6mo baring teeth

[nontocchi]

Sable is a 6 1/2 mo female. She's always been very good around other dogs of all sizes and has completed two classes. Saturday we were at a park all afternoon with tons of kids and dogs and she sat nice so everyone could pet her and played nice with all the other dogs... even a little tiny white poodle-looking dog that was smaller than her head. We didn't see a single Rott though, and I was so disapointed!

Yesterday it was rainy all morning and when it stopped I took her to a closer smaller park, and was so happy to see 2 rotts right away off in the distance on the trail who's owners had stopped to talk. As we approached Sable said her normal hello and all 3 dogs greeted. She was the smallest - there was a male 15 mo and another male - 4ys who was HUGE - 155 lbs and who's back came up to my hipbone! Anyway, we were standing there exchanging happy rott stories and the 15mo went to sniff Sable's privates and she bared her teeth, but didn't growl. She cowered back up against my legs and kept her teeth out until I touched her head and then she stopped. The owner of the 4yo rott said that since she wasn't fixed yet, she was just protecting her privates and probably felt intimidated in the midst of 2 bigger male dogs, (everyone we know with rotts have females, so this could be true). But the owner of the sniffing dog gave me such a hard time about it - saying Sable should never bare her teeth to another dog and I'm gonna have a lot of trouble with her and on and on... I felt terrible - the whole thing lasted about 5 seconds from sniff to stop baring teeth, but is this something I should have to worry about, or was Sable just protecting her female-ness? She is getting fixed soon, btw.

Oh, and after the incident, we stood there talking for another 5 min or so and it didn't happen again and when we parted, the 4yo and his owner and us were all going the same way so we walked the mile track together twice and she was happy and "normal" the whole walk.

Thanks!
Leslie

[Jamie & Odin]

Leslie, I wouldn't be worried about your girl showing her teeth at the other dog. She felt he was being rude, and told him so. What did the other owner expect? For her to open her mouth and politely ask him to stop?! She spoke in dog language to another dog (imagine that ;)) and it sounds like he got the message!

[AngelBunny]

nontocchi:

Another case of what people you encounter on the street say to you about your dog or canine behavior in general can *safely* be ignored.

[brunie's mom]

This was perfectly normal behaviour for your girl. Please don't worry about it:)
The other dog owners should have not let their dogs bother your girl. She had every right to show her teeth and growl.. these dogs were in her space and had no doggie manners.
Just keep socializing her and training... you will have a well mannered dog:D .

Gina

[myrottie_chyna]

I dont blame your girl for acting like she did. She was probably feeling a bit intimidated by the bigger males. She had every right to say "hey! get your nose out of my stuff!".

Thats like a guy walking up to greet a woman and him grabbing a feel, and her giving him a good slap for it!! :D