Why is it your friends never seems to understand it when you tell them your girl/guy does NOT play well with other dogs?
The friend I visited with was having a birthday that weekend and I went up for a pre-party meeting and to show her Josie.
I dearly love Vickie. She would be be right at home in mid Haight Ashbury during the 60's. A Dead Head hippy chick.
(Dead Head as in fan of the Grateful Dead, not as in "dead head"!)
She's a free spirited, caring, open outdoorsy type.....with 4 dogs.
When I arrived at her house she wanted to introduce her dog, Milo-a graying labradour, who "....gets along with any dog...." Before I could stop her she opened her door to let Milo out - unleashed.
Does your girl/guy do that rottie full alert stance with the stare that can stun a pomeranian at ten paces?
That's what Josie did.
So I totally understand Milo's actions - he went ballistic and came in low snapping/barking at Josie.
I kept Josie in control and Vic got Milo put in the back yard. No one got bit.
Hey, Josie gave old Milo the stand & stare on HIS turf, so Milo defended his turf. Don't blame him, can't blame Josie.
Vickie has other friends popping in and out with their dogs who play with hers, so Josie should fit right in too. Right?
*I'll wait while I count how many hands are up in agreement-this shouldn't take long......*
I've been trying to socialize Josie to other dogs by taking her for walks past fenced in dogs.
First attempt ended with 2 shelties and a daschund charging her that some owner had out unleashed. After she and her daughter got control of her dogs I was able to get Josie to walk away a short distance then had her
do some commands, she calmed down nicely.
So the NEXT time she meets another dog this happens to her.
~Lord save us!~
Once inside Josie stuck with me as I met Vic's other friends who were there, never interrupting or intruding.
I showed Vic and her friends how well Josie responded to my hand signal commands, and finished by giving her a "free" command to let her wander and meet people.
(I always end her training sessions with "free" and lots of loving.)
She went to everyone and greeted them then came right back over and sat next to me, including the "lean".
Everywhere I went in the house Josie stayed right with me.
If I was standing around she sat at my side, if I was sitting she laid at my feet.
If someone called her she would look to me for her "free" before going to them.
She was not reacting that way because of the dogs outside, she was in no way upset by them. She'd glance at the door if they got noisy then ignore it.
Found out the next day that Josie was the topic of talk for the rest of the night after I left.
Damn I got lucky with Josie. She made me EXTREMELY proud of her! I SO love this dog!
***SHORT SIDE NOTE***
I kinda freaked myself out at my friends house. I never tried giving another dog commands before.
Inside of 10 minutes I had her four dogs all sitting on hand signal! In a line! I may have found a calling!