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Originally Posted by AshleyJefferson And yes, I do think it's cute that Milano thinks he's much larger and stronger than he is. He has such a Napoleon complex. Fortunately, he hasn't been hurt by another dog yet. But it's better I get an experienced trainer now, then cry over his loss later. I don't know what I'd do without him. |
This is why you need a trainer. He might not think he's a big dog. He might be scared. Loki is fine until he gets within 5 feet of a dog he doesn't feel right about. He's fine with some dogs, mostly smaller or familiar dogs, and not OK with large new dogs. He will act like he wants to play with them, but he gets nervous and scared and then starts barking and getting a little snarly at them. It's not a solid "someone's at the door" bark, it's a wimpy bark that sounds like a gobble - he's scared. He's never hurt a dog or gotten hurt, even when i send him to daycare (at the trainer's) with other dogs, because he's never interacted with the "wrong" dog. (In fact, he doesn't pull that stuff there. Either he feels safer OFF leash, or he trusts the trainer, or he knows the dogs or something? She makes a little fort for him to retreat to if he wants to.) I'm careful with him on walks when we meet new dogs and the trainer is not present because he might react. He just barks really loud and then kind of retreats. It's startling though - it doesn't startle me anymore but it would definately freak out another dog parent (or dog). I thought he was being a "bully" and one of the trainers said no, he's scared. His body language shows that too. I've taught Loki lots of tricks too but for this you need a behaviorist. You need to find out why he's doing it - is he being agressive, is he scared, is he being territorial, etc.? A behaviorist can tell you these things.
I think it's "cute" when Loki plays nicely with the big dogs and tries to wrestle them when his head is the size of their paw. I do not think it's cute when he tries to "attack" them, even if in his mind he is trying to scare them off. He's like the kid that says "I know Karate don't mess with me". He's just a big baby. We're working on building his confidence.