Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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Alice the Camel Dec 2016 8:12am, 8 Dec 2016 2,977 posts	0 Alice the Camel I that photo! We've not taken Charlie on holiday with us yet (we've only been away for a week since we've had him, he stayed with my son) so can't really help. I'm sure different dogs have different needs. Reading through, I think others have made good suggestions! They seem to have covered all the things I'd be looking for.
BaronessBL Dec 2016 9:03am, 8 Dec 2016 6,089 posts	0 BaronessBL Thanks again everyone - and a great picture. TR you're spot on - our house is all open plan downstairs - Wanda doesn't sleep on the furniture at night because fortunately she loves her own bed but we have previously come down in the morning in an open plan holiday cottage (with very cold stone floors) to find her on the sofa instead of in her own bed (or if we didn't actually catch her there was a warm dog-shaped indentation on the sofa at least!). Wanda will also come upstairs in the night to check we haven't left her (we have a stairgate at the top of the stairs though). We ask that people don't leave dogs unattended in the property but in reality I expect some who are 100% confident their dog will be OK in a crate will do so - we do have details of a dog sitter who would come in if needed though. Our feeling is that we will have a no dogs on furniture 'rule' but also accept that dogs don't always accept that rules on holiday are different to what they do at home and so we'll provide throws etc for the furniture just to be on the safe side. I think I'd rather have people stay who respect that we have rules but will use the throw so that it's not obvious their dog has been on the sofa than people who bring their dog in wet and sandy from the beach and he jumps straight onto the bed for a nap - because we said it was OK for dogs to be on the furniture!
Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Dec 2016 9:06am, 8 Dec 2016 3,972 posts	0 Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Exactly
Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Dec 2016 5:29pm, 11 Dec 2016 4,001 posts	0 Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Herumph. I was out in the park with Jet this sunset, and in the gloom, saw a big GSD approaching, also on a lead. Something about the other dog made me cautious, so I moved about 10 yards out from the path so that the dogs could pass without having to meet and greet. Except that the other dog reacted strongly, pulled her leads (both of them) out of her owner's hands and ran across to attack Jet. The owner, an older man, was saying something that sounded like, "Naughty girl, bad doggy" in a not very convincing tone. Jet lay down in his best "I'm no threat" position, and I stepped forward and yelled "Stop" (road stop for those who do the KC obedience awards) at the GSD, trying to get between it and Jet without extending any unprotected parts that could be chewed in panic. The bigger dog backed off a bit at that, and Jet promptly climbed up my leg. One of the leads on the GSD was yellow and had the word "Anxious" on it, something I only noticed when we were all in close proximity. At the point where the owner was trying to tell me that "She doesn't mean any harm", I had to bite my tongue because he had plenty of time to see us and prepare for the encounter. Luckily no physical harm was done. I know, these things happen. I'm not sure what I could have done differently but I felt a bit guilty for possibly scaring an already nervous dog andmaybe undoing weeks of training. On the other hand, my dog was under control and does not need to be jumped on by yet another bg dog.
elfpint Dec 2016 6:04pm, 11 Dec 2016 21,810 posts	0 elfpint Oh dear. We also had an unpleasant encounter with a GSD today or actually the owners. We had been on a walk in the woods and Ernie was being a total star. We had met loads of dogs and he had been bouncy but not totally bonkers, said hello but come away nicely. We saw a couple with a GSD coming and as it was off lead I opted to not put E's lead on and just let them say hello (mistake). Ernie waited to be told he could say hello then went over. The dog gave him a growl and nip - it was a warning shot and not friendly, and Ernie backed off but the dog went after him. Ernie ended up in a ditch under a log trying to get away. Now the GSD didn't make contact but made several growl/nip lunges at E. I was making my way over to intervene and get E out of the situation when the owner said 'he's just being friendly'. I wasn't as controlled as Helegant and responded 'he doesn't seem very friendly'. The man got very defensive and words were exchanged. Most shocking was when his wife said to QP (age 14), "you shut the f*** up or I'll go for you". It's such a shame because we had met so many other lovely dogs, including another young GSD. I wasn't cross that the dog gave E a warning but I suspect it should have been on a lead. I was more cross with the owner for suggesting it was 'friendly' behaviour. We met another small dog later on the walk who gave a warning growl - myself and the owner acknowledged it as such, E backed off and the other dog went on it's way.
Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Dec 2016 6:32pm, 11 Dec 2016 4,004 posts	0 Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Oh no... HP, that's horrible. What a rude woman! And to call it 'friendly' when it sounds like dog-talk for a minimum of 'behave yourself' and possibly something much worse is a misnomer. There are so many sensible and sensitive owners out there too. A few minutes after the GSD incident we met a cheerfulfriendly Labradoodle and both dogs said hello politely and moved on. The same thing happened a few minutes after that with a miniature Yorkie. I was very pleased that Jet had two positive experiences to counter the negative. I hope Ernie gets the same opportunities.
BaronessBL Dec 2016 6:39pm, 11 Dec 2016 6,094 posts	0 BaronessBL hp - that is absolutely appalling - poor Ernie and indeed you and QP. The other dog clearly was not being friendly and it sounds like the owners can't read its body language. I wonder if they would have put it on the lead if Ernie had been on the lead anyway - I suspect perhaps not. As to Helegant - I would have thought your 'stop' wouldn't have scared the dog - dogs tend to like firm commands which are yes or no (but not maybe). Even if the dog was nervous and didn't mean any harm the owners could have done more to get out of your way - they should have been the ones to move off the path first to give you a clue that all was not well. And the yellow tag on the lead isn't a ticket for the owners to then carry on expecting everyone else to get out of their way. We spoke to the Battersea behaviourists about the yellow leads etc and they view it as a yellow lead means 'I'm showing you I have a reactive dog but I am not necessarily doing anything about it.' Obviously that doesn't apply to all who have yellow leads/coats/tabards but equally it's not just there for show. Sorry bit of a rant but I think you handled it well Helegant
Lowly Shepherd Daisy Dec 2016 6:59pm, 11 Dec 2016 16,733 posts	0 Lowly Shepherd Daisy Flossie has a yellow lead but that's simply because that was the colour I chose from the range Michelle and Lisa had on sale when we needed a new lead! It never occurred to me that people might attach some significance to the colour. I thought it was a yellow bandana we were supposed to be aware of.
Deck the halls with 2 Xmas baubles? Dec 2016 7:03pm, 11 Dec 2016 9,090 posts	0 Deck the halls with 2 Xmas baubles? Well done H, good quick reaction. Some people shouldn't be allowed to have a dog of any breed...... and some like GSD's, Rottis and Staffies have a bad name because they have been in the wrong hands. Also rant apols! It upsets me that now Indi is growing some people cross the road and you couldn't meet a gentler kinder dog. I'm glad Jet and Ernie are ok.
Hark the Helegant Angels Sing Dec 2016 7:35pm, 11 Dec 2016 4,005 posts	0 Hark the Helegant Angels Sing I thought it was a shame that this was a GSD because they are among my favourite dogs, but so easily frightening when their behaviour is less than perfect; and, like Rotties and Staffies capable of doing so much damage when they do go off-piste. I do wonder whether my particular affection for GSDs gave me more confidence than I might have had if it had been one of the other breeds? (I was very aware of wearing a thick quilted jacket and wondering how the dog's teeth would fare against the wadding ;-))