CHAT Met with a fellow TBer this morning - and a Hairy story

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
You know this, and I know this, but an awful lot of people don't seem to care and think it's their right!

There fixed it for you. This is a problem we have when OC is walking Jr on a Saturday morning and specifically takes him to the farmers market to socialize him. Jr does very well, humans not so much.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
And Hairy is sweet too. Tail always wagging, always begging for attention and snuggling up to people. Right up until he doesn't. And I honestly don't know what triggers him.
 

agmfan3

Veteran Member
Appa is just like that. He is fine when my hubby is home, or he takes Appa somewhere. I don't take him. He is super protective of me and will not allow anyone within 6' of me. I don't mind, I just keep him home, or if I do take him I know the vehicle is safe. We did purchase a muzzle, it's just in case someone needs to come to the house when hubby is not home, or if I have to take him to the vet.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
And Hairy is sweet too. Tail always wagging, always begging for attention and snuggling up to people. Right up until he doesn't. And I honestly don't know what triggers him.

maybe the guy is a sex offender? I've mentioned this elsewhere here on TBK, Jr is the sweetest boy you could ever want, until that sex offender goes walking down our sidewalk and if he's outside he'll go after him, if he's in the house he can still smell him and will start barking. OC walked him one evening about a year ago down by the church that embraces everyone and everything, and some guy approached Jr, from the church. OC said Jr sat down and started snarling at the dude. OC described him, did a short search and sure enough the guy was a convicted sex offender.

Another member here said she had a dog that had a thing for drug users, specifically meth heads.

Who knows.
 

Uhhmmm...

Veteran Member
I know nothing of dog laws in Texas, but the possibility of a Rabies has freaked-out Georgia lawmakers. Of course, the thought of Rabies freaks me out, too.

If caught early, the human Rabies treatment is expensive, but the disease is curable. If untreated, by the time you note the very first symptoms of Rabies in a human, that human is 100% guaranteed a painful, slow death.

While Georgia is sometimes referred to as a "first bite is free" state, the laws actually have quite a bit of legal discretion which may or may not be followed by local authorities.

In actual practice, if reported by a victim, the slightest dog scratch will likely (surely, in some Atlanta metro-area counties) send your dog through a mandatory 10-day isolation in a vet supervised kennel. If you cannot or will not pay all the costs, your dog will be killed. No one cares that you have properly vax'ed the dog against Rabies. No one cares about the "mistakes" a stranger makes as long as he is not brandishing a weapon or has not physically struck you.

Should the low-life "victim" require medical assistance, you will be paying 10x the bill. If the victim is a minor or a well- tanned, blond-haired, blue-eyed, petite young woman wearing cut jeans and who cries easily, you will be paying for the rest of your life.

Please, never put yourself or your dog at such risk, let alone a potential victim.

Atlanta Bite Laws

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Hfcomms

EN66iq
HFC, you're right of course. Bear in mind that his reaching out a hand toward Hairy was unexpected, and I didn't have time to say "Don't do that please." It happened so fast I had no time to restrain him before he lunged.

Yeah, I know. So far my Mal has never bit anyone but I know she is more than capable of doing so at the drop of a hat. It was unexpected the first time mine went after another dog as she had never done that before. But you know how litigious people are today and even if our dogs just gave a little nip there are ambulance chasing lawyers just ready to make your life miserable if they smell a buck to be made.
 

CarolynA

Veteran Member
Is Hairy taking the role of pack leader? If so, his "job" is to keep people away from you. If you do a little training and put yourself as pack leader he might just wait for you to indicate that you need protection instead of going for the "offender" first. I would suggest a few classes with a good dog trainer. I've had 2 dogs that would bite anyone who approached me, including the vet. After some training we got it sorted out and had no more problems. It takes a little work but it's fun and it's well worth the effort.
 

Con-tractor

The Mad in Genius
Is Hairy taking the role of pack leader? If so, his "job" is to keep people away from you. If you do a little training and put yourself as pack leader he might just wait for you to indicate that you need protection instead of going for the "offender" first. I would suggest a few classes with a good dog trainer. I've had 2 dogs that would bite anyone who approached me, including the vet. After some training we got it sorted out and had no more problems. It takes a little work but it's fun and it's well worth the effort.

