Your opinions please....

[Sue]

I'm currently fostering a Rottie puppy and yesterday had an unexpected experience. A little background......

Callie is about 7-8 weeks old, and we rescued her and 3 littermates from Animal Control where they had been for 2+ weeks. (yes I know, waaaaaaay too early). They were sick--loaded with roundworms---so once they recovered we got them. We've been surprised at how affectionate and good natured they are, given their history.

Yesterday when I got home a person was walking her 9 month old Rottie down the street and since I had chatted with her before I walked out to the edge of the driveway to greet her. I was holding Callie at the time. Liberty Belle, the 9 month old, basically pulled her owner across the street to us, but in a friendly manner, not aggressive. She put her head up to sniff Callie, and I thought Callie was going to take her head off! Snarling, snapping, etc. Not the puppy play snarling stuff, but the real thing. She's been around other dogs or at least seen them while she's been on a leash to potty, etc, and has never reacted this way. I know some dogs are leash aggressive and she hasn't been.....could she have reacted that way because I was holding her? I did reprimand her, but she was pissed. As I carried her toward the house and the other dog walked away, Callie watched them go over my shoulder and was softly growling under her breath.

Opinions?(and yes, I'm limiting her exposure til her shots are done!)

[Judi W]

Not pissed, but frightened. By holding her it was the same as being on a leash - she was restricted in her ability to move away and make the contact gradually after she would have had the opportunity to be sure of the intent of the greeter. A pup that has all four on the ground and no leash can dash away, get under or behind something and then peek out gradually as they become sure the other dog isn't a "puppy eater"....

[TrishB]

As usual, Judi W is right! :D

I'd also like to add that it may have been due to you holding her above the other dog. Being "above" is a very dominant place to be. You (unknowingly) placed her in a dominant position over another dog that obviously would have been dominant to her. As a result, she reacted aggressively / fearfully. She didn't have control of the situation, she wasn't able to show her submissiveness to the older dog, so she had to 'display' to confirm that she did in fact deserve to be in that position (over the other dog).

Obviously, she's too young to socialize with strange dogs - but I'm sure that if you had placed her on the ground before the other dog approached - that it would have been a different story! ;)

Thank you so much for rescuing / fostering - be sure to get this little one into puppy classes for socialization! :D