Chewy has completely baffling reactions to strangers.
He is happy to see everyone (almost), and goes up to sniff them right away with tail all wiggly. Then, it's anyone's guess what he'll do. Sniff them more (in frantic way like they are wearing cheese anklets), show dissinterest, flinch suddenly as if he just smelled bad milk and hten hide behind me, lower his ears and begin a low growl (WITH EYE CONTACT! EEK!), bark at them, roll over for them, lick them to death...try to play with them like they are a dog.
It seems completely random. I have figured this out: He HATES strangers telling him to lay or "down". Can't STAND that. He will immediately begin posturing aggressively against the stranger. Nothing agressive, but verry much a "Screw You and the Horse you took to get here!" kinda thing. Some barking then.
I find that he reacts so dominantly to strangers odd, since we ALWAYS walked him and took him to friend's houses, had strangers over, went to stores with him, and he was always treated well and given treats. We made sure to have him play with older dogs, younger puppies, and dogs his own age. We made sure to have lots of strangers hold him and pet him. And yet he's still wiggy with strangers sometimes.
Even the ones he really likes, only 1 in 7 are going to be able to pet him without him shying off.
Kinda frustrating because I am pretty sure he wasn't abused (but not 100%), but he sure didn't have this trait when we got him. He got more and more this way under my care, i think...Not sure what I did wrong.
LOVES children, little girls in particular. But if there's more than one child, he tucks his talk and tries to hide behind me. Then he will roll over and show his tummy. I don't think he's askin for a rub, but rather not to be eaten...
He's agressive with some people, pee on himself shy with others, perfectly fine with others yet. I can't figure out what his trend is.
Oh, he LOVES anyone who comes to visit though... |