The Westie

mojozen

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#1
I just went outside with Mojo on leash to go get my inhaler and spacer from the car. As we walked outside the neighbor two doors down was watching their unleashed west highland white terrier run around outside while they stood in their house. The little westie, who's name I've now forgotten, ran over to meet my leashed dog.

For some reason Mojo got poofy and as soon as the westie came over, they took one sniff of each other, then snapped at the air above the westie's ear. I didn't react much. I just watched the other dog retreat without a sound...

The reason as to why Mojo went off on the westie, is really unclear to my human senses.

Maybe the westie said something offensive in his posture, or his demeanor. Maybe it was the fact he's an unneutered male dog running around off leash while my dog is on leash. Maybe it was the weather (winter mix = combo of hail, snow and sleet) and the fact Mojo was trying to get back to the house (we were 2 ft from the front door) because 10 seconds out there and he was miserable and meeting the over enthusiastic westie who has tried to prove he owns this property to me, kept Mojo from getting back to the house.

Also this is the dog that runs around off leash everytime he's let outside to do his business.... so he runs everywhere and scents the property with his mark. This includes the small space that I allow Mojo to potty in... not to mention just inches from our front door. (so everytime Mojo walks outside guess what he runs into?)

I know when this has happened because Mojo will not leave a spot until he's sniffed and remarked it throughly. I pretty much have to drag him away and keep checking him so he doesn't return, as he will try to return to that spot for about 10minutes after first encountering it. It gets pretty tiresome.

I'm pretty sure it's not because he's a pit bull mix. I'm pretty sure that he's not gone dog aggro all of the sudden, although it has been known to happen in younger dogs. (He's 5ish, isn't it more of a worry in younger dogs of the sudden flipping of the dog aggression switch than of ones about the age of 5? I thought I read that somewhere...) It's always a possibility but while I will keep an eye on him for a while, I am pretty sure that after 3 years of having a dog that loves other dogs, he's not dog aggro.

Anyway, little westie beat it away from my dog. Their owners came and picked up the little dog from where he had retreated. They shrugged said "Sorry," and walked away without saying anything more. I called after them and asked if the dog was okay, which they ignored.

Yes, the dog is cute and fluffy white. He's small - maybe tipping in at 8-10lbs (aren't westies supposed to be bigger?) and between the age of 6months to a year or so. But I've never thought that letting him run around outside off leash was a really great idea. And his running up to people? Not new...

People annoy me.
 

ToscasMom

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#2
Sorry? LOL. I would have told them to change their dog's name to "Lunch" because that's what he might be next time they irresponsibly let him run loose. That should cure them.
 

mojozen

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#3
Sorry? LOL. I would have told them to change their dog's name to "Lunch" because that's what he might be next time they irresponsibly let him run loose. That should cure them.
I tend to keep a low profile here. I like to keep Mojo and my housing so I don't mouth off too much. But I wish now, that i had thought of that comeback when I was in the middle of holding onto my poofy dog! ;)

Actually what's more scary to me is the fact they are letting this dog run off leash, when we live RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! WTF? Fortunately no kids have gone past the fences (they are pretty well behaved), and the few kids I've encountered on my walks with Mojo have all asked before coming to meet Mojo... but hello? Can we say that this is a situation all the more dangerous?

Blech.
 

DryCreek

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#4
It sounds to me as if Mojo is sick and tired of this dog infringing on his territory. There is nothing I find more frustrating than having to clean up someone else's dog crap from my yard. I have no idea how healthy they keep their animals and the risk of my dogs picking up something from another dogs crap is to high for me to take it lightly. Not all dogs will be friends either, it has nothing to do with the breed of dog. But if Mojo decides he will not tolerate this other dogs advances, he may decide to put him strongly in his place. That would be unfortunate as his breed will become an issue at that point. Though he is not dog aggressive and will not start anything, he may, as many APBT's do, decide to finish what the other dog started. And age makes no difference in this aspect, it's more of a situation thing.

Are there any leash/containment laws where you live? Can you have a conversation about this with your neighbor? I, personally, would send any little presents I find on my yard right back to the owners property. Irresponsible owners who think that just because their dog is small it's not an issue need a wake up call. Especially with a school so close. Hopefully it never becomes an issue but I find that people who are irresponsible with containing their dog are also lax in training it properly as well.
 

mojozen

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#5
But if Mojo decides he will not tolerate this other dogs advances, he may decide to put him strongly in his place. That would be unfortunate as his breed will become an issue at that point. Though he is not dog aggressive and will not start anything, he may, as many APBT's do, decide to finish what the other dog started. And age makes no difference in this aspect, it's more of a situation thing..
Actually Mojo, I know, has issues with dogs just charging us. We've been attacked before on leash by dogs that were off leash in on leash areas. Not by this dog, or this place, but several years ago after I first adopted him. He has been a little protective of me ever since, because during that fight I got dragged down into the middle of it, MOjo tried to drive the other dogs off but I ended up dragging him under me to keep him from attacking. He stopped trying to bite once he found himself under me, but then I had a shepherd mix standing on my back. So Mojo's just not very fond of dogs that rush us, no matter the size, or sex.

And yes, I'm very aware of what a pit bull can do.... I've seen it. It's not pretty. Which is why Mojo doesn't go to dog parks, and only plays with dogs we know in a controlled environment.


Are there any leash/containment laws where you live? Can you have a conversation about this with your neighbor? I, personally, would send any little presents I find on my yard right back to the owners property. Irresponsible owners who think that just because their dog is small it's not an issue need a wake up call. Especially with a school so close. Hopefully it never becomes an issue but I find that people who are irresponsible with containing their dog are also lax in training it properly as well.
Fortunately, it's not poop so far. It's just pee markings. And they are always placed just outside our front door, and occasionally outside of our back door. I basically live in a long row of townhouses, that are all attached to each other. Mojo doesn't mark the house, but he will raise a mark on one of the communal courtyard trees. I don't allow him to do more marking than just that one. This dog, and apparently some other dogs, are marking the house both front and back.

:(
 

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