I just went outside with Mojo on leash to go get my inhaler and spacer from the car. As we walked outside the neighbor two doors down was watching their unleashed west highland white terrier run around outside while they stood in their house. The little westie, who's name I've now forgotten, ran over to meet my leashed dog.
For some reason Mojo got poofy and as soon as the westie came over, they took one sniff of each other, then snapped at the air above the westie's ear. I didn't react much. I just watched the other dog retreat without a sound...
The reason as to why Mojo went off on the westie, is really unclear to my human senses.
Maybe the westie said something offensive in his posture, or his demeanor. Maybe it was the fact he's an unneutered male dog running around off leash while my dog is on leash. Maybe it was the weather (winter mix = combo of hail, snow and sleet) and the fact Mojo was trying to get back to the house (we were 2 ft from the front door) because 10 seconds out there and he was miserable and meeting the over enthusiastic westie who has tried to prove he owns this property to me, kept Mojo from getting back to the house.
Also this is the dog that runs around off leash everytime he's let outside to do his business.... so he runs everywhere and scents the property with his mark. This includes the small space that I allow Mojo to potty in... not to mention just inches from our front door. (so everytime Mojo walks outside guess what he runs into?)
I know when this has happened because Mojo will not leave a spot until he's sniffed and remarked it throughly. I pretty much have to drag him away and keep checking him so he doesn't return, as he will try to return to that spot for about 10minutes after first encountering it. It gets pretty tiresome.
I'm pretty sure it's not because he's a pit bull mix. I'm pretty sure that he's not gone dog aggro all of the sudden, although it has been known to happen in younger dogs. (He's 5ish, isn't it more of a worry in younger dogs of the sudden flipping of the dog aggression switch than of ones about the age of 5? I thought I read that somewhere...) It's always a possibility but while I will keep an eye on him for a while, I am pretty sure that after 3 years of having a dog that loves other dogs, he's not dog aggro.
Anyway, little westie beat it away from my dog. Their owners came and picked up the little dog from where he had retreated. They shrugged said "Sorry," and walked away without saying anything more. I called after them and asked if the dog was okay, which they ignored.
Yes, the dog is cute and fluffy white. He's small - maybe tipping in at 8-10lbs (aren't westies supposed to be bigger?) and between the age of 6months to a year or so. But I've never thought that letting him run around outside off leash was a really great idea. And his running up to people? Not new...
People annoy me.
For some reason Mojo got poofy and as soon as the westie came over, they took one sniff of each other, then snapped at the air above the westie's ear. I didn't react much. I just watched the other dog retreat without a sound...
The reason as to why Mojo went off on the westie, is really unclear to my human senses.
Maybe the westie said something offensive in his posture, or his demeanor. Maybe it was the fact he's an unneutered male dog running around off leash while my dog is on leash. Maybe it was the weather (winter mix = combo of hail, snow and sleet) and the fact Mojo was trying to get back to the house (we were 2 ft from the front door) because 10 seconds out there and he was miserable and meeting the over enthusiastic westie who has tried to prove he owns this property to me, kept Mojo from getting back to the house.
Also this is the dog that runs around off leash everytime he's let outside to do his business.... so he runs everywhere and scents the property with his mark. This includes the small space that I allow Mojo to potty in... not to mention just inches from our front door. (so everytime Mojo walks outside guess what he runs into?)
I know when this has happened because Mojo will not leave a spot until he's sniffed and remarked it throughly. I pretty much have to drag him away and keep checking him so he doesn't return, as he will try to return to that spot for about 10minutes after first encountering it. It gets pretty tiresome.
I'm pretty sure it's not because he's a pit bull mix. I'm pretty sure that he's not gone dog aggro all of the sudden, although it has been known to happen in younger dogs. (He's 5ish, isn't it more of a worry in younger dogs of the sudden flipping of the dog aggression switch than of ones about the age of 5? I thought I read that somewhere...) It's always a possibility but while I will keep an eye on him for a while, I am pretty sure that after 3 years of having a dog that loves other dogs, he's not dog aggro.
Anyway, little westie beat it away from my dog. Their owners came and picked up the little dog from where he had retreated. They shrugged said "Sorry," and walked away without saying anything more. I called after them and asked if the dog was okay, which they ignored.
Yes, the dog is cute and fluffy white. He's small - maybe tipping in at 8-10lbs (aren't westies supposed to be bigger?) and between the age of 6months to a year or so. But I've never thought that letting him run around outside off leash was a really great idea. And his running up to people? Not new...
People annoy me.