During the last training session at the club a lab owner came up to let his dog greet my young bitch. This exercise is done a lot. The lab is quite wellbehaved, nice LLW, heeling etc. So I asked my dog to sit, and the owner went forward with the lab. As they drew close the lab surged forward, the owner leaned back on the leash so that the dogs could only just reach each others noses. I found it a bit unfortunate, but at least the owner was stopping his dog from bursting completely into my dog. After a short sniff my dog lost interest in the lab, who kept sniffing and trying to get closer, I could see my dog starting to feel uncomfortable and was just about to take a step away, bringing her along, when the lab owner goes and let go of the leash! Geeezzz! The lab surged forward going straight for my dog's behind - and he took the shortest route - straight under her forelegs! she was literally lifted into the air, for a moment hanging on the lab's back. She twisted down, and I called her to me, but not before she had started to growl. Well, who can blame her? I said something like "well, that was a bit much" but the lab owner just stood there with a little smile "look at the dogs playing"
AARRGGH
Well, I certainly learned my messon
I haven't let things go that far since. We haven't met the lab since. And for the other rude dog in that class, last time the owner brought it over "to say hi" I refused. I think I insulted her quite a bit, even though is was as polite as I can be. Truthfully, I don't really care. Her dog might need to meet other dogs and be social (but should learn some manners) but my dog, well, having four other dogs at home, and going to loads of dogrelated events, I can afford to be picky about who my dogs get to meet. I do not want to risk getting a reactive dog because other dogs has been insuffereably rude towards her. In a year or two I will be wanting her to work off leash along side other dogs. At this point she is wellbehaved and slightly disinterested in other dogs. Fine with me ;)
Gah!
This kind of thing drives me nuts! I've seen it start so many little snarkfests, and inevitably the abused dog gets blamed because the other dog was "just being friendly."
Myself, I'm intolerant, and I wouldn't have let it go on even past the leaning-on-the-leash bit. That forward lean is such a trigger for so many dogs (mine included) and it's about the rudest possible way for a dog to approach. Would people let their kids be so rude to a stranger? Why, why their dogs?
Laura &