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A question of sensitivity



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 19th 06, 11:03 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Suja
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Posts: 873
Default A question of sensitivity

This morning, I received an email from a former regular to the dog park who
wrote that she had heard from several people about an aggressive white Husky
at the dog park, and if I knew anything about it.

I do in fact know exactly who she's talking about. She was recently adopted
by someone who volunteers with Husky rescue, who flunked Foster 101. She is
not really aggressive, very rough and loud in her play, won't take crap from
anyone and there are a couple of dogs she does not like (doesn't go around
attacking them or anything, but there have been a couple of snarkfests over
stupid stuff). The owner is very responsible, and keeps her dog on leash if
a dog hers doesn't get along with comes to the park. The people whose dogs
she's taken a dislike to are also regulars, and as far as I can tell, they
don't really have a problem with this.

So, should I say anything to the owner about any of this? I think that she
needs to be aware of what other people might be thinking, and it might be
better coming from me (someone she has known for a while) than someone else.

Suja


  #2  
Old October 20th 06, 05:02 AM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Michael A. Ball
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Posts: 311
Default A question of sensitivity

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:03:37 -0400, "Suja" wrote:

This morning, I received an email from a former regular to the dog park who
wrote that she had heard from several people about an aggressive white Husky
at the dog park, and if I knew anything about it.

I do in fact know exactly who she's talking about...

So, should I say anything to the owner about any of this?...


Would you want to be advised that someone might be plotting against you?
I would, and the Husky owner probably would like to be advised, too. If
she is trying to do the right thing, and it sounds like she is, I
believe she deserves to be told.

The phrase, "not really aggressive" sounds too close to "somewhat
aggressive". I enjoy "very rough and loud" play. but other dogs might
not interpret it the same way, and the owners of those dogs are sure to
be dubious. Unless I fully trusted the other dog(s) *and* my dog, I'd be
nervous about their rough housing.

As you probably realize, no matter who starts the fight, if one ever
breaks out, the Husky will surely be blamed; and the Husky owner needs
to bear that in mind. Maybe she will be able to help the Husky become a
more mellow, less intimidating canine citizen.



___________________
A dog's life is too short; their only fault really.
  #3  
Old October 20th 06, 04:06 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Suja
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Posts: 873
Default A question of sensitivity


"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message:

Would you want to be advised that someone might be plotting against you?
I would, and the Husky owner probably would like to be advised, too. If
she is trying to do the right thing, and it sounds like she is, I
believe she deserves to be told.


I was thinking that if I were in her shoes, I would definitely want to be
told. She's pretty young, and I wonder how likely she is to get all
defensive over this.

The phrase, "not really aggressive" sounds too close to "somewhat
aggressive". I enjoy "very rough and loud" play. but other dogs might
not interpret it the same way, and the owners of those dogs are sure to
be dubious.


As I said, there are TWO dogs she's had a problem with, and both are
regulars. One of the owners is friends with her (and she's watching her boy
dog while they go out of town) and the other still comes on a regular basis.

Maybe she will be able to help the Husky become a
more mellow, less intimidating canine citizen.


My take on it is that she needs to know so that she can take her obedience
training more seriously. She's only had her for 2 months, and they've come
far in that department, but it would help to have a better handle on the
dog.

Now if only I could come up with the perfect words.

Suja


  #4  
Old October 20th 06, 05:45 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Paula
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Posts: 1,726
Default A question of sensitivity

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:06:15 -0400, "Suja"
wrote:

Now if only I could come up with the perfect words.


"I heard through the grapevine there are some people at the dog park
who are labeling your husky as aggressive. I wanted to let you know
as soon as I heard because I would want to know if it were my dog. We
both know that you are working on obedience training and keeping him
controlled and even on leash as needed, but apparently there are still
some people who are concerned. Since the person who told me this
didn't even tell me who or what exactly, all I can say is that you may
want to watch out for people at the park who seem leery of your dog
and make sure you have a record of attending obedience classes, only
allowing rough play with dogs/owners who are okay with that, etc. so
that if they complain about you officially, it will be documented that
you are doing everything you can and that you and your dog are not an
actual concern even if some take rough play or whatever the wrong way.
I just don't want to see these rumors become a problem for you, so I
wanted to give you the heads up."

That would be my suggestion.

--
Paula
"Anyway, other people are weird, but sometimes they have candy,
so it's best to try to get along with them." Joe Bay
  #5  
Old October 20th 06, 05:56 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Shelly
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Posts: 312
Default A question of sensitivity

on 2006-10-20 at 11:06 wrote:

I was thinking that if I were in her shoes, I would
definitely want to be told. She's pretty young, and I wonder
how likely she is to get all defensive over this.


