In article m0j_e.24124$nq.14166@lakeread05,
Suja wrote:
So, what gives? Ashley's sado-masochistic and likes someone sitting on
her head and snarking at her? She has so little patience with other
dogs that it surprises me that she so actively solicits play from Pan,
who is bitchy in the true sense of the word.

I've found that top dogs can often be pretty submissive in
play. I think it's the only way they can get other dogs to
play with them.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The federal revenue lost this year alone because of the
Bush tax cuts is $225 billion.

At the dog park, and with dogs she knows, Pan can be a bully. Nothing
overt, mostly walking around grumbling, and occasionally staring other
dogs down. I don't let her get away with anything and watch to make
sure that her interactions are proper.

There is a Pit mix (high content Pit) named Ashley who occasionally
comes, and she's not more regular because of some of her typical Pit
characteristics. Generally, she takes no bull from anyone, and
sometimes, just hates certain dogs on general principles. Her owner is
very conscientious, and only brings her in after making proper
introductions to other dogs, even ones she's met before, and never if
there are more than a handful at the dog park at one time.

What puzzles me is her interaction with Pan. Pan can be snarky with her
if she wants, and not only will she put up with it, she actively
solicits more. Like yesterday. We were the only ones there because it
had been raining, and in the time it took me to hang up Khan's leash and
turn back, Pan had pinned Ashley, and was quite literally sitting on her
head. I threw a penalty flag, and gave her a time out. Afterwards, I
let her in and told her to leave Ashley alone, but Ash was having none
of it. After a few minutes of running around in circles near Pan, she
would start rooing and barking at her, then run. Rinse, repeat.
Finally, I gave Pan permission to play, and she would go chase her. I
would call her off before she intercepted her, because if she got close,
Ashley would go belly up. The moment Pan lets up, Ash'd start rooing
and barking again.

So, what gives? Ashley's sado-masochistic and likes someone sitting on
her head and snarking at her? She has so little patience with other
dogs that it surprises me that she so actively solicits play from Pan,
who is bitchy in the true sense of the word.

Suja

In article Wjj_e.24129$nq.8795@lakeread05,
Suja wrote:
She's just somewhat dog aggressive, and selective
about her playmates.

I think that sometimes it comes down to dog idiom, and
whether or not a dog can parse what another dog is
communicating.

I took Image up to Cornell for a recheck last week, where
she met an English Bulldog for the first time. She's a very
expressive dog and it was clear that she was mystified by
it. I expect she recognized it as a dog, but her posture
towards it was clearly different from her posture towards
other, more conventional dogs. (And then there was the pug
making pug noises, which I think she might not have
recognized as a dog.)
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The federal revenue lost this year alone because of the
Bush tax cuts is $225 billion.

Melinda Shore wrote:

I've found that top dogs can often be pretty submissive in
play. I think it's the only way they can get other dogs to
play with them.

That is sometimes true, and I see it with Khan all the time. He has no
problems rolling over or letting the other dog drag him by his face.
Ashley is not a dominant dog though. She wrestles with Khan sometimes,
and he most definitely won't play with any dogs that aspire to knock him
off the top spot. She's just somewhat dog aggressive, and selective
about her playmates.

Suja