"Is she a rescue?"
- Thread starter Southpaw
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I get this with Radar, not as much now as when we first got him. He was shy with strangers nothing over the top, no screaming or shaking just ducking them if they went in for an unexpected pet. Then I would get the 'Is he a rescue' to which I would say yes and they would say 'he must have been beaten pretty badly eh?' At which point I either explained that he was actually just not trained or socialized as a younger pup and that we where working on it or just sigh in exasperation and walk away.
Radar is pretty good now and will stand for petting from almost anyone but he more tolerates it because he knows that is what I want him to do and he gets a cookie after, than enjoys it
He is never going to be the type to throw himself at a total stranger for love though. Not all dogs are social butterflies and it bugs me that people expect them to be and look at you like you are a criminal if they are not. So my dog is not dying to play with you, who cares? Get over it.
Radar is pretty good now and will stand for petting from almost anyone but he more tolerates it because he knows that is what I want him to do and he gets a cookie after, than enjoys it
He is never going to be the type to throw himself at a total stranger for love though. Not all dogs are social butterflies and it bugs me that people expect them to be and look at you like you are a criminal if they are not. So my dog is not dying to play with you, who cares? Get over it. I get the opposite reaction from people with Meg. "She's a rescue?! But she's so sweet!"
Gusto is the ultimate "You are of no importance to me, so I won't acknowledge you" dog. People can be two feet from him, crouched down with a hand out and making kissy noises, and he won't even glance their way. I just tell people "Sorry, he's a terrible snob" and shove Meg at them if she's there
Gusto is the ultimate "You are of no importance to me, so I won't acknowledge you" dog. People can be two feet from him, crouched down with a hand out and making kissy noises, and he won't even glance their way. I just tell people "Sorry, he's a terrible snob" and shove Meg at them if she's there
I hate that. I also hate when people use it as an excuse. My stepmom uses this all the time with their Dachshund mix who is very very reactive towards people and other dogs, as in he won't stop barking and it's super super annoying. But she always says "oh he's a rescue". As if it's an excuse. Honestly, yeah we don't know of his past, but he did not start displaying the behavior until months after we had him and my step-mom never ever bothered to really do much of anything with him except completely baby him. lol.
Whenever someone tells me their dog is shy I always respond with "Mine is too!" and move on from it. Bandit isn't currently shy but he used to be REALLY shy. So I know the feeling and even now he is indifferent to some people. Thats just how he is and while he is incredibly sweet, tolerant and not fearful... he is not the world's friendliest dog and it is what it is. I'm not going to force him to be and I am not going to force myself on some random's dog eitehr.
Glad I'm not the only one lol.
And yes, I love the "all dogs love me!" line. Pretty sure mine won't love you. Because the people that say that are always the obnoxious ones that have no clue how to approach dogs - especially dogs that are already unsure.
It's a good thing I didn't have Lucy with me too. It'd probably look REALLY bad to have both of my dogs avoid strangers - call the ASPCA or something because I must have abused both of them!
Lol obviously!! The treats you had just sealed the deal, it was your awesomeness that initially drew her in.
And yes, I love the "all dogs love me!" line. Pretty sure mine won't love you. Because the people that say that are always the obnoxious ones that have no clue how to approach dogs - especially dogs that are already unsure.
It's a good thing I didn't have Lucy with me too. It'd probably look REALLY bad to have both of my dogs avoid strangers - call the ASPCA or something because I must have abused both of them!
Lol obviously!! The treats you had just sealed the deal, it was your awesomeness that initially drew her in.
I've never heard the "but all dogs like me!" except from small children, but I don't blame them. I also find it's important with kids to not say that the dog is shy but be clear that he doesn't like to be pet or is mean (in my dog's case) or else they try to do what they'd do with another shy kid (talk nicely and try to make friends).
