thumbup::thumbup::D

Oreo sounds adorable. Teddy kicks after going potty. First it was just little kicks, but we started cheering for him so he became more elaborate. Now it is like a dance. Sometimes it is sort of jazzy and followed by a dramatic turn and dash to the kitchen for his reward.

My late great Loosie would do it on command when I would say "be a bull." Thanks for bringing back a fun memory!

Love that quote. Buster also does this after he potties.

Our little "diva" Maggie does this. My husband calls this, "kick starting her engine"! Lol she mainly does the bull kicking when she is really excited playing or when she come up to lay down beside me. She is Mommy's little nut!

Thanks for the awesome replies. It is fun to watch him play and kick. I was just wondering why he does it.

Bentley "kicks" after pottying, too! :)

Tibbe is sometimes even more like a tiny, hairy bull when he bull-kicks as he will end up the whole thing with a snort. It's the cutest thing ever to see him acting so big and bad, bull-kicking and snorting.

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, trainers I have talked to say 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.