Doggy brags

Leanne

Sniffer Dog
Location
Shropshire, UK
Just back from a boot sale - loads of dogs and Mas ignored all of them! He gave a disgruntled bark at a dog that was snarling at him (why on earth would you take a reactive dog to a boot sale!!!) but he was absolutely fantastic.

Then went to the garden centre where we had a mooch around and he drank out of an ornamental fountain 😂
 
why on earth would you take a reactive dog to a boot sale!!!
Because, y’know, sometimes people need to go places and they have their dog with them ;)

Sorry, I’m being facetious but as the owner of the reactive dog who goes out of their way not to impose them on other people, I think that does less to help the dog than giving them exposure. Of course there’s a fine line, but not all life is perfectly choreographed. It’s like having a child in a supermarket or restaurant when they’re having a meltdown; sometimes these things just happen, and you just have to grin and bear it, however inconvenient it is for everyone else.
 
On that note, we took Squidge AND Shadow to lunch today; it’s not a bank holiday here, so it was quiet in the square. But there were kids playing, squealing, and throwing rocks and the hounds were brilliant. Squidge woofed once from excitement and would have loved to be allowed to jump on the kids, but deep-fried potatoes quashed her enthusiasm for that 😂
A couple of dogs went past and the boy was fine. The fact he wanted to share our patatas bravas is an improvement from previous trips where he was too aroused to eat.

We finished off with a lovely swim in the river (them, not me) and we have decided we need to do this twice a week to get the dogs into civilisation for their benefit. Oh, shucks.
 
Because, y’know, sometimes people need to go places and they have their dog with them ;)

Sorry, I’m being facetious but as the owner of the reactive dog who goes out of their way not to impose them on other people, I think that does less to help the dog than giving them exposure. Of course there’s a fine line, but not all life is perfectly choreographed. It’s like having a child in a supermarket or restaurant when they’re having a meltdown; sometimes these things just happen, and you just have to grin and bear it, however inconvenient it is for everyone else.
Couldn't agree more. Reactive dogs have to be exposed and trained just like all dogs, if not more. xx
 
We took our reactive (or is he just enthusiastic?) dog to our local show last year. Of course he barked and lunged but we tried to give space. We need to expose him to these exciting situations, but a show field is ideal as you CAN give space. Not sure we'd attempt a car boot. Not sure we'll be trying the show this year with Meg(an) Sparkle either. We need much more space for her. I'm trying to think of huge spaces to take her to see dogs & people safely.
 

Leanne

Sniffer Dog
Location
Shropshire, UK
Couldn't agree more. Reactive dogs have to be exposed and trained just like all dogs, if not more. xx
When you have a reactive dog you would manage it. This woman was walking around with a dog who was barking at everything and screeching at him to shut up every 10 seconds. It was absolutley not exposure it was traumatising.
 
When you have a reactive dog you would manage it. This woman was walking around with a dog who was barking at everything and screeching at him to shut up every 10 seconds. It was absolutley not exposure it was traumatising.
Oh poor dog :cry: Some people just don't understand how to help a reactive dog. Lets hope she gets some professional help.
 
The thing I find really weird is the gap I feel that's between the way I feel about my animals and some of the people I meet. I find it's a real deep commitment for me but get the impression for them it's just a thing they will do until they get bored or it gets hard. I know people who are serial puppy buyers who are on their 3rd pup who give them away when they get bored with them. Then after a few months they get another. So far they've had a Stafford a lab and they are just about to re-home a cockerpoo
 
I remember my friend going right up in my estimations when they got their dog.

Her boyfriend went on and on about wanting a dog and she was more reluctant. She said it was because if they got a dog it was forever regardless for their circumstances and the dogs temperament etc.

And to be fair.. Nitchka the whippet is an actual diva and even more spoilt than Stanley 😂🤦🏻‍♀️
 
It was awful. Even my daughter (who is so not a doggy person) commented that she didn’t know why people got dogs when they couldn’t care for them.
Sometimes you can’t choose....I for instance was glad that Finn is not our first lab. Otherwise I never would have a dog again. To us he is sweet, caring. To other dogs a pain. Loads of barking and lunging. No matter what we do, it is just the way Finn is. You don’t choose a dogs on character. Well you can look at the parents and choose them. Each dog has, as with humans, his own character. When we buy a pup we assume he would be like his parents. You don’t bring back a pup for you don’t like him. You have to deal with it and get the proper help. And that will sometime also take years....
 
The thing I find really weird is the gap I feel that's between the way I feel about my animals and some of the people I meet. I find it's a real deep commitment for me but get the impression for them it's just a thing they will do until they get bored or it gets hard.
This. Those that don't have that deep commitment make it seem like I'm the weird or crazy one for treating a dog "like a human" by worrying about things like being home alone, training, etc. No - a dog is part of the family for life.
 
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