Mia lost her pet store priveledge

Laurelin

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#1
And I'm pretty upset. But I think she just can't go anymore.

We went to petco tonight to pick up some canned food. It was all good until I got by the snakes and two women were there with 7 kids between them. The kids...well three were screaming and one was running around with a cart and running over his brother. The two women looked pretty rough and wer screaming at the kids. Before I knew it we were swamped. I tried to keep them petting Summer who was I phased but Mia charged and was growling at them all. I know her, it was just a bluff but still she sounded awful. And then at the checkout we stood way away in line but the one kid was cowering behind his mom and looking at us and said something about that one dog being mean.

I feel crummy. I should have stopped it somehow. It sucks though. She lies trips places and usually is pretty darn bombproof. But I can't take the risk that she gets cornered by unruly kids again in a store. :(

I'm just really upset by it all.
 

Laurelin

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#2
Trying not to beat myself up too bad. She's never growled at anyone while out and about before. She's always just been very reserved.
 

thehoundgirl

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#3
It sounds like she was overwhelmed with that many kids. That's not something she sees everyday?
 

Laurelin

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#4
No, she's not around kids ever except for my nieces and only then under very very strict supervision. She gets weirded out by kids in general though. I think it is because they are very direct and also very erratic in movement.

Even so she's always been a go anywhere kind of dog. Generally she just stays away from people.
 

noludoru

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#5
I would have growled, too!

It's a little crazy to expect her not to warn them away. You warned them, they didn't listen. She warned them, they listened. I don't see a problem. She was on leash and under control. Don't take her places kids frequent (and if petco is such a place, then avoid it) and you're good.
 

Laurelin

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#6
Yes, I told them not to approach her but I feel like I should have picked her up and removed her. I guess hindsight is 20/20. In five years I'd never seen her behave that way so I didn't expect it.

I am also bad with kids and got overwhelmed so probably wasn't forceful enough. Didn't help that the mothers were doing NOTHING.

I do think we'll be avoiding pet stores though. I'll just take Summer. Her immediate response to the chaos was 'Oh people to pet me!?'
 

Zoom

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#7
I would have reacted the same way as Mia. I don't think it's fair to take away get fun things because a couple women who over procreated made her have a bad day.
 

AmandaNola

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#8
I would have reacted the same way as Mia. I don't think it's fair to take away get fun things because a couple women who over procreated made her have a bad day.
That. Nola's growled at people on a few occasions (never kids, since she's always around them, and each time it was a VERY valid reason), and still goes everywhere with me. In 3 years there's been 3, maybe 4 growls. I just pick her up and walk away if it's a bad situation.
 

Toller_08

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#9
I know it's a crummy situation and one that you currently feel really bad about, but I think you should still think about taking her to pet stores if previous visits have been uneventful and an outing she enjoys.

I say this owning a very shy dog who barks and growls (not ferociously, but enough to startle people) sometimes at people who approach her, and especially would have in Mia's situation. I still take her out, because 99% of the time, it's not a problem. I ask people to leave her alone, I block her if I need to (I just had to do that yesterday at a park when a child ran up to her, arms waiving, yelling "puppy, puppy, puppy!"), and I give people very obvious body language myself that you do not come near my dog if they ignored the first polite warnings I've given them already. Dance has never bitten or attempted to, but still. I know certain situations make her severely uncomfortable, and so I do my best to make sure she doesn't have to experience those. But at the same time, despite not enjoying strangers at all, she DOES like to go out and do things and is quite happy just to focus on me and our time and normally everything goes nicely. There was a point in time that (when she was more reactive than she is now) I felt similarly to you. If there was a bad situation, and Dance reacted, I immediately went into "well, now I guess we can't go there anymore" mode and was super upset about it.

