Since the weather has turned nice over the past 2 months, there seems to be 5x more dogs that live locally than usual. This is causing some issues for us. Harley has always been a chilled dog and let's any dog play with her ball (except collies as she has been attacked by one 3 times). She doesn't jump over / on other dogs and is very tollerant of puppies. A few things have happened recently: 1. About 6 weeks ago, Harley and I were walking in our usual place. It was very busy with dogs which is unusual for this location. We had walked past several dogs and as always, Harley ignored them. A few mins later and older lady walked towards us with her dog. The dog ran up to us and jumped up on Harley and knocked the ball out of her mouth. Harley gave a low growl then stepped away from the ball and relaxed. They then had a play for 2/3 mins. I stopped play as the dog was jumping all over her and I seen Harley's body language change. We said bye, I put Harley on lead and off we walked. Within seconds the dog ran back to us and jumped on Harleys back. Harley spun around, tugging the lead out of my hand, the dog led down on its back and Harley told it off standing over it. She stopped within seconds and moved behind me. The woman went mad and was screaming that I had a dangerous dog. I was a bit taken back by it all and walked off with Harley. 2. Yesterday we were in the same location as above with a friend and her GSD. They were playing in the stream. We stood on the bridge and threw the ball to the dogs who caught it then ran up the bank onto the bridge, dropped the ball and ran back into the stream. They done this for about 10mins as well as just mooching in the stream. We heard a woman's voice shouting 'Henry, come here now'. We saw the dog before we saw the lady. The woman caught up and nearly reached her dog when he ran away and jumped straight into Harley's face. Harley really told the dog off. I grabbed her and sat her down whilst the lady grabbed her dog. She said 'you would think he would learn. He's been told off by at least 5 dogs this week for jumping at their heads, but he doesn't learn'. I apologised as felt bad that Harley had told him off so abruptly. The woman was really apologetic and said that Harley didn't do anything wrong. I know that both times there were reasons that Harley told the dogs off, but I really don't want her labelled as aggressive. I have spoken with my dog walker who has no concerns around her behaviour. He says she is assertive, but only when other dogs push it and he is 100% confident that it is all noise. I'm am 100% sure that it is all noise too as her face never gets close enough to the other dog. I don't want to have to put her on lead everytime I see a dog I don't know - I did this 5 times on today's walk as I didn't want to risk anything or let her get into the habit of telling dogs off. Sorry for the ramble, I'm just really frustrated and just am at a loss.
Hi @Naya, I'm sorry you're feeling like this, it's so difficult I think because everybody has a different take on these things. Having met you and her I agree with you and your dog walker, I wouldn't see her as aggressive. After all she's a dog, a very lovely dog, and she doesn't have any alternative but to speak dog.
Woman is an idiot. Full stop. Your reaction perfect. Harley is not aggressive and nobody with any sense would think she is. (As your second encounter shows.) Ignore idiot woman. It sounds to me like Harley is doing a good job of communicating with other dogs without being aggressive. It is of course a shame that she has to deal with over-exuberant dogs, but it sounds like she is handling it fine - do you think she is distressed by it? If not, then don't let it distress you. Nobody who has half a neuron is going to label Harley aggressive. She is a beautiful, gentle girl and that shines through.
I wouldn't worry about her behaviour. It's a reasonable response to a very rude intruder. You don't want her to have to get stressed though, so doing what you can to prevent these encounters is a good thing. Putting her on lead and trying to make sure she isn't harassed by other dogs is a good idea, even if it's a pain to do...
We're I live I totally change my walking at thus time of years. I cant cope well with heat or sunshine so i limit when im out. I also change my routes because i know the dogs that aren't usually about will be. Most are fine but a few are mannerless socially awkward and some dangerous. I think Harley was responding to a rude dog in a acceptable way. I do more lead walking at this time of year because of these type of situations. The weather will change soon and it keeps the idiots and their ill mannered dogs in. That's why I love the rain and bad weather. Im sorry this had worried you but Harley sounds like she's firm but fare and I'll bet she went through a whole range if stop please behaviours before she felt it was necessary to tell the Ott dog off.
One thing I learned with absolute certainty after having Rotties for 20 years: some people are just going to not like your dog. It may be how they look, how YOU look, they got out on the wrong side of bed...who knows. It happens. What seems really positive is that you did a sanity check with someone else who knows Harley but can be more objective than you as her mum. What gets tricky is when someone with an aggressive dog blindly thinks their pup is an angel and it is everyone else's problem. This isn't you...right away you did that sanity check and got good feedback. I agree with @SwampDonkey that changing your dog hangout when it gets seasonally crowded can be a good idea. That's why I don't mind windy and rainy beaches - all the better for dog walks! And as someone who used to travel a lot with my dog and was constantly entering new environments, you also start to get a feel if a dog area caters to your type of person or not. Dog people (just like all people, I guess!) tend to congregate in like groups and with a bit of experience you can usually peg them on sight and either join the fun or steer clear. But when all else fails and you have a bad encounter, just hold your head up high, give Harley a nice pat and tell her to come along, and try not to let it get you down.
I wouldn't worry, but it's annoying you have to deal with those people! My old roommate had an older female shepherd mix. She then got an aussie puppy. The puppy would come at the shepherd mix to play, sometimes too boisterous. The shepherd mix was the SWEETEST dog and would never hurt anything, but boy did she get snarly at the puppy. The puppy learned manners thanks to that....it's just how dogs communicate. In fact, when Finn was really little I was almost glad when a dog really told him off (in dog speak, not aggression) if he got too bouncy in greeting and play. It's how he learned it's NOT appropriate. He's much more careful now.
I agree. Zaba is really snarly with our pups at first and won't let them near him. Tatze loves them and will let them do anything. Zaba gradually lets them play as they get older and goes back to growling when they overstep the mark. Tatze has to be rescued by me more and more the older the pups get. I wish she'd be sterner in the beginning then she could always go back to it and the pups would respect her. As it is she needs safe pup-free zones to be kept happy and stress free. .
