Spoof
Kung Fu Chinny!
I have a good friend that I've known for about 15 years now. We hang out a couple times a week at her place. This post is regarding her and my behavior around dogs.
A little about me: We had working dogs growing up but I'm not a dog person, when I go into someone's house as a guest I usually ignore dogs. If they come up and greet me politely I will return that but overall wild/jumping to calm they seem to understand that I don't want them in my space and leave me alone.
My friend: Three years ago her parents sent her a puppy for Christmas, she took some classes with the dog and it's a great dog. I started to notice she was getting very possessive about the dog and almost obsessive about what she could do -60 tricks and counting - and how people reacted. She rescued a second two years ago. Both very well mannered and trained.
About a year and a half ago she got a job as a dog trainer. She loves it and is very good at it both with dogs and people. However it really seemed to increase her obsession/intensity?
About six months ago she started taking in foster dogs, she has one at a time.
At first I noticed she was becoming pretty intense as to how I interacted with the dogs, like she talks to me, includes the dog in the conversation and then watches to see what I would do, or in the middle of a conversation start paying attention to one. A couple months ago she used me to see how aggressive one of them would get to someone coming in the house which really freaked me out. Especially because she just sat on the couch and watched it lunge at me after I came in. I got very angry and told her I wouldn't come over until she got rid of that one because she also would not let me at least take it on a walk so we could get over our initial not so pleasant meeting. To me, walking a dog is the most relaxing and forgiving bonding activity ever.
She's on foster number five now and it has gotten more and more intense. Last night she finally blew up on me. We had plans to get together and she called and said she was taking in a new dog for someone. I go in the house, her dogs are laying passed out on the floor, they don't bother barking at me if she's not in eyesight. She was outside letting the new one go potty.
She comes in with the new dog on a leash and proceeds to let it jump on me - while she is holding the leash. First time I said no, she says say "off". Second time I said off, third time, my knee impacted dog's chest. The dog was jumping energetically enough onto me to bounce back a couple of feet. She exploded. In my mind: I backed off and she let the leash out?? Why? It ended up in a very tense and emotional session for both of us, she "won" so to speak when I backed off and was extremely tense and confrontational the rest of the evening, even to people she hadn't met before.
I know there is really only one answer to this - it's her house, her rules. If I don't like the rules, don't come over.
What I'd like advice on; I have a gut feeling that the dog was doing this behavior because she was inadvertently encouraging it. Sounds dumb, but when she's not around her dogs are very different. Many of the things they do, they do because they sense that is what she wants. For example, barking only when she is around. I no longer dog sit for her, but when I did I didn't have any of the weird issues she does. Heck, one of her dogs will not eat if she is watching it some days.
I just don't know what to do about the whole thing. I really dread meeting up with her next time and don't even want to discuss the subject of dogs. It's left me confused and at a loss. Any advise is greatly appreciated.
)
A little about me: We had working dogs growing up but I'm not a dog person, when I go into someone's house as a guest I usually ignore dogs. If they come up and greet me politely I will return that but overall wild/jumping to calm they seem to understand that I don't want them in my space and leave me alone.
My friend: Three years ago her parents sent her a puppy for Christmas, she took some classes with the dog and it's a great dog. I started to notice she was getting very possessive about the dog and almost obsessive about what she could do -60 tricks and counting - and how people reacted. She rescued a second two years ago. Both very well mannered and trained.
About a year and a half ago she got a job as a dog trainer. She loves it and is very good at it both with dogs and people. However it really seemed to increase her obsession/intensity?
About six months ago she started taking in foster dogs, she has one at a time.
At first I noticed she was becoming pretty intense as to how I interacted with the dogs, like she talks to me, includes the dog in the conversation and then watches to see what I would do, or in the middle of a conversation start paying attention to one. A couple months ago she used me to see how aggressive one of them would get to someone coming in the house which really freaked me out. Especially because she just sat on the couch and watched it lunge at me after I came in. I got very angry and told her I wouldn't come over until she got rid of that one because she also would not let me at least take it on a walk so we could get over our initial not so pleasant meeting. To me, walking a dog is the most relaxing and forgiving bonding activity ever.
She's on foster number five now and it has gotten more and more intense. Last night she finally blew up on me. We had plans to get together and she called and said she was taking in a new dog for someone. I go in the house, her dogs are laying passed out on the floor, they don't bother barking at me if she's not in eyesight. She was outside letting the new one go potty.
She comes in with the new dog on a leash and proceeds to let it jump on me - while she is holding the leash. First time I said no, she says say "off". Second time I said off, third time, my knee impacted dog's chest. The dog was jumping energetically enough onto me to bounce back a couple of feet. She exploded. In my mind: I backed off and she let the leash out?? Why? It ended up in a very tense and emotional session for both of us, she "won" so to speak when I backed off and was extremely tense and confrontational the rest of the evening, even to people she hadn't met before.
I know there is really only one answer to this - it's her house, her rules. If I don't like the rules, don't come over.
What I'd like advice on; I have a gut feeling that the dog was doing this behavior because she was inadvertently encouraging it. Sounds dumb, but when she's not around her dogs are very different. Many of the things they do, they do because they sense that is what she wants. For example, barking only when she is around. I no longer dog sit for her, but when I did I didn't have any of the weird issues she does. Heck, one of her dogs will not eat if she is watching it some days.
I just don't know what to do about the whole thing. I really dread meeting up with her next time and don't even want to discuss the subject of dogs. It's left me confused and at a loss. Any advise is greatly appreciated.
)
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