If Dennis is quoting Cesar Millan I am pretty sure he he understands this.

I tell you that show gets boring fast when it's always the same problem of people treating their dogs like kids
 

Terriannie

Has No Life - Lives on TB
HFC, you're right of course. Bear in mind that his reaching out a hand toward Hairy was unexpected, and I didn't have time to say "Don't do that please." It happened so fast I had no time to restrain him before he lunged.
Maybe you didn't see my suggestion and picture on #22? If you have a large warning on the coat for your dog, then people wouldn't come up so close. That would be the perfect time to "instruct" the approaching "guest/threat in your space" (in Hairy's eyes) to maybe try out what admiralhalsey suggested in having them come shoulder to shoulder to you which makes sense to me.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
We had a half Chow/Shepard, Stinker, that lived at mother's home in the back yard. Only family, one male friend and the male next door neighbor could be with him. Two neighborhood kids that taunted him opened up the gate to the rear yard and Stinker knocked them down and the next door neighbor pulled Stinker off and put Stinker back in the back yard. Stinker spent a week with animal control to determine that he did not have rabies. Our next door neighbor informed animal control that these two miscreant kids would walk down the alley and taunt Stinker on regularly. We paid the doctor bills for the two miscreants and the family moved. It appeared that Animal Control had a discussion with the parents about their miscreants actions and that with signs posted they would be at fault if something else happened to their miscreants.

I raised the chain link fence to eight foot, put locks on all of the gates and put metal signs around all of the fence stating 'BEWARE OF THE DOG". The family attorney said that the public was warned and if they got bit through the fence or went into the back yard it was there fault for they had been warned.

The carport was enclosed leaving only one way into the back yard which I changed to eight foot wood fence with a gate. A new family moved in next door with kids and they installed a 6' wood fence along the chain link fence common with their back yard. They believed the signs.

No one messed with mother or her home. Stinker lived a long life with mother and had to be put down when his body gave out and he could barely get up. I and my son took him to animal control and the young man there put Stinker to sleep. The three of us cried. My son and I buried Stinker.

If you have dogs in the city, put up signs and learn your states statutes about animals.

Texican....
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Hairy will be three in a week or so. I think he's one of those "developmentally delayed" dogs like Labs, who don't get past their puppyhood until age 3-4 or so. Further, he's kind-of dumb as a box of hammers, or at least acts that way. (He's a guy, so it could easily be an act - lol)

I does what I tell him most of the time. But when he's sniffing something, the rest of the world goes away, and it's just his nose and the object of interest. I have experience being the Alpha for GSDs, so I know what's required. Hairy seems very malleable and compliant almost all the time, leading me to believe that he does in fact see me as the Alpha.

However, I also think that since I WAS distracted at the moment the clerk came up, Hairy went into "guard mode." He is extraordinarily protective of me. I've never seen another dog like it. That's the part that I'm at a loss to address. He follows me around the house every minute of every day. If I close the bathroom door, I hear a sniff from the bottom of the door.

I kinda think that can't be healthy.
 

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
Better figure out all the reactions of dogs to all the hugging and smooching that will go on by their owners, when the masks get to come off and social distancing is a thing of the past.
 

Grounded Idealist

Hope Always
The old "former leo" was probably fishing to get people to tell HIM why THEY were collecting ammo.

Hairy sensed he wasn't your friend.

Maybe your impression of the guy was different...
My first thought too—that this guy wasn’t really what he said he was. Maybe he embellished the “LEO” aspect of his past and was more of a rent-a-cop security guard. :shr:
 

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
The old "former leo" was probably fishing to get people to tell HIM why THEY were collecting ammo.

Hairy sensed he wasn't your friend.

Maybe your impression of the guy was different...

Why did the clerk feel a need to divulge that he was a "former LEO"?

That and his leading question about stockpiling ammo is very suspicious to me.
 

DryCreek

Veteran Member
I think muzzles are made to fit a little looser nowadays.
Not the one the wife bought for me!

