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.

I dont disagree with you when it comes to dominance over thier human. It very well not may affect it. I am talking more on the level of if you allow them to do too many dominance acts along with that.

My Zeus does bull kick as I said before, not just at potty time. I do not think he thinks he is dominate over me, however, with a male another male dog in the house right now I have had to really watch him. he often does his "Bull Kick" at the other make dog . both are neutered also just to add. In this case, I strongly believe it is a problem. Especially when the other male dog is about 5 times bigger then him at least......lol. I can not allow him to keep showing these acts of dominance over another dog int he hosue. It could very well start a nasty fight that could be very dangerous. So yes, I do and will continue to correct the behavior when I see him doing it in situations lie that.

I gues my fear is, because I have seen it happen so many time before. That people get in the habbit of thinking of stuff like this as being cute, and then dont think about dangers it could present to their baby in the future when in the wrong situation. No, I dont think its wrong to let your dog spread his sent as all dogs do, an jsut "be a dog". But when it gets to the point of trying to show thier butts to another dog and the start of aggression, then its a problem. I think people should consider that an not let it happen too much, and then say"Oh well it was cute, but isnt now, after its too late to do anything about it because they got in the habbit of doing it.

Sorry - I just zeroed in on the fact that you'd said something like stopping the behavior of bull-kicking because the dog that did it seemed to be thinking or showing that he was the "master of the house" and to me, that smacks of a dog thinking he's in ultimate control of the human - that's the only reason I focused in on that aspect.

My take - and it sounds like it's yours as well - is that dogs do many acts of potential provocation to other dogs during the course of the day but in a well-trained, happy pack with a strong but gentle and loving leader, it usually doesn't result in harsh responses as all the dogs know they are expected to live peaceably with one another or I step in. My dogs have always allowed one another to bull-kick over waste or toys, mount one another, put a paw on each other or whatever without undue upset but I have worked hard at teaching them to accept each other, my ways, the rules of the house and be happy with only one of us dispensing discipline as I was always going to keep them in control and safe. I desensitized them to accepting one another's doggie actions and behavior as long as it wasn't bullying or harsh.

But they all knew that if a problem looked like it was developing, both the provocateur and the responder got a stand-down and a "talking to". And extra work with each of them for the next two weeks or so to remind them what was acceptable and why that was the better, much more rewarding way to go. haha - These little doggies keep us on our toes, don't they? :rolleyes:

lol they do indeed. and yes that is my outlook on it as well. Also, I often have to remind myself and sometimes others, that not everyone is as knowledge about dog training and what is good behavior and ok to do and what isnt as others may be. Some people just simply do not realize or know how to tell the difference to even know when they should step in, an when they shouldn't.

Often bad training isnt due to people not caring, but simply for ignorance . They just simply dont know any better.