Have any of you seen this blog? It's for owners of "DINOS" (dogs in need of space), I just found it this week, I love it.
http://notesfromadogwalker.com/
Have any of you seen this blog? It's for owners of "DINOS" (dogs in need of space), I just found it this week, I love it.
http://notesfromadogwalker.com/
K
It's funny that being standoffish with people actually works in Sophie's favor. Some people see a pit approaching and they go into panic mode. When Soph walks by them more interested in sniffing the phone pole than looking at them you almost hear an audible sigh of relief sometimes.
We live in the burbs so they make a big deal of everything being a "rescue", gimme a break...
We live in the burbs so they make a big deal of everything being a "rescue", gimme a break...
I just got back from the pet store, I was buying Tucker a muzzle so brought him along to make sure I got a good fit (least busy pet store in the whole wide world). He was very well behaved, sniffing at the leg of the woman helping my dad get a muzzle (which sounds bad given his issues but I promise I know my dog, the woman wasn't in any danger whatsoever, Tucker is the king of warnings). He wasn't showing any signs of nervousness at all. The woman asked what his name was and I told her but then said not to talk to him. She asked if he'd bite and I said, no just don't try and pet him. I think I scared her a little, she was like "Oh REALLY??". No I buy muzzles for fun. But then she said it "is he a rescue?". Every time lol.
Lol I'm always very cautious when people come in to get muzzles. Before I even grab a muzzle I make sure to ask WHY does your dog need a muzzle.... I assume the worst and hope for the best! I am never surprised to hear a dog has issues with people... I mean, they want a muzzle for a reason, that's a very real possibility!
Luckily MOST of the time the people I run into are dog savvy enough to respect her space and don't make silly assumptions about her upbringing. But the rest of the population...
Luckily MOST of the time the people I run into are dog savvy enough to respect her space and don't make silly assumptions about her upbringing. But the rest of the population...
:yikes:
Ugh! When people come in looking for muzzles my heart just drops because chances are they are a) going to use it improperly no matter what I tell them and/or b) are going to use it for a completely dumbass reason.
Some of my faves have been:
1. My grandkids are coming into town this weekend and my dog hates them. I need a muzzle he can wear the whole time so he can learn to like them. :madgo:
2. My lab mix bit a kid in the neighborhood, but I don't want to keep him from being able to run around, so I need a muzzle so he can't bite another kid while he is out running. :yikes:
3. My neo/pit mix hates my other dog, I need a muzzle so they can be out together.
4. My shepherd puppy plays too rough with my other dog so I want a muzzle so he can learn bite inhibition.
I HATE that I can't refuse to sell a muzzle to a customer, all I can do is educate and hope that they listen to what I am saying. Out of the above, the only one that left without a muzzle was number 3 because after talking to her she said she couldn't trust her kids to take the muzzle off when the dog needed a drink or when it was warm out. bleeerg.
Some of my faves have been:
1. My grandkids are coming into town this weekend and my dog hates them. I need a muzzle he can wear the whole time so he can learn to like them. :madgo:
2. My lab mix bit a kid in the neighborhood, but I don't want to keep him from being able to run around, so I need a muzzle so he can't bite another kid while he is out running. :yikes:
3. My neo/pit mix hates my other dog, I need a muzzle so they can be out together.
4. My shepherd puppy plays too rough with my other dog so I want a muzzle so he can learn bite inhibition.
I HATE that I can't refuse to sell a muzzle to a customer, all I can do is educate and hope that they listen to what I am saying. Out of the above, the only one that left without a muzzle was number 3 because after talking to her she said she couldn't trust her kids to take the muzzle off when the dog needed a drink or when it was warm out. bleeerg.
Ohh yes...whenever I help people with muzzles I get the above. Although most of the time the dog is either mouthing the kids or guests, or barking.
Am I the only one that has a really hard time selling basket muzzles? Everyone goes for the soft muzzles...I try really hard to explain that those are more for short term, grooming or medical procedures...not for long term. And then they go "oh but those look so cruel!" towards the basket muzzles. Umm...pretty sure the dog would rather wear a nice open air basket that they can drink and pant with. And then they point out on the soft muzzle package it says 'allows panting and drinking'..pfft, I don't think so. Not properly anyways.