Anyway, we are finding out that our GSD mix can be quite odd at times. One thing we quickly found out is that he really, really doesn't like the "floating head". That's when you hear something going on, and peek around the corner to see what he's eating up now. When he finally notices the "detached head" floating in the doorway, his eyes get big and he runs toward you barking. He stops at your knees, but you can tell it sorta' freaks him out.
 

nebb

Veteran Member
We had a St Bernard at the nursing home I worked for, came as a pup and grew up with staff and the elders......he was only 2 or so when he stopped a visitor by growling and aggressive stance....didn’t bite but admin said he had to go......one of the staff adopted Cooper...still think he knew the visitor was “bad”
 

cowboy

Veteran Member
Dennis I can't but wonder if it is the dog keying on you as well as the salesman. When he came within your three feet your reaction changed not that the salesman didn't cause it but fight or flight is big in the animal kingdom.

I would suggest you watch some horse training vids and learn a whole new language. Keeping hooked with a animal is a must to understand what is in their head. Buddy sour is a thing.
 
Hairy will be three in a week or so. I think he's one of those "developmentally delayed" dogs like Labs, who don't get past their puppyhood until age 3-4 or so. Further, he's kind-of dumb as a box of hammers, or at least acts that way. (He's a guy, so it could easily be an act - lol)

I does what I tell him most of the time. But when he's sniffing something, the rest of the world goes away, and it's just his nose and the object of interest. I have experience being the Alpha for GSDs, so I know what's required. Hairy seems very malleable and compliant almost all the time, leading me to believe that he does in fact see me as the Alpha.

However, I also think that since I WAS distracted at the moment the clerk came up, Hairy went into "guard mode." He is extraordinarily protective of me. I've never seen another dog like it. That's the part that I'm at a loss to address. He follows me around the house every minute of every day. If I close the bathroom door, I hear a sniff from the bottom of the door.

I kinda think that can't be healthy.

One more hint that I have learned from my second oldest. He has become a dog trainer of sorts (everyone goes to him). He has a male lab who was a real hand full. He had to make very clear and defined boarders clearly showing the “alpha male” position with him. What he did, was allow his lab (pure bred) to have “his” safe space. In his case, a kennel. A place where he goes and he knows that he is the alpha of that space. But, outside that space it is my son who makes the rules and there is no compromise. There are times when my son has gone down to the floor, face to face with him to clarify who the alpha male was - dog to dog. That dog is now a very obedient dog. He has not lost his very vigorous personality, but he obeys instantly, and never wanders too far without checking back. The safe place, his place, is important - defining his role as the subservient dog who knows when he is the boss, in his space, and when my son is the boss, outside of his safe space. He now is a good dog who seeks to please the alpha. It’s cute watching the 3 year old have total command-control of the dog - rather amazing actually.

The dog sniffing at the door for you is him just checking where you are. He knows he is subservient to you and seeks you out as he needs you to tell him what to do - just like a canine pack.

Admiral Halsey
 

Marie

Veteran Member
Hairy will be three in a week or so. I think he's one of those "developmentally delayed" dogs like Labs, who don't get past their puppyhood until age 3-4 or so. Further, he's kind-of dumb as a box of hammers, or at least acts that way. (He's a guy, so it could easily be an act - lol)

I does what I tell him most of the time. But when he's sniffing something, the rest of the world goes away, and it's just his nose and the object of interest. I have experience being the Alpha for GSDs, so I know what's required. Hairy seems very malleable and compliant almost all the time, leading me to believe that he does in fact see me as the Alpha.

However, I also think that since I WAS distracted at the moment the clerk came up, Hairy went into "guard mode." He is extraordinarily protective of me. I've never seen another dog like it. That's the part that I'm at a loss to address. He follows me around the house every minute of every day. If I close the bathroom door, I hear a sniff from the bottom of the door.

I kinda think that can't be healthy.
That's the Pyr, they are a very different kind of dog. Slow to mature and very very independent thinking. That's due to their skill set. They appear slow but that's their independent thinking kicking in.
There's a joke in our family when you give a command they have to think about why you want them to do it. But they are highly sensitive and intelligent.
Like others have said. He probably knew the salesman was not ok. Quig is highly protective of me and he has pegged people that are nefarious in nature. He has growled under his breath. But he is a home only dog so he rarely sees strangers. I trust my dogs instinct. Trust Hairy's.
 

