Small Black Dog has been showing growly tendencies for a while but not in a big way until today. Had to go the vet; not for Lady but for my daughter's cat that has to go into kennels at the weekend and her inoculations certificate hadn't been stamped up for the last booster. Anyway that's off the point really. Took Lady with me in the back of the car for the run out and when we got back it was time to lift her out of the car. It's a Defender, and she's not supposed to jump out of it with her dodgy elbows. I've got a ramp but hadn't got it handy so leaned into the back of the car to be met with an ears back low growl. Whoops! This growl rose to a very loud one when I tried to put an arm under her. Hmmm! Thinks can't let her get away with this but what to do to get her out of such habits. Anyway what I did do was stuck my hand in her mouth! Must be nuts but that completely called her bluff and she went all soppy on me including nuzzling and licks to side of head. I think the words DONT TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS spring to mind. Anyway she got up and jumped out (which she's not supposed to do). So the next project is to address the growly, growly, Small Black Dog. It never stops does it - training I mean. ;D
Re: Another Growler Well, it worked!! ;D I guess you'll have to figure out what triggered the episode - she didn't want to leave the van? Or you were invading her space? Good luck!!!
Re: Another Growler We have the same problem with Lilly. Usually its if Sophie lies down next to her on her beanbag, or if we are drying her after a wet walk. With Lilly's hips, we aren't sure if she is sore or if she is just telling us off to stop invading her space. She is a funny old dog, being inclined to drop her head too if you go to pat her head (unless of course she is up on the bed with us, in which case, that's ok mum : ) I suppose we mostly manage it by not stopping what we are doing, but just pausing, and approaching from a different angle. Its difficult to tell whether she is just being grumpy or not. jac
Re: Another Growler [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=1806.msg14122#msg14122 date=1372087281] She is a funny old dog, being inclined to drop her head too if you go to pat her head [/quote] Riley does this sometimes and I wondered if he was headshy but he's fine if you come from the side or underneath. He only ducks when you're patting him from above. We've never struck him and we've had him since he was a pup so I'm not sure why he'd do this. I've never heard him growl though. Hope you and the small black dog work it out
Re: Another Growler You handled it very well and calmly David,think I would have been so shocked I would have instinctively withdrawn.....so good to have heard your experience. Ive not had a growl yet,but Dexter doesn't like the approach from above either,he will duck to avoid it even from us ....and if he's behind his gate and standing up I tell new people to ignore him until he settles down.My brother in law went to pat him from above the first time he met him ( he's 6 foot 4... So a big lad standing over him) and we've had to go through a bit of a de-sensitise with the 2 of them,Dex has never forgotten it and its the only person he was cranking up the barking to rather than settling down when we have a visit.
Re: Another Growler She's fine with being patted from all angles, but I think some dogs find it a worry from above the head. I don't think her growling is serious but probably needs watching. She's fine in other ways eg I can put my hand in her bowl or pick it up and move it when she's eating with no problems. It's just something about the back of the car. If we come to a style that she needs a lift over it's all ok.
Re: Another Growler Murffi is the same. He will growl if anyone tries to lift him out of the back of the car. Strangely though he doesn't complain about being lifted into the car, in fact he insists on it. ;D
Re: Another Growler Actually you've reminded me she does that too. If she's not feeling athletic she stands looking pathetic until I lift her in. ;D
Re: Another Growler I think you`ve handled this very sensibly David , it can be a shock when they growl at us, but just put it down to a bad moment and yes, be aware but not expectant , hope the small black one is good today
Re: Another Growler Hi Kate. For some reason she didn't alarm me with it except so far as to consider if she might actually bite if pushed too hard, but I always feel we have such a very strong bond and she's always very gentle if she takes eg my hand in her mouth that it just wasn't going to happen. Having analysed it a bit, there is something about being lifted out of the back of the car that she's afraid of. It might be just having to lean in on her in a confined space. I think I'd have been really very concerned if she did it meeting a stranger, but so far that hasn't arisen except when she was still a puppy doing a bit of alarm barking at the occasional walker that looked strange. Examples of strangeness being - With a rucksack With a child on shoulders With an odd looking hat Moving through undergrowth She stopped all that as she got older and I exposed her to my local shoot who are all slightly loopy, make strange noises and do funny stuff with sticks, but joy of joy she gets to pick up birds. ;D
Re: Another Growler Having just got back from the park where I had to spend 10 minutes tempting Charlie with a sea biscuit into a position where I could lift him out of the car, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone! I can't understand it, he goes in no trouble. But coming out, it's a different story. Quite a circus. He loves the park when he is out of the car. Same circus getting him out of the car when we get home. He has been in three cars, one a defender, and it's the same in all three.
