Crouching or some version of it, such as lowering the head to the ground, is common for dogs, especially herding and working breeds. It is a peculiar habit and it can be misunderstood by other dog owners, so you may wonder why your pet drops to the ground when seeing you or encountering a dog outside.
Dogs drop down to the ground or crouch low, to communicate a variety of emotions. So, it is important to keep in mind the situation and your pet’s personality. A dog may lower its torso or just the head out of vigilance when it spots another animal, for instance. Then, crouching could also communicate fear or stress. If your pet crouches when it sees you, the behavior is more likely to be an expression of playfulness.
Some breeds are more prone to this peculiar behavior but all dogs tend to have specific triggers for it.
ORIGIN OF THE CROUCHING BEHAVIOR IN DOGS
Herding Or Working Breed
Although dogs of any breed could have the habit of lowering themselves to the ground in several circumstances, the herding background is a major factor.
If you are a lucky pet parent of a corgi, Sheltie, border collie, or Aussie, your dog is likely quick to crouch low in response to an array of situations. These dogs excelled as farm dogs and herding animals due to their quick wits and vigilance. They crouched down to watch livestock and predators and often had to approach an object while staying low to avoid being noticed.
Dogs of the working group, such as Bernese Mountain Dogs and Boxers, are also quick to drop down to the ground when they are alert. They share their reasoning with herders and often had to use the same set of skills, as professional guard dogs, for example.
Both herding and working dogs have very strong instincts, so their skills and behaviors persist over generations.
COMMON TRIGGERS
Vigilance And Caution
Regardless of the breed, dogs communicate specific emotions and states through their behaviors.
If your pet is uncertain how to behave in a given situation, it may crouch down and watch. For example, the dog may react this way to a new approaching dog. Your pet is not necessarily afraid or aggressive, it just prefers to stay low and not engage with the other animal.
The problem with this behavior around people or animals you are not familiar with is that the other dog and its owner dyad could misinterpret crouching for aggression.
Stress Or Fear
Dogs can indeed express discomfort around other animals or people by dropping to the ground and watching. Often they growl or whine at the same time. Fear and aggression can sometimes go hand-in-hand in animals, so it is important to stay in tune with your furry friend. If you are outside, command your pet to stay near and keep it on a close leash for safety.
Excitement And Playfulness
One of our rescue dogs, a border collie judging from her appearance, never learned to play with toys but she did learn to hop and run erratically she is feeling silly with excitement! We know she is feeling playful when she begins to crouch low and gets that sparkle in her eyes.
Dropping down to the ground or even just lowering the head is a very common way to communicate a bubbly happy mood. If your dog acts this way when it sees you, your pet is likely feeling happy. Taking the crouching as an invitation to play.
Should I Train My Dog To Stop Crouching?
Crouching is not a concerning behavior and it does not usually communicate any significant distress. However, if your dog is routinely misunderstood due to this habit, you should consider focused training to teach your pet to resist the urge.
If crouching is concerning to you, it also could be because your pup has other behavioral problems. While addressing any behavioral concerns overall, you could come up with a strategy to discourage the ‘bad habit’.
Shift The Focus In Response To A Trigger
Your method could be the same as you would do with any other corrective training. If you see a dog approaching or another stimulus that triggers your dog to behave in a way you find undesirable:
- Say your pet’s name.
- Either make your pet focus its gaze on you or make it sit down near you.
- Most dogs respond well to this kind of training, especially with positive reinforcement, such as treats or neck rubs.
- Eventually, simply calling your dog’s name could be sufficient to make it shift the focus and even give up crouching entirely.
It is well-known some general guidelines help reduce any problem behaviors, including crouching if it becomes an issue. Those general recommendations may sound cliche but they are effective because they address the underlying causes, such as anxiety or boredom.
Those recommendations begin with providing opportunities to stay active, which is especially important for herders and working breeds. Your dog should have toys, puzzles, and other ways to engage its busy mind. Other pets in the family are often part of the solution. And, of course, dogs need some regular interactions with the owner and other members of the household.
Again, those guidelines do not address the crouching behavior per se but improve the dog’s well-being and behavior in general.
Related Questions:
How To Stop My Dog From Herding Cats?
Teaching your dog to stop chasing and herding could be challenging because the behavior is instinctive, especially with herding breeds. Thankfully, most herders respond to training and love pleasing the owner. Providing opportunities to run and exercise and allowing your pet to socialize with other animals and people helps curb the herding instinct. The availability of chew toys is also important.