Freebirde

Senior Member
25 + years ago when I was working pest control, one of my monthly stops had a chow. When I stopped there he was friendly, but not overly friendly. Greeted him, did my job, told him bye, and left. Later the other techs asked me how I handled that mean dog. Sometimes they just know. Many animals accept me as one of their own and I try to accept them as they are. I have met aggressive dogs, usually the small, overly inbred dogs or dogs that have been mistreated.

As to our current dog, Sasha, is a rescue from a probable puppy hoarder. Just under 50 pounds, may have growth stunted some from early malnourishment, color, short hair, and lose skin of a redbone, some head shape of german shepherd, and deep, narrow chest of a greyhound. Play fights with our cat, another rescue, JaqJaq, when they are not sleeping together.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Recently, at night Hairy has taken to laying against the entire length of my back (big doggie.) His butt will be just behind my shoulder, and his nose against the back of my knee. His feet point away from me, so we’re kind of laying back-to-back. But he REALLY presses against the length of my body. He gets peeved when I need to turn over (lol).
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Recently, at night Hairy has taken to laying against the entire length of my back (big doggie.) His butt will be just behind my shoulder, and his nose against the back of my knee. His feet point away from me, so we’re kind of laying back-to-back. But he REALLY presses against the length of my body. He gets peeved when I need to turn over (lol).
You know... there definitely are some dominance issues going on here. In an actual pack, if a subordinate dared to snuggle with the pack leader (and matibg wasn't involved, LOL!) the subordinate would be ready to move away instantly on the slightest growl or twitch indicating the leader is feeling crowded.

We've got our own "interesting" issues with Maggie, which I may discuss in a separate thread, once we're moved- training the pup is at the top of our non-move related "to do list". But we've never letdown on the bed... Maggie turned inspired to an exception, probably because my back had me down for so much of her puppy hood. And then, of course, Dixie figured she could fit, too! Prince is a gentleman, but when we moved our bed and out the mattress on the floor, it was too much for him. Good thing we have a king sized bed!

But, my point is this: both Dixie and Prince love to snuggle close (translate as pile on top until I can barely breathe, although Dixie subsides a full body snuggle where she lies along our full length, but with her weight on the bed) BUT...if I feel impeded from moving, all I have to do is say "ok, that'll do" (if actively snuggling) or"Dixie, move!" and they immediately move... usually to the foot of the bed.

They wouldn't be allowed back on if they challenged me- even subtly- for space. And they iw it.

And none of this means anything when we're just wrestling and having fun- but they know the difference.

Summerthyme
 

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
Hairy will be three in a week or so. I think he's one of those "developmentally delayed" dogs like Labs, who don't get past their puppyhood until age 3-4 or so. Further, he's kind-of dumb as a box of hammers, or at least acts that way. (He's a guy, so it could easily be an act - lol)

I does what I tell him most of the time. But when he's sniffing something, the rest of the world goes away, and it's just his nose and the object of interest. I have experience being the Alpha for GSDs, so I know what's required. Hairy seems very malleable and compliant almost all the time, leading me to believe that he does in fact see me as the Alpha.

However, I also think that since I WAS distracted at the moment the clerk came up, Hairy went into "guard mode." He is extraordinarily protective of me. I've never seen another dog like it. That's the part that I'm at a loss to address. He follows me around the house every minute of every day. If I close the bathroom door, I hear a sniff from the bottom of the door.

I kinda think that can't be healthy.
Remember, HIS world is very small. Just you and Aja. You're the most interesting thing in his world. Why wouldn't he be glued to you. You're his stimulation. He a working breed, so with such a small world, You're his "work".
 

etdeb

Veteran Member
You may not be able to train it out of him.Jr. Is about as trained out as a dog can get... and yet he still wants to take sex predators down. Some things are just ingrained in their dna.
I am so glad JR turned out to be a good family member, everyone thought I was crazy to pay so much to get him transported there but he deserved a chance at a happy home,
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
You know... there definitely are some dominance issues going on here. In an actual pack, if a subordinate dared to snuggle with the pack leader (and matibg wasn't involved, LOL!) the subordinate would be ready to move away instantly on the slightest growl or twitch indicating the leader is feeling crowded.
If I tell him to move, he’ll move, unless he’s sound asleep. But it all comes back around to his need to be in physical contact with me at every possible moment.
 

etdeb

Veteran Member
I have a lab rescue I am trying to survive her puppy stage , She was suppose to be over 2 years old but thy lied just because she was a bigger dog.
 

