Boo is a dog and, as such, has a doggie way of thinking. Cesar Millan would probably describe him as dominant aggressive. He walks proudly, with his head and tail held high. He tries to mark everything in sight, claiming it as his own. He tries to walk in front of everyone, leading the pack. ~Dominant~
When cars drive past or someone comes to the door he stands at the window, chest thrown out, eyes blazing, barking a warning, "My turf!" When someone rings the doorbell he throws in a growl and the tone of his barks change to "Leave now!" When a woman steps in the door his tone changes drastically, "Woman! There's a woman here! Hi! How are you?" But when a man walks in it escalates until he is in a frenzy, "HATE! HATE! HATE! Go away! Don't touch my people! Get off my turf!" He growls, barks, lunges, and bites. ~Aggressive~
There's no doubt about it. If you're a guy, he will try to bite your ankles or legs. There have been two exceptions to this rule. Both men are very quiet, gentle, and soft-natured. My dad is the same way but it took Boo months and many bites to warm up to him. He probably likes the other two men because they are similar to my dad. They're non-threatening.
We've been working on him, trying to resolve psychological issues that can be traced to his mysterious past. Trying to teach him that most men are okay, that women don't need him to protect them every second of the day, that biting the hand that feeds you in favor of "protecting" an elderly woman is not okay and that if he would just submit to us, his life would be so much calmer and stress-free.
Well there's a life lesson I didn't set out to write. If I just submit to God, my life will be so much calmer and stress-free. Dogs really are great for teaching life lessons.
What I intended to write about was the stark contrast I saw this morning. I found Boo waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs as he always does. My eyes slid past him to the pile of dog poop the size of his head on the kitchen floor. "Ohhh, Booooo," I whined. Cocky, arrogant, dominant-aggressive Boo hung his head and slunk behind the kitchen table, embarrassed. He peeked around the table legs as I cleaned it up and hid again when I stood to dispose of everything. He has been very mellow this morning. He hasn't licked my leg or barked other than to be let in (I know, I shut [opened] the barn [house] door after the horses [poop] escaped).
I suppose our training is working. If he was 100% dominant-aggressive, he wouldn't give a hoot that he had taken a massive steaming dump inside. At least for a rare moment he recognized me as Pack Leader and Pack Leader was displeased. At least for an instant he was contrite. I'm enjoying it while it lasts. I imagine within an hour or two we'll be back to silently jockeying for dominance.
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p.s. I'm winning.![]()
I love seeing when he's so excited and jumping on people (still working on that) and will come running up to me and suddenly abort a jump without me having to say a word! Booyeah! Not to say it never happens but I correct him immediately. And he doesn't like the boundaries I set on his leash. Hehehe! It's slow and tedious, but there is definitely progress.
When cars drive past or someone comes to the door he stands at the window, chest thrown out, eyes blazing, barking a warning, "My turf!" When someone rings the doorbell he throws in a growl and the tone of his barks change to "Leave now!" When a woman steps in the door his tone changes drastically, "Woman! There's a woman here! Hi! How are you?" But when a man walks in it escalates until he is in a frenzy, "HATE! HATE! HATE! Go away! Don't touch my people! Get off my turf!" He growls, barks, lunges, and bites. ~Aggressive~
There's no doubt about it. If you're a guy, he will try to bite your ankles or legs. There have been two exceptions to this rule. Both men are very quiet, gentle, and soft-natured. My dad is the same way but it took Boo months and many bites to warm up to him. He probably likes the other two men because they are similar to my dad. They're non-threatening.
We've been working on him, trying to resolve psychological issues that can be traced to his mysterious past. Trying to teach him that most men are okay, that women don't need him to protect them every second of the day, that biting the hand that feeds you in favor of "protecting" an elderly woman is not okay and that if he would just submit to us, his life would be so much calmer and stress-free.
Well there's a life lesson I didn't set out to write. If I just submit to God, my life will be so much calmer and stress-free. Dogs really are great for teaching life lessons.
What I intended to write about was the stark contrast I saw this morning. I found Boo waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs as he always does. My eyes slid past him to the pile of dog poop the size of his head on the kitchen floor. "Ohhh, Booooo," I whined. Cocky, arrogant, dominant-aggressive Boo hung his head and slunk behind the kitchen table, embarrassed. He peeked around the table legs as I cleaned it up and hid again when I stood to dispose of everything. He has been very mellow this morning. He hasn't licked my leg or barked other than to be let in (I know, I shut [opened] the barn [house] door after the horses [poop] escaped).
I suppose our training is working. If he was 100% dominant-aggressive, he wouldn't give a hoot that he had taken a massive steaming dump inside. At least for a rare moment he recognized me as Pack Leader and Pack Leader was displeased. At least for an instant he was contrite. I'm enjoying it while it lasts. I imagine within an hour or two we'll be back to silently jockeying for dominance.
p.s. I'm winning.
I love seeