How would you view this?????
 . He walked into town with her with lots of people ooohing and arring over her and giving plenty of pats. Not a problem at all and she took it in her stride and loved it.
Next day he took her on a long walk through the bush then decided he needed to walk into town on the way back as he wanted to get the newspaper. He tied her to a post outside before going into the shop, never been a problem with people who happen to pass by and pat her and fuss over her etc. Well this particular morning as he was coming out of the shop (Only left her tied for a few mins) there was this older woman with a loud OOOOOh voice that obviously frightened the crap out of Babs. David was watching as he came out of the store and babette backed off from this woman, tail clamped between the legs, her body language gave all the signs she was not a happy camper. The woman persisted with trying to pat her and finally Babette growled at her and the woman backed off. Thank goodness no nip or we would been the worlds worst. The woman spoke to david with OH I have had dogs forever is she vicious? Hubby defended babs and said cant you read a dogs body language, cant you see she is frightened of you and does not like you and undid the lead and walked off. Babs did not nip at her but I think it was pretty close to that happening if the woman did not back off with the growl, first time for this sort of behaviour from her and there was not a hope in hell she wanted this woman near her at all. Never displayed this ever with anyone else. Is there something I should worry about as it has never happened before with her and usually she is a little bit hesitant of strangers but after sussing them out quite happy to be patted and ooohed and arrrred over with lots of pats and cuddles from anyone even strangers?. Is there a 6th sense with them too, something she sensed about this woman, I am not making excuses for her growling, just find it completely out of character for her, as no way she was going to let her near her for what ever reason? |
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I love dogs and talk to any that are tied up outside shops but would never go to stroke them , the dog might think you're trying to untie and steal them for one thing .........sounds like a dumb Human to me and a very sensible sheepie 
Julie X |
| Lisa - she had no way to escape. All of her body language screamed to this woman: back off, I'm afraid of you and the woman flat out ignored her.
I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. I know it seems shocking - we're not used to having dogs who would ever growl at a human. But if she had been loose, she would have simply gone out of reach. In her mind, she was doing the best she could to communicate her discomfort. Hard to believe the woman had ever owned a dog before. Whatever you do don't translate this into Babs the potential problem dog or you risk creating one (she'll sense your apprehension and then she'll REALLY think there's something to worry about, OK, you know all this) When I was little my mom had a mini poodle from before she was married who was a rock in the temperament department, including raising two babies. She was confident and calm and went everywhere with us, yadda, yadda, yadda. My mom said for some reason she growled every time a certain older cousin of mine came to visit. Every time. She eventually developed a theory that - hm, this was back in the late sixties that the dog didn't like the smell of weed...Who knows? 
Dogs definitely pick up on things we don't. Kristine |
| Babs loves to be patted when her uprights are there to keep an eye on things but when left to guard the fort on her own....she did!!
Thank goodness she's a smart girl and growled first. I'll add another to Kristine's story. My grandmother had a herding dog, not sure what breed, she always left him tied up outside shops while she was inside. It was a very small town so everyone new him and would often stop and pat him, no problems. Until she left him outside the shop tied to the pram with the new baby inside. A woman stuck her head right in the pram to coo at the baby and he didnt growl he bit. Not hard but definitely a bite. The horrible woman insisted my gran have the dog destroyed as he was "dangerous". It was a story we were all told as kids in order to teach us about how to treat a dog. Never pat or put your face near a strange dog without the owner present and agreeable as the dog may feel it needs to protect itself or its space. |
| The lady might have had dogs for years but obviously doesn't understand them.
I must be honest from being little if I see a dog I want to stroke it. I remember as a kid being told never to stroke strange dogs as they might bite but it never stopped me but I never did if it showed fear or aggression I learnt that from an early age....anyway I digress This lady should have seen she was making Babs uncomfotable and backed off. Then to ask your husband if the dog was aggressive is just stupidity. I think you don't need to worry or blame babs she gave good warning that she was uncomfortable and didn't like the woman and to her credit didn't do anything more. |
| I have had dogs my whole life and I would never try to pet a dog that was tied up. Both of my kids were raised with dogs and I always stressed to them not to go up to a strange dog off or on a lead. I always told them they must ask the owner first if they could pet the dog. Sounds like Babs showed a lot of restraint, she was obviously afraid in that situation. |
| I completely agree that Babs was reacting normally and the lady was just dense. Maggie would do the same thing or been more fierce as she can be very nervous when left outside stores. I never approach dogs that are tied up unless the owner is there and gives permission. Babs even had a tail and the woman ignored her. That's just not right. |
| That woman was an idiot. Babs was obviously scared and continuing to come at her only made it worse. I agree with Kristine, I would've bit her, too. |
Mad Dog wrote: Lisa - she had no way to escape. All of her body language screamed to this woman: back off, I'm afraid of you and the woman flat out ignored her.
I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. Kristine Why am I not surprised? Lisa I agree with Kristine - take it as a warning that that person is not someone you would like to be spendng time with. |
| not Babs fault......the lady was a bad egg...Babs showed great restraint by warning the lady, if it were me I would have bit her! |
Mad Dog wrote: I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman.
Aha now I know where the name comes from |
| This is a problem in general very few people can read the body language of dogs and this was an excellant example of how ignorant some people can be. I do not think you have anything to worry about Lisa in fact she acted extreamly well. |
| Ditto all the above.
Truly unfortunate that the stupid lady pushed her that hard. 
Get her out and give her plenty of happy people experiences as soon as you can, I'm sure she will be fine.  |
Mad Dog wrote: Lisa - she had no way to escape. All of her body language screamed to this woman: back off, I'm afraid of you and the woman flat out ignored her.
I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. Ditto..... |
| While it wasn't her fault, it could have ended badly if the woman had persisted. Babs handled the situation herself because no one was at her side to intercept the advance of this foolish woman. Look at it from your dog's point of view... she was tied up so she was forced to interact with whoever wanted to approach her. Granted, it was only for a few minutes but that's all it takes sometimes. Because she was tethered, she wasn't given the option of "flight" in the fight/flight response so she was forced to give the woman a warning to leave her alone.
Many of us have been around lots of dogs for several years... we tend to forget that we too were ignorant about them at one point. The general public only bases their views and behavior on what they've experienced in the past. They may have one dog for 12-14 years and that one dog always behaved a certain way. Obviously this woman wasn't dog savvy but we have to remember that a lot of people out there aren't so we have to take steps to protect our dogs from them. You just never know who you're going to encounter. |
6Girls wrote: While it wasn't her fault, it could have ended badly if the woman had persisted. Babs handled the situation herself because no one was at her side to intercept the advance of this foolish woman. Look at it from your dog's point of view... she was tied up so she was forced to interact with whoever chose to approach her. Granted, it was only for a few minutes but that's all it takes sometimes. Because she was tethered, she wasn't given the option of "flight" in the fight/flight response so she was forced to give the woman a warning to leave her alone.
There really isn't anything intrinsically wrong with tethering a dog. and in other countries, let's remember, it is more common place. With that said you would have thought the twit would have known better than to annoy the dog.  |
| But that's exactly the problem with tethering... you're
forcing a dog to interact with annoying people. |
6Girls wrote: But that's exactly the problem with tethering... you're
forcing a dog to interact with annoying people. Or setting up a way to cull the really annoying ones |
 |
| I tie Laika up when I go in to get my lunch when we go for our lunch hour walks and people constantly stop to pet her. Myself I wouldn't pet a strange dog but I watch when my sandwich is being made sometimes and just about ever person does. They cannot help themselves; as I have heard on our walks: look at the dog she doesn't look real she looks like a stuffed toy. |
dairymaid wrote: Mad Dog wrote: I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. Aha now I know where the name comes from Stewarts - It's kind of disconcerting to realize that your dogs have better temperaments and social skills than you do
KB |
| Thanks for the responses I suppose I was a little bit concerned when david told me what happened. He was not and defended her growl to the overwhelming stranger, because he happened upon what was going on just in time.
All my thoughts were after he told me what happened was "IF SHE ENDED UP BITING THE LADY" which caused me great angst because the laws here regardless of the situation is "A dog is declared dangerous and can be put down if it bites". I do trust babette and love her to pieces and adore her personality just never had anything like this happen before, I felt she behaved appropriately in the situation and as david said the womans voice was terryfying her and she was trapped with no escape from this person. So thank goodness she just finally responded with a warning growl and david came out of the shop in time to see what was going on. At easter time she went with david for a walk to the store on her own and when he came out had a crowd around her ooohing and arrrhing over her and lots of pats as they are like a magnet to people who dont have the big hairy fuzz balls and she loved it so this one incident took me by complete surprise when he told me. |
Mad Dog wrote: dairymaid wrote: Mad Dog wrote: I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. Aha now I know where the name comes from Stewarts - It's kind of disconcerting to realize that your dogs have better temperaments and social skills than you do KB I have a t-shirt with " Never mind the dog BEWARE of the owner" |
dairymaid wrote: Mad Dog wrote: Stewart - It's kind of disconcerting to realize that your dogs have better temperaments and social skills than you do KB I have a t-shirt with " Never mind the dog BEWARE of the owner" Love it!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristine |
dairymaid wrote: I have a t-shirt with " Never mind the dog BEWARE of the owner"
I love it too! And in my case it is TRUE! Very protective of my crew! |
| I just want to say I love Babs she is a good girl. I know someone with a really different high voice and my mom's dog goes crazy and growls when she hears it. She's even tried to bite this person.
My old dog Barkley did the same thing as Babs ... only she was tied to a newspaper dispenser and ran away with it. I caught her in the nick of time. I asked if I could take her in the store with me after that |
dairymaid wrote: I have a t-shirt with " Never mind the dog BEWARE of the owner"
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Mad Dog wrote: dairymaid wrote: Mad Dog wrote: I think she showed remarkable restraint. I would have bitten the woman. Aha now I know where the name comes from Stewarts - It's kind of disconcerting to realize that your dogs have better temperaments and social skills than you do KB Kristine the OES is known for that but I know exactly how you feel. |
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