Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
The island
lighter:
Funny you mention pitties.... the cowgirl was walking her unleashed pitty lab mix one street over from ours recently. Actually, that dog looks much more lab than pitty, but you can see the brindle coat in the sun. Cowgirl had her arm in a sling and I stopped to pat the dog and ask about the arm. She'd tripped on tree roots and cracked her dominant arm near the shoulder socket. Very unfortunate, but she has bone density problems too. The neighbor-fellow was blowing off his curb with a loud blower,which he turned on the dog while yelling....."that dog should be on a leash!" Things got very tense, bc the dog began growling, at that point.
Cowgirl should have had a leash, of course.
Cowgirl walked home. I scooped the dog into my backseat and dropped her in her yard.... she's unwilling to walk far with the Pug and me when we take her with us. She yearns to be near her home.... super devoted, animal. If I was ever going to have another large dog, that would be the only one I'd take. Really a sweet heart and it's difficult not to love animals who love us back with such open hearts. I noticed the pointy growths in her ears have come back, poor thing.
You sure know a lot about Pitties, Amber! I wasn't built to train dogs. ANY dogs, lol. Lately, I whisper to the Pug and she listens better than she ever has. I think I used to chatter chatter chatter, but now we walk in silence. All communication is meaningful and has purpose. I wish I'd known that years ago.
Lighter
sKePTiKal:
Funny you mention whispering. Hol uses a "command voice" with her dogs. But when I would keep Knuckles, I'd talk softly to him - and he listened quite well for me. Seldom have to raise my voice with him. And he learned to play gently with me too; we still tussle sometimes when he's feeling "full of it", but he's 5-6 years old now and isn't the handful he was when he was a pup.
I think it's acceptance & safety that earns respect and with a reactive dog, sometimes you CAN get their attention better by being "still" and calm, rather than dominating. Not always of course.
lighter:
Dogs are smart.
When playing with Pug, DD 22 always makes sure to let the Pug get her hand or toy, eventually.... frustration and rougher play are averted. I remember thinking "that makes such sense!"
Taking the noise levels down, in every way, is helpful for everyone, me'thinks.
Except with music. Lovely, happy music playing...... singing and dancing...... that's another story: )
Lighter
Hopalong:
I got mad at Pooch yesterday and raised my voice, which has occurred two or three times in a decade. (She really overdoes the front-door protection roaring so the poor delivery guy can't hear himself ask me a question. I've seen them nearly sprint away.)
She's still giving me side-eye and I still feel guilty.
It's going to take some extra treats and bellyrubs. She forgave me for foster rescue eventually, so I imagine we'll reconcile. Sigh.
hugs and woofs,
Hops
Hopalong:
Fully forgiven today.
Whew!
:)
Hops
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