Freebirde

Senior Member
When working on a construction site with my carpenter father, there was a lab that wanted to play fetch with a piece of treated 4 X 4. One time I couldn't play fetch and it chewed that 4 X 4 up. After that, when it wanted to play fetch. I played fetch.

Our dog has to super powers. One, when she gets excited or REALLY needs to get our attention, her bark can go ultra sonic. The other is when she lays on to of the bed covers and you want to move them, this 45 +/- pound dog weighs 500 pounds.
 

willowlady

Veteran Member
As the clerk walked up Hairy was fine until he came closer than about 3’ from me. When I come up to someone, I always stop about that distance away. He came right up next to me without pause, which was what set Hairy off.
Sounds like Hairy is smart.... really smart. And he accept polite people. The clerk invaded your space rudely, and dogs know when that is not okay. Plus, I'd trust a dog's impression as to a person's character over a cat any day. Our pup is coming along nicely, but the biggest issue is DH will NOT maintain consistency in her training. He just cannot get the mentality that "all day every day is training time for Lady." And just like a two-year old, Lady now has two sets of behaviors.
 

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
As the clerk walked up Hairy was fine until he came closer than about 3’ from me. When I come up to someone, I always stop about that distance away. He came right up next to me without pause, which was what set Hairy off.

Dog trainer my aft-end. A very assumptive type projecting a little too much ‘I got this’ attitude while fishing for info.

The guy work’s at Cabelas has a single shelf and asks why people are buying ammo. His sincerity evades the syntax of trust. Good thing Hairy reads people well.
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
Hairy will be three in a week or so. I think he's one of those "developmentally delayed" dogs like Labs, who don't get past their puppyhood until age 3-4 or so. Further, he's kind-of dumb as a box of hammers, or at least acts that way. (He's a guy, so it could easily be an act - lol)

I does what I tell him most of the time. But when he's sniffing something, the rest of the world goes away, and it's just his nose and the object of interest. I have experience being the Alpha for GSDs, so I know what's required. Hairy seems very malleable and compliant almost all the time, leading me to believe that he does in fact see me as the Alpha.

However, I also think that since I WAS distracted at the moment the clerk came up, Hairy went into "guard mode." He is extraordinarily protective of me. I've never seen another dog like it. That's the part that I'm at a loss to address. He follows me around the house every minute of every day. If I close the bathroom door, I hear a sniff from the bottom of the door.

I kinda think that can't be healthy.
A lot of dogs can smell weed under the bathroom door and intend to have their share. lol.

Had a friend who had a dog that stole a bag out of her purse. Ate it and LIKED it. She could never just go in her bathroom and smoke without the dog snorting under the door.

Then, in digression, her daughter had a dog poop in her purse. It was Christmas and she didn’t realize it until she attempted to take her money out of her purse at the register and there it was. Big as life.

On Hairy, I don’t know. Either use the shock collar when you’re out OR get pro help on this one. You need more people to really figure out what is going on and when. Plus, you’re like me: generally you don’t have a “victim” to get a grasp on what’s happening. I would go to a trainer who could watch and give you some dogs and people to interact with. I’m not all happy with a shock collar, but sometimes that one “beating” is kinder than other things. But you have to know WHEN to take action. Not just go about it Willy Nilly. That’s why I recommend a pro working with you. I can’t really imagine it taking long once the problem has been identified. Good luck and let us know what you do. This is a tricky one.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I am so glad JR turned out to be a good family member, everyone thought I was crazy to pay so much to get him transported there but he deserved a chance at a happy home,

He is very much loved, and is having dental surgery this morning for a broken molar, we have no idea what he ate but it's being taken care of! And thank you so much for sending him to us!
 

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
The lowest level on a good shock collar is really just a vibration. If you train them to respond to that, you never have to actually shock them, except in emergency situations where they "don't hear you".
 
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