Mohawk

[kgf73]

I took Mabel for her first walk around the neighborhood yesterday. She was pretty good, but had a very dark mohawk down her back the whole time we were walking. She wasn't barking, or growling, but very alert and almost "on-guard" the entire outing. But back to the mohawk - what does this mean?

Also, I was reading a few other threads on people's "watch dogs". I wonder if something was in the air, or a full moon last night. Mabel woke me up from a sound sleep because she was barking at the door. I turned on the porch light, and looked out the peep hole, but I was too spooked to open the door. She sounded very menacing and got lots of praise for being such a vigilant girl. She then decided she was going to sleep out there, she usually sleeps with me. I don't even care if she was just barking at air molecules, it was a very nice, safe feeling.

 

[WAT]

Her hair was probably raised because she was excited. Happy to be on her walk!

 

[SouthernArt]

Duchess gets a mohawk when she is excited from playing and also when she is on guard.

 

[JMUFly]

I would honestly be careful about praising such a young dog when she barks, especially if you don't know that anyone was nearby. Though boxers don't tend to be overly barking dogs, reinforcing this behavior at such a young age can push her over the fine line between being a vigilant guard and a nusance. If there really was someone out there, her barking was reinforced already when the person ran off... but if there was no one there, you have reinforced barking at air molecules, and this can become a bad habit in a city or suburb.
Dogs can get "mohawks" for a number of reasons, but at this age, she may have felt a little intimidated by her (new?)neighborhood, thus causing the reaction. Know that dogs also can sense your own emotions (possibly through smelling the pheremones we eminate) and will feel threatened if you feel threatened. If you think she may be feeling threatened, you can sooth her by talking to her and petting her and rewarding desirable behavior. I wouldn't worry too much about her hair raising the first time you take her somewhere when she is young, but if this becomes consistent keep an eye out for other signs that she may possibly feel threatened.
Good luck!

 

[Ram&LexisMom]

Never seen Lexus with a "mohawk"....of course she doesnt have any hair....:D
I'll bet it's funny looking.

 

[myrocky]

I would honestly be careful about praising such a young dog when she barks, especially if you don't know that anyone was nearby. Though boxers don't tend to be overly barking dogs, reinforcing this behavior at such a young age can push her over the fine line between being a vigilant guard and a nusance. If there really was someone out there, her barking was reinforced already when the person ran off... but if there was no one there, you have reinforced barking at air molecules, and this can become a bad habit in a city or suburb.

I really don't agree with this statement. I want my dog to bark and alert me something is outside or if he feels something is suspicious. When he barks I praise him with treats and tell him he was such a good boy and thank him for warning me. Then I give him the "enough" command and he stops barking. I also did not want a dog who just barks and barks, which is why the "enough" command works so well. Barking is a very natural thing for dogs so I try to control it instead of repressing it.

If you think she may be feeling threatened, you can sooth her by talking to her and petting her and rewarding desirable behavior.

I also don't agree with this statement. If a dog is afraid of something the last thing you want to do is reinforce that behaviour. By soothing them and calming them down that is exactly what is happening, this only shows them that it is OK to be fearful. Instead of reinforcing the behaviour, blow it off as if it is not a big deal at all. Here is a link to a thread that talks about fearful dogs and some tips:

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27305&highlight=fearful+AND+rescue

Since it was your first walk she was prolly just a little nervous which is why her hair was standing up. If Rocky is going someplace new his hair goes up a bit too.

 

[JMUFly]

QUOTE]Barking is a very natural thing for dogs so I try to control it instead of repressing it.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, barking is natural, which is why I think it is best to ignore it unless you know for sure that your dog is barking at someone or something, not just lonely in the middle of the night. Barking is a self-reinforcing behavior, IMO.. . teaching a dog to stop with "enough" is great, and almost puts the behavior on command, but I would be afraid of not having anyone to say it when I am not at home and thus being disturbing to any close neighbors. I think it may just depend on what your preference is and where you live.

By soothing them and calming them down that is exactly what is happening, this only shows them that it is OK to be fearful. Instead of reinforcing the behaviour, blow it off as if it is not a big deal at all. Here is a link to a thread that talks about fearful dogs and some tips

haha.. you are SO right.. don't know what I was thinking there. I am at work and I must've just not been thinking about what I was writing. Don't coddle a dog that is showing fear.. ignore it, and it should go away assuming that the fear is unjustified... my bad! Thanks for catching that....

 

[Guin33]

My little guy gets a mohawk whenever I bring him to play with my mom's dog...he gets it whenever he is excited

 

[hyost]

I've never seend Abby with a mohawk. She does have a permanet ridge on the back of her neck though. It almost looks like she got scared one time and half of her hair never went down. Do dogs get mohawks when they are excited?

 

[JWilkins]

Bailey's mohawk appears when she is on guard and upset. Maybe Mabel is not yet comfortable with exploring unfamiliar territory. Keep taking her for walks and notice if it subsides any. Like others posted, it may be a sign that she is excited and happy?:confused: