Dude magnet
Now, normally I suppose this could be consided a good thing. A "selling point", if you will, for this particular rescue dog. However, given that she's terrified of men (and, no, she's never been abused by one; it's just another extension of her basic hardwired anxieties), this presents a problem. Single women who would prefer not to be - single, that is  - should be lining up to adopt her. Ah, but here's the catch. Not only is she afraid of men, she apparently only attracts happily married ones! So that's another flaw in my theory 
Anyway, I brought my youngest to an obedience & rally run-thru last night. And Daphne as well. When I was done working with the guys I went out the van to get Daph. Worked with her a bit in the parking lot. Got her settled, walked her inside and was immediately met by: "What's that??? Oh, how cute!!!" People have only always seen me with OES and were wondering if I was "branching out". Since I was busy focusing on the dog I really didn't want to get into a lot of explanations, so it was a quick "She's an OES. (No really! This is roughly what the look like naked ) Rescue dog" as we made our way to a quieter corner.
There I worked on her number one behavioral "quirk": her compulsive need to jump up on me. The jumping up went so-so, but I was pleased that she was mostly able to stay focused on me and not the people or dogs or "judging" in the novice ring next to us. I intentionally pick settings like this when we need "busy", but also to be left alone, because we'd be surrounded by real dog people; people you can give a quick heads-up and who will understand what you're trying to accomplish and will even help you if asked. I.e. people who live and breathe dog training. Ah, but I had forgotten the Daphne Factor (DF). Men find her irresistible. Time after time I had to very abruptly tell an approaching guy to back off so as not to set her off. Guys I see all the time with their Goldens and Border Collies and who always politely say hello, but who suddenly felt compelled to come swarming over to meet the "newest" addition. I don't know if it was because she is bald, which makes her look puppylike, or if it's her diminutive build, which makes her look very feminine and almost like an OES/Whippet cross (she's not), or her interesting tail stub which makes her look like something out of the sporting group, yet not, but at one point it seemed like every man in the building was hellbent to meet her. 
True to their training (perhaps their wives trained them well? ) all I had to bark was "she's afraid of men" and they knew to back off without further ado, so no damage done. Clearly she's going to have to get over her fear because placing a "dude magnet" who wets herself and worse at the approach of a dude is going to seriously put a crimp in someone's lifestyle. Actually, the irony is that male applicants to adopt her far outweigh women, and we've had some great ones we've had to turn down for fear of her having a melt down. On the other hand, if I can get her over her fear (and the draw of married men! ), she may yet make some single woman very happy.
Happy Valentine's Day to all. Kristine, happily single, and Daphne the Dude Magnet |
|
|
Poor thing. 
There is something about hardwiring as you said. Take the case below of Harry's two buddies Heart (sheepieshake) and Addie (Addieluv) who are the same age of one and a half, both of them came as puppies to Val and Julie but are polar opposite about men. Heart loves men - of course her daddy according to Val. I see it too because when she comes to my house she is only interested in playing with Harry or exploring the house. Generally she is just "polite" to me and lets me pet her. But when Tim comes in to the room then she is "all into him" and wants to be petted.  Then when she came to the house over the holidays so my boys could see her play with Harry she kept going back and forth to Brian and Jack to be petted.
Addie also loves her daddy, but according to Julie she doesn't like men for the most part. She was over to play one night and when Tim came home she was barking at him like he was an intruder. That was understandable but usually EVERYONE (human and otherwise) warms up to Tim and he loves dogs. But Addie did not, she avoided him for the most part. I am sure if she got to know Tim better she would be fine with him because I had never noticed it before with her. Tim is too polite to force himself on a dog unlike me (right Cosmo?).
Anyway I think it is interesting that there is nothing in their "background" and it is just their personalites that explains this behavior. I do wonder though if with a little work Daphne couldn't be placed with a really great "dude". I bet some really sweet one would make a great dad for her. If there is anyone who can help her with this problem though it would be you Kristine. |
| The guys are attracted to the sheepie with less clothes on? Now surprise me |
| when we go out every one always wants to touch my bear...but he never lets growns up touch him...only children...its a mystery |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|