Am I the only one that has a really hard time selling basket muzzles? Everyone goes for the soft muzzles...I try really hard to explain that those are more for short term, grooming or medical procedures...not for long term. And then they go "oh but those look so cruel!" towards the basket muzzles. Umm...pretty sure the dog would rather wear a nice open air basket that they can drink and pant with. And then they point out on the soft muzzle package it says 'allows panting and drinking'..pfft, I don't think so. Not properly anyways.
You know, I can't really ever think of a time when I was countered with the question "Is s/he a rescue?" other than people asking if they're from a rescue or a breeder.
I HAVE gotten the "Oh dogs love me." largely in regard to my Dachshund, who most certainly does NOT love you. The last time a really forceful woman insisted all dogs love her I pointed at my face scar and said "He DOES love me, and he bit me in the face." Probably not the best recourse, but man how do you get the point across that the dog avoiding you does not want to be touched? I've had people reaching to pet him after I say "NO, he is NOT friendly" and stood in front of him.
He's not even NOT not friendly, but we've worked through a lot of issues and he's now at a point where he's uninterested in people rather than terrified of them, and I'm perfectly OK with him not wanting to be pet. I don't like strangers to touch me.
I HAVE gotten the "Oh dogs love me." largely in regard to my Dachshund, who most certainly does NOT love you. The last time a really forceful woman insisted all dogs love her I pointed at my face scar and said "He DOES love me, and he bit me in the face." Probably not the best recourse, but man how do you get the point across that the dog avoiding you does not want to be touched? I've had people reaching to pet him after I say "NO, he is NOT friendly" and stood in front of him.
He's not even NOT not friendly, but we've worked through a lot of issues and he's now at a point where he's uninterested in people rather than terrified of them, and I'm perfectly OK with him not wanting to be pet. I don't like strangers to touch me.
I think it's because people- even sometimes including "dog people" who should know better, are conditioned to believe that dogs must be bombproof to have the right to leave the house. It's not really fair, because how else can you work with a dog who has issues than to get it out and work with it? But- people believe that if you dare take a dog out of your front door and it doesn't love people or other dogs, you are a bad person, ESPECIALLY if your dog was from a breeder. Even in competition, I have heard people rant about "the super reactive dog" (who just barked two or three times at a passing crowd and was totally under control) and how "she shouldn't be taking that dog out in public" and how "she probably got it from so and so who ALWAYS breeds bad temperaments". I didn't know that lady with the reactive dog, I don't know who she got it from or what it's backstory is, so I didn't pass judgement. Its probably just a dog who is a little noisy in high-stress situations. That dog also went on to get first place in its agility class, and was a very cool happy dog.
Why is it, that we expect dogs to be totally subservient? They are their own beings... have their own way of looking at situations, and don't understand the world from birth. It is our job to teach them how to handle situations, but I don't think there is anything wrong with a dog who never fully handles a specific situation either. It's like, getting mad at a kid with autism because it doesn't act the same way a "normal" kid does. Dogs are not robots, and they think for themselves! We have to accept that our world is a stressful place and that not all dogs will handle it well.
Why is it, that we expect dogs to be totally subservient? They are their own beings... have their own way of looking at situations, and don't understand the world from birth. It is our job to teach them how to handle situations, but I don't think there is anything wrong with a dog who never fully handles a specific situation either. It's like, getting mad at a kid with autism because it doesn't act the same way a "normal" kid does. Dogs are not robots, and they think for themselves! We have to accept that our world is a stressful place and that not all dogs will handle it well.
If I could like this post I would. I would also like to have had it printed out and on hand 4 years ago when my gal Smalls was CRAZY reactive and how the looks I got from neighbors made me feel embarrassed when I was working with her and something unexpected would happen and throw her into a screaming fit. I brought her out because it would never get better unless we worked at it and I wasn't going to shut her away in the house hoping it would go away.
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