In agility class last night, Capone exited the tunnel and went directly to insert his nose into Shorty's butt. (Shorty is a young Afghan Hound, and Capone is quite infatuated with her.) After a 'HEY!' and being ignored, I yanked his ear.
*GASP!*
Yep, that's right. I did. It surprised him, and he yelped. Our trainer asked "Did *that* really hurt him?" (She's seen him take dives off the dogwalk and not give a crap.) To which I replied, "Yeah, I hurt his feelings is what I hurt." I'm socially retarded and don't really pay attention to people's reactions and such, but was later informed that I got a 'look.' (Not sure if this was from trainer, class-mate veterinarian, or other spectators.)
This got me to thinking. If I had been a spectator, what would I have thought?? I mean, these people don't know that Capone's ears aren't particularly sensitive - that I didn't hurt him. They have no way of knowing that ear yanking, tail tugging, toe fur tickling, and rump pinching are ways to incite play with him. Not to say that I was attempting to play with him, but I yanked about half as hard as I would have if we had been playing. It got his attention when the sharp vocalization did not.
I was approaching from his right side. Truthfully, if I'd have approached from his rear, I would have pinched his rump or where his belly tucks up and really spooked him.
Also, I was unaware of this as well, but I got a 'look' when I faux-spanked him. (Brought his traffic lead around swiftly, stopped short, and either barely touched his butt or didn't touch at all - I couldn't tell.)
So.... I'm posting this for a couple reasons:
Do you think they think I'm abusive?
Do you?
Do you think I made a bad choice or maybe have a suggestion for what I should've done?
Should I give two poops about what they think?
Should I address it or let the rumor mill go?
My, how horrified everyone would be if they saw us rough-housing! I faux kick and punch, bodyslam, face-chew, tease, etc. It's not how I interact with all dogs, and not with Cassius (new puppy) - but it's what works for me with Capone. Who cares? I don't think he'd continue to play if he disliked it or it hurt him.
How ridiculous would it be if I'm worried about little to nothing and these 'looks' weren't what they were trumped up to be... blah. Oh well.
On the plus side, Capone decided he would weave last night. We tried three or four times, and he really just wasn't getting it well, so we moved on to something else. He became quite tired later on in class and after exiting a tunnel, followed on my left and just as I turned, I looked to see where he was and he was going through the weave poles!!! I took him through them another five or six times at the end of class, just to reinforce how very awesome it was. I guess I just had to wait for him to get good and ready to do it.
Okay - Ready???? DISCUSS. opcorn:
Oh, and a small note: Be honest- I do genuinely appreciate an objective view on things. You'd really have a hard time hurting my feelings, anyway.
*GASP!*
Yep, that's right. I did. It surprised him, and he yelped. Our trainer asked "Did *that* really hurt him?" (She's seen him take dives off the dogwalk and not give a crap.) To which I replied, "Yeah, I hurt his feelings is what I hurt." I'm socially retarded and don't really pay attention to people's reactions and such, but was later informed that I got a 'look.' (Not sure if this was from trainer, class-mate veterinarian, or other spectators.)
This got me to thinking. If I had been a spectator, what would I have thought?? I mean, these people don't know that Capone's ears aren't particularly sensitive - that I didn't hurt him. They have no way of knowing that ear yanking, tail tugging, toe fur tickling, and rump pinching are ways to incite play with him. Not to say that I was attempting to play with him, but I yanked about half as hard as I would have if we had been playing. It got his attention when the sharp vocalization did not.
I was approaching from his right side. Truthfully, if I'd have approached from his rear, I would have pinched his rump or where his belly tucks up and really spooked him.
Also, I was unaware of this as well, but I got a 'look' when I faux-spanked him. (Brought his traffic lead around swiftly, stopped short, and either barely touched his butt or didn't touch at all - I couldn't tell.)
So.... I'm posting this for a couple reasons:
Do you think they think I'm abusive?
Do you?
Do you think I made a bad choice or maybe have a suggestion for what I should've done?
Should I give two poops about what they think?
Should I address it or let the rumor mill go?
My, how horrified everyone would be if they saw us rough-housing! I faux kick and punch, bodyslam, face-chew, tease, etc. It's not how I interact with all dogs, and not with Cassius (new puppy) - but it's what works for me with Capone. Who cares? I don't think he'd continue to play if he disliked it or it hurt him.
How ridiculous would it be if I'm worried about little to nothing and these 'looks' weren't what they were trumped up to be... blah. Oh well.
On the plus side, Capone decided he would weave last night. We tried three or four times, and he really just wasn't getting it well, so we moved on to something else. He became quite tired later on in class and after exiting a tunnel, followed on my left and just as I turned, I looked to see where he was and he was going through the weave poles!!! I took him through them another five or six times at the end of class, just to reinforce how very awesome it was. I guess I just had to wait for him to get good and ready to do it.
Okay - Ready???? DISCUSS. opcorn:
Oh, and a small note: Be honest- I do genuinely appreciate an objective view on things. You'd really have a hard time hurting my feelings, anyway.