If it were me, I wouldn't couch it in terms of "Folks are
talking." I'd leave discussions with others out of the
equation entirely. Talking to her about how the obedience
training is going, and telling her what you think potential
concerns are is likely to go over much better. E.g. "You
know, I just worry that people might perceive the dog as being
aggressive, even if she's not. Additional training will make
her look like less of a threat."

My take on it is that she needs to know so that she can take
her obedience training more seriously.


Exactly.

--
Shelly (Warning: see label for details)
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)
  #6  
Old October 20th 06, 06:01 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Rocky
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Posts: 1,678
Default A question of sensitivity

Paula said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

"I heard through the grapevine there are some people at the
dog park who are labeling your husky as aggressive. I
wanted to let you know as soon as I heard because I would
want to know if it were my dog. We both know that you are
working on obedience training and keeping him controlled
and even on leash as needed, but apparently there are still
some people who are concerned. Since the person who told
me this didn't even tell me who or what exactly, all I can
say is that you may want to watch out for people at the
park who seem leery of your dog and make sure you have a
record of attending obedience classes, only allowing rough
play with dogs/owners who are okay with that, etc. so that
if they complain about you officially, it will be
documented that you are doing everything you can and that
you and your dog are not an actual concern even if some
take rough play or whatever the wrong way. I just don't
want to see these rumors become a problem for you, so I
wanted to give you the heads up."


I once memorized a 10 minute soliloquy from Stoppard's
_Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead_, so the above is
definitely doable.

Seriously, well phrased.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.
  #7  
Old October 20th 06, 07:59 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Suja
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Posts: 873
Default A question of sensitivity


"Paula" wrote in message:

That would be my suggestion.


That's an awfully good suggestion, Paula. I'm going to try it. I will pull
her aside and talk to her.

Suja


  #8  
Old October 23rd 06, 08:44 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Paula
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Posts: 1,726
Default A question of sensitivity

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:59:03 -0400, "Suja"
wrote:


"Paula" wrote in message:

That would be my suggestion.


That's an awfully good suggestion, Paula. I'm going to try it. I will pull
her aside and talk to her.


Well, it doesn't look like you are going to get many more suggestions,
unfortunately. Let me know how it goes. I'm hoping the heads up will
head off further trouble.
--
Paula
"Anyway, other people are weird, but sometimes they have candy,
so it's best to try to get along with them." Joe Bay
  #9  
Old October 23rd 06, 09:17 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Suja
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Posts: 873
Default A question of sensitivity


"Paula" wrote in message:
Well, it doesn't look like you are going to get many more suggestions,
unfortunately. Let me know how it goes. I'm hoping the heads up will
head off further trouble.


She was away on Friday, so I didn't get to talk to her, but she should be
back today. It probably wouldn't have helped to talk to her on Friday
either.

She lives in shared housing, and an ex-roomie, who is also a friend invited
a bunch of common friends for a long overdue get together. The plan was to
go camping, then hiking, and the roomie had always known that she was
planning on bringing her dogs along. At the last minute, she invited her
brother, who is bringing her male APBT, who was described as a rough player.
This dog does not appear to have a recall, but "sticks around", and the
suggestion was made that the three dogs could run around off-leash and have
a good time. Of course, since one dog sticks around, they would all stick
around.

Roomie doesn't understand her reluctance to bring her dogs to the event
where the options would be few if the dogs don't get along.

Roomie doesn't understand her reluctance to let her dogs off leash, one
adolescent Husky, and a rescue Husky female who has been with her for a
grand total of two months.

Roomie doesn't understand that her female can be snarky towards rude dogs,
and an APBT who is described as a "rough player" is likely to trigger some
snarkitude.

Roomie doesn't understand why she's so upset that she would now have to
leave her dogs behind.

Anyway, I'm hoping that she had a good time over the weekend, and would be
in a fairly receptive mood today.

Suja


  #10  
Old October 23rd 06, 09:31 PM posted to rec.pets.dogs.behavior
Paula
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Posts: 1,726
Default A question of sensitivity

On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:17:47 -0400, "Suja"
wrote:

Roomie doesn't understand why she's so upset that she would now have to
leave her dogs behind.


Well, yeah, what's the problem?!

Anyway, I'm hoping that she had a good time over the weekend, and would be
in a fairly receptive mood today.


I hope so, too. At least she understands that her dog is not okay
around everyone and why other people might be cautious. That's a huge
step ahead of many of the dog park problem people.

--
Paula
"Anyway, other people are weird, but sometimes they have candy,
so it's best to try to get along with them." Joe Bay
 




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