I guess it all depends on the situation and the dog too though. So definitely do what you are most comfortable with. I just know that in my experience, Dance and I would have missed out on a lot of really great days if I let a bunch of bad/embarrassing experiences get to me too much. There are absolutely certain situations that I do avoid with her both for her sake and for mine, but compared to my thought process of being doomed when I first noticed all of her many, many issues, we actually go and do a lot of things and have a good time and I find I don't need to avoid many of the places/things I thought I should upon more thinking and a game plan.
 

Shakou

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#10
Don't feel bad. You can't be responsible for teaching every kid how to act around animals, let alone strange animals. That's the job of the parents, and they failed. They got what they deserved. Maybe the kids will think twice next time before running up to a strange dog like that.
 

Xandra

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#11
Personally I would probably still take her to the store, just try to scoop her up and be firmer with people. That some animals don't tolerate being crowded is Animals 101, it's really pretty normal. Like, don't walk behind a horse, especially a strange horse, no one gets their panties in a twist about that rule of thumb.

Obviously do what you feel best about! but IMO you don't HAVE to stop, especially when you know what you'll do differently next time. And she could be rushed at a park or on the street too, couldnt she? meh. I'm sorry it happened though.
 

Moth

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#12
It really sounds like she felt overwhelmed and just wanted her space.

I do not think you have any reason to feel badly. Seven kids ambling about, children and a parent screaming that is a lot of chaos to handle.

If I were Mia I would have growled too. Heck if I were you I would have snarked either at the kids who didn't listen or at their parent who should have paid attention and enforced what you said.
 

Snark

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#13
If that experience was the exception, rather than the rule, I'd still take Mia to Petco, or wherever. You'll be more apt to head off the situation quicker (now that you've had time to think about her reaction, your reaction, etc. and what you'd do next time), so, if these trips are something Mia enjoys, I'd keep taking her.
 

milos_mommy

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#14
I agree with everyone else...it sucks you both had a traumatic experience but I don't think Mia needs to lose her going out privledge over it.

In the future, I'd just keep an eye out for unruly kids or big groups of kids and avoid them.
 

BostonBanker

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#15
I agree that, since you now know she may progress to growling, you will be more proactive if it looks like a similar situation is starting up. Because of her size, you've got the ability to pick her up, turn your shoulders to protect her, and walk away if needed. I don't think I'd stop taking her. You know how she will handle it now, and know how to react.
 

k9krazee

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#16
I agree that, since you now know she may progress to growling, you will be more proactive if it looks like a similar situation is starting up. Because of her size, you've got the ability to pick her up, turn your shoulders to protect her, and walk away if needed. I don't think I'd stop taking her. You know how she will handle it now, and know how to react.
I haven't read the whole thread but this is exactly what I was going to say. It was an unusual circumstance and you now know to be more proactive in the future! :)
 

krissy

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#17
I really dislike children who run around with no discipline. If my dogs acted like that it would be a problem, so why do we (as in society) allow it from parents with children. Wish I had the luxury of being able to growl and snap at little kids. ;)

I'd probably still take her and just be more aware of situations like that now that you know for sure she's uncomfortable with it. Fortunately she's small enough to pick up, so I'd just pick her up if you run into children that refuse to listen to you. Personally I'd probably give them a bit of a lecture. Or the parents. If you don't want to yell at the kids or the parents then seriously, just pick them up and walk away. I can't pick my dogs up so I just have to run them away. I am not above full out sprinting away. I don't care how crazy I look.
 
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#18
I would still take her, too, but more actively manage (or outright avoid) any encounters like that in the future. That many kids together is a pretty unusual/extreme circumstance, so it's not something you're going to encounter every day.

Keep in mind, too... I know it's like a punch in the gut when someone else thinks your dog is "mean," but for most people any dog who isn't outgoing and friendly to everyone they meet is "mean." Which is poppycock, of course.
 

Laurelin

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#20
Thanks guys. :eek:

I'm feeling better, but yeah it was like a punch to the gut. I felt like I failed her and I hate people thinking she's 'mean'. I always want my dogs to be good breed ambassadors and usually they are. She was just overwhelmed and I should have done something more proactive.
 

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