Are some dogs a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to interpreting the actions of other dogs? I only ask because Harvey must be one of: 1. Dim. 2. Has the memory power of a goldfish. 3. Endlessly optimistic. Today on our riverside walk we met a Doberman. Both Harvey and the Dobe were off lead and, due to the massively overgrown undergrowth, had happened upon each other without either set of owners seeing it coming. I saw Harv trotting up to the Dobe in his usual 'Hi! Want to play?' manner and then stop - the Dobe was stood completely rigid, tail straight out behind him, and giving off a warning growl. The Dobe's owner put his lead on and told him to stop being grumpy! Harv dodged my attempts to grab his collar and kept re-approaching the Dobe, provoking more growls. Eventually I caught hold of him, made our apologies, and moved on (the other owner said his dog only ever does this with intact males, which Harvey is). So, why does Harv not 'get the message'? It seemed pretty clear to me even as a human observer!
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings I think the over powering urge to play prevents brain from engaging : Never mind Harvey xx
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings I'd plump for 'endlessly optimistic'. He is, after all, a labrador.
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings Yep, endlessly optimistic he so wants to play and is determined to engage the other dog!
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings Yes, he will learn. Tatze was like this until recently but, after a few tellings off, she looks more carefully now at the body language of the other dog. A little dog jumped up and bit her back the other week, so she is especially careful round little dogs now - no bad thing imo!
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings Endlessly optimistic.. I do get a bit tired though of grumpy dogs...well not the dogs obviously but the owners saying..sorry, gosh, it's the first time that's happened...(really??) then the next comment...ahh I see why, your dogs intact...Happened today on the beach, I just quickly clicked on Benson's lead and walked off, couldn't even be bothered to engage in conversation...
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings i think jasper is just learning that not every dog is friendly, he is 20 month, it as took a while for the penny to drop
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings Glad to see that option 3 is most popular (if it was just an isolated incident I wouldn't have bothered posting but he has done it before ). Oh well, he'll be one in a week or so - no doubt there will be a huge improvement in maturity
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings cant wait for milly to get this she wants every other dog to play with her some are old and dont want to play she is now 14 months
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings I think it's good that you are observing and monitoring this kind of thing, UncleBob - it's too easy for us to think that our labrador "kids" are perfect and not at fault if trouble develops, particularly when they are the over friendly ones saying "pleeese plaaaay!" when the other dog is saying "go away now, you horrible child". ;D ;D ;D Charlie had a slightly, but not a million miles, different issue from Harvey - when he was back off lead he was a bit persistent in asking adult dogs to play. Luckily, this seems to be correcting really quickly and he has been great for quite a bit now. I've still got him booked into a class in a couple of weeks to have his manners assessed (with teaching dogs) to give me a benchmark of how he is doing. I think he is doing fine, but I don't want to think all is well only to later realise it isn't at all.
Re: Failing to read / heed warnings Thanks Julie. I always find it quite interesting just watching how dogs behave around one another. I'm some way off being able to pick up on the more subtle messages - but I know when a Doberman is showing his teeth and snarling that there is a good chance that he doesn't want to take part in a quick hoolie! Now if a certain labrador could just make the same connection life would be a lot easier I didn't know that there were classes for assessing manners. Do you get some sort of report offering feedback on which areas are fine and which would benefit from some work?
