My 7mth old sheltie, Sabrina, always has to poke her nose on my leg. I don't know exactly why she does this... I wonder if it is just because she wants me to know she is there. If the poke also has a soft concerned eye, that usually means she wants to go outside to potty. But she always has to poke me, she rarely pokes DH. It is very gentle and sweet. Inside, outside - wherever we are she pokes me. I am definitely her person, she adores me and follows me everywhere. Does anyone else's sheltie poke like this? Is this a normal behavior?
Poking
- Thread starter Qzee
- Start date
Epic is a poker! He is not at all gentle though, he jabs his nose really hard and it does hurt. He has poked me in the eye before! 
I haven't heard of any other shelties who do this and with me it seems to be weird sort of greeting/bonding thing.
He doesn't poke other people but he pokes shelties if he wants to play with them. There are only two that he is comfortable enough around to play with - Angus and my friend's dog and he pokes them so hard they stagger sideways...perhaps this explains his lack of friends
This behaviour has always puzzled me because I know how sensitive dogs' noses are and it has got to hurt him to poke so hard
My friend's Bichon used to head butt the other dogs when playing just like a little goat!
I haven't heard of any other shelties who do this and with me it seems to be weird sort of greeting/bonding thing. He doesn't poke other people but he pokes shelties if he wants to play with them. There are only two that he is comfortable enough around to play with - Angus and my friend's dog and he pokes them so hard they stagger sideways...perhaps this explains his lack of friends
This behaviour has always puzzled me because I know how sensitive dogs' noses are and it has got to hurt him to poke so hard
My friend's Bichon used to head butt the other dogs when playing just like a little goat!
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I think it is a herding behavior. Celtic and before Diva did it and those dogs used to try and nip me. They learned that is not acceptable and became pokers. Or maybe it is attention seeking behavior. WHo knows? seems normal to me.
Franklin is my first poker. Very gentle and only when i'm not paying attention to him. Jackson is a bouncer ... he'll bounce his ball until I play with him, which can be rather annoying at times.
Winston was a licker.
None of my Shelties have ever been lap dogs, though.
Winston was a licker.
None of my Shelties have ever been lap dogs, though.
Sharon7
Moderator
Yep, got some "pokers" here. Asta used to gently poke me with her nose when I was on the computer, like "Hey, I'm here... don't forget about me!" Brooke pokes my leg and back sometimes when I'm sitting, as does Faith. They seem to want me to direct my attention to THEM as opposed to whatever else I'm doing!
Sheltiemama
Forums Enthusiast
pokers here too
I have pokers too. All 3 of them. One is fairly frequently but he can't see much any more and I think he sometimes pokes to locate.
The other 2 poke Mama. Not daddy. Just Mama. To get my attention.
I have pokers too. All 3 of them. One is fairly frequently but he can't see much any more and I think he sometimes pokes to locate.
The other 2 poke Mama. Not daddy. Just Mama. To get my attention.
Chris
Premium Member
Annie Laurie is a confirmed poker. She pokes Beckon to get him to play.
both of mine
Kaleigh is a poker...and recently is doing this smell my left eye poking behavior that I don't understand at all, just started this week. I have wondered if my eye smells or something...
Savannah pokes followed by a licky...she acts like a dolphin...poking you for attention...she never was much of a biter (though always the beaver)
Kaleigh is a poker...and recently is doing this smell my left eye poking behavior that I don't understand at all, just started this week. I have wondered if my eye smells or something...
Savannah pokes followed by a licky...she acts like a dolphin...poking you for attention...she never was much of a biter (though always the beaver)