Now here's a question
I saw with interest the thread about the little dogs sometimes being agressive towards the bigger dogs, and this does happen with some of the "little guys" that Bonnie occasionally encounters. I've started this other thread as my question comes from the 'other' side - the bigger dogs side -- to avoid "hijaking" the other topic.
Problem is that she wants to be friends and will often watch with bemusement as little dogs woof at her and dart around - some almost want to provoke a chase (which would be a very daft move!)
This is actually worsened though - she has sighthound blood so is often leash-walked, and can get pretty stressed out if a loose little dog is being agressive or too playful off-leash whilst she is on-leash, and sometimes me 'shooing' the little dogs away will make it worse (as if she feeds off my agitation).... especially if the little dog is roaming or its owners are too far away/not watching out.
She NEVER barks or snaps back.... just shows signs of stress, dancing + whining on the end of the leash as if 'over-wound' - constantly wanting to keep the other dog in sight. When she gets like this I'm sure if I was waving a string of sausages beside her she'd still be more intent on watching the other dog!
Maybe something I have to live with and just try and avoid this situation - easier said than done here in Spain where very sadly dogs are often allowed out to wander lose/unwatched outside of their so-called owners properties and even around whole village areas.
Anyway, kind of similar thing happens with cats - the cats don't come to her but if they don't move (eg sit pretty on a balcony or similar) she won't strain towards them, bark or anything, she'll just want to keep them in sight the whole time which can make heading along a sidewalk very challenging!
Maybe she should stand up for herself a bit!! or just needs more time to gain confidence. Fresh out of the shelter she was very nervous of many things - people included, but has come on amazingly. With this though I'm not sure --- any ideas ???
I saw with interest the thread about the little dogs sometimes being agressive towards the bigger dogs, and this does happen with some of the "little guys" that Bonnie occasionally encounters. I've started this other thread as my question comes from the 'other' side - the bigger dogs side -- to avoid "hijaking" the other topic.
Problem is that she wants to be friends and will often watch with bemusement as little dogs woof at her and dart around - some almost want to provoke a chase (which would be a very daft move!)
This is actually worsened though - she has sighthound blood so is often leash-walked, and can get pretty stressed out if a loose little dog is being agressive or too playful off-leash whilst she is on-leash, and sometimes me 'shooing' the little dogs away will make it worse (as if she feeds off my agitation).... especially if the little dog is roaming or its owners are too far away/not watching out.
She NEVER barks or snaps back.... just shows signs of stress, dancing + whining on the end of the leash as if 'over-wound' - constantly wanting to keep the other dog in sight. When she gets like this I'm sure if I was waving a string of sausages beside her she'd still be more intent on watching the other dog!
Maybe something I have to live with and just try and avoid this situation - easier said than done here in Spain where very sadly dogs are often allowed out to wander lose/unwatched outside of their so-called owners properties and even around whole village areas.
Anyway, kind of similar thing happens with cats - the cats don't come to her but if they don't move (eg sit pretty on a balcony or similar) she won't strain towards them, bark or anything, she'll just want to keep them in sight the whole time which can make heading along a sidewalk very challenging!
Maybe she should stand up for herself a bit!! or just needs more time to gain confidence. Fresh out of the shelter she was very nervous of many things - people included, but has come on amazingly. With this though I'm not sure --- any ideas ???