Dogs With Raised Hackles: What Does It Mean?
Raised hackles in dogs mean they are on high alert. They could be having a response brought on by fear, dominance, surprise, insecurity, or uneasiness about a situation. The nervous system automatically causes piloerection along the neck and back. This is done automatically, and not under conscious control of the dog.
When you see raised hackles on a dog, be aware of what the trigger is. Sometimes it could be the ringing of the doorbell, other times it might be meeting a new dog or person.
Some younger dogs raise their hackles more often because they are still getting to know their environment and the world around them. Their sense of security might be a little less solid than an older dog who is more confident.
By having the hairs along their neck and back stand up, dogs appear taller and bigger to whatever threat they are reacting to. Dog hackles are more of a visual cue to their trigger that they are big, dominant, and ready to defend themselves if necessary.
Although rare, there have been a few reports of dog hackles being raised when they are not stimulated by an outside trigger. Dogs with neurologic diseases can have a “malfunction” of the autonomic nerves, and cause the arrector pili muscles to contract when not stimulated.
What Does It Mean When a Dog Raises Their Hackles?
The dogs hackles may be raised for various reasons. One should consider it an involuntary response that cannot be controlled. Many people assume that its a sure sign of aggression, but the most common causes are as follows:
This behavior is often seen in young dogs that are unsure of their environment and are unsure of how to react.
“Hackling” in dogs may be also somewhat similar to a human getting goosebumps. Generally, the meaning of raised hackles is determined by looking at the context and other accompanying body language.
Its not unusual to see the hackles raised when a dog is playing. This can occur from overstimulation. In some cases, the element of surprise may cause a dog to raise hackles, such as when another dog pops out of nowhere during a play session.
While raising hackles is an involuntary behavior, its not a bad idea to intervene to allow the dog to settle down, explains Robin Bennett, CPDT and Susan Briggs, CKO in the book Off-Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety and Fun.
Why does my dog have a natural Mohawk?
Why does my dog have a mohawk? … Rather, a dog with a mohawk thinks he or she is being threatened and is trying to look as intimidating as possible. Most commonly seen on a dog’s hackles, it can also be seen down the spine all the way to the base of the tail.
Why Do Dogs Raise Their Hackles?
All dogs have hackles, but it is more obvious in certain breeds than others. You can’t see hackling as easily in breeds with longer and fluffier hair, while breeds with short hair tend to show their piloerection more clearly.