of the Dog - Association of Pet Dog Trainers

Face Diving:
When the dog repeatedly leaps upward at the human’s
face, in an intrusive way, usually causing the human to
draw back away from the dog.
Flying Shoulder Rub:
When the dog leaps into the air with his front or all four
feet and touches his shoulder to the tester.
Forearm Licking:
When the dog licks the tester’s forearms so that the
tongue leaves a sticky trail that can be felt by the tester
minutes after the licking. Possibly done by the very back
of the dog’s tongue (where there is sticky saliva). Licking
may occur on other parts of the tester if tester is wearing
long sleeves.
Freeze:
When the dog ceases all movement for a brief moment.
A freeze includes a tensing up of the muscles.
Freeze With Head Turn:
When the dog ceases all body movement and turns his
head toward a human or another dog.
Front Paw Jab:
When the dog’s front paw (usually, but not always, the
right paw) reaches out past the plane of the dog’s nose and
withdraws in a pulling motion.
Frontal Body Orientation:
When the dog positions himself pointing his head and
body directly in front of the human. It almost always occurs
with alignment. It is almost as precise as a perfect score for
the recall-to-front position in obedience competition.
Hard Eye:
When the dog’s eyes are open, round, with the tapetum
visible. The tapetum is the reflective layer of the choroid of
the eye, which gives the hard eye its characteristic marblelike,
glowing quality. The brow is usually, but not always
furrowed/tense.
Hard Stare:
When the dog makes sustained eye contact lasting two
seconds or longer, blinking less than every two seconds.
Head Whip:
When the dog moves his head abruptly and rapidly
to aim at someone or something that makes contact with
him.
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Jump Up Contoured:
When the dog jumps up and places his front paws on
a human and makes flush or contoured physical contact;
usually lasts two seconds or longer.
Jump with Clasp:
When the dog bends
his wrists while jumping
up on a human. The dog’s
front paws may or may not
wrap around the human.
Leash Bop:
When the dog reaches
around and pokes or
nudges the leash with his
nose.
Leash Grab:
When the dog grabs the leash into his mouth and
clamps down or begins tugging.
Leg Lift:
When the dog (male or female) lifts one rear leg (or
uncommonly both rear legs, usually seen in terrier type
small dogs) to urinate. Which leg is lifted should be noted.
Angle of height of lifted leg should be noted.
Lunge Away:
When the dog pulls so hard on leash away from the
tester as to have his front feet come off the ground or
almost come off the ground.
Lunge away
Jump with clasp
Nose Bop:
When the dog’s nose makes brief, poking physical
contact (with no sniffing) with the human or another dog.
Penis Poke:
When the dog touches another dog’s penis with his
nose or mouth.
[continued on next page]
November/December 2008 w The APDT Chronicle of the Dog w 43
An Ethogram of the Shelter Dog