((( FUZZING UP AT THE BASE OF THE TAIL: BAD SIGN OR GOOD? )))

[Officially Retired]

I don't really care for it BUT from what I have had to deal with it is a sign of a unsure animal who needs to make it self feel bigger than what it is facing. So in young bulldogs who have not been started they can display this but once the action starts and they are settling in you will see the hair relax. In dogs doing Schutzhund or French Ring type sports we see it in new dogs on the field for the first time doing bite work. But the same applies to them with them relaxing and enjoying the fight versus the need to feel larger than they are.
Does this make any sense. I will try to find photos or maybe even video to show the difference

I don't agree that it's a sign of uncertainty; quite the opposite in fact.

I think it's a sign the dog feels competitive, before the actual conflict happens.

I do agree that it goes away after a bit ... that it is almost always something that occurs in the beginning ... and, once things settle, smooths out.

Interesting.

[wrknapbt]

I don't agree that it's a sign of uncertainty; quite the opposite in fact.

I think it's a sign the dog feels competitive, before the actual conflict happens.

I do agree that it goes away after a bit ... that it is almost always something that occurs in the beginning ... and, once things settle, smooths out.

Interesting.

See that is the thing. With this it could be anything with variances. Like in nature most combat animals do this same thing in different forms. Snakes do it when they stand high to run off something bigger than themselves and chickens do it to look bigger than their adversary.

But on the same token with bulldogs they are not typical animals. Most times when you see a wagging tail on a dog and there is another dog coming it mean they want to play but not with our dogs. They want to play but with their dead body.

Aye this is a lot of information but great topic of conversation as too many have no idea what they are looking at when it comes to dogs or bulldogs.

[Officially Retired]

I don't think it's black or white. Dogs can do this when scared to. Like that moment when a dog decides he had enough. Seen it several times, fuzz comes up dog starts barking and just don't want no more. I do think it's usually a sign of dominance or a fighting mode. But as with most things it can mean other things to. Guess it's a matter of when and why. Jmo based on what I noticed seeing dogs quit.

Interesting. I can't discount your experience, because they're yours.

Typically, when I see dogs quit, they're very tired, beaten down, and not much is "standing up" on them at all, and especially not their tails.

My own experience has been "tail-up/fuzz-up," when they're still full of energy ...

I would think a dog would have to be quitting awfully early (and awfully rank) to have its tail and fuzz still standing up ...

See that is the thing. With this it could be anything with variances. Like in nature most combat animals do this same thing in different forms. Snakes do it when they stand high to run off something bigger than themselves and chickens do it to look bigger than their adversary.
But on the same token with bulldogs they are not typical animals. Most times when you see a wagging tail on a dog and there is another dog coming it mean they want to play but not with our dogs. They want to play but with their dead body.
Aye this is a lot of information but great topic of conversation as too many have no idea what they are looking at when it comes to dogs or bulldogs.

Good analogy. I am not sure the animals are consciously trying to "look bigger" ... so much as their adrenal system kicks in. Maybe it's simply a function of the adrenal system, which causes the body to react.

I agree, it is good to analyze the signs these animals give. Even among human beings, one of the key challenges is "misperception of facial expressions"; studies show we humans can misperceive each other's signals, let alone the signals of animals.

Those with "gifts" (in dealing with either people or animals) are the ones who can read them right ...

Jack

[wrknapbt]

I agree, it is good to analyze the signs these animals give. Even among human beings, one of the key challenges is "misperception of facial expressions"; studies show we humans can misperceive each other's signals, let alone the signals of animals.

Those with "gifts" (in dealing with either people or animals) are the ones who can read them right ...

Jack

Come one Jack I'm married and I get in trouble for facial expression all the time. LOL

On a serious note I get most of my ability from doing decoy work. We as decoys have to be actors who can truly make ourselves feel fearful or fearless based on the needs or the dog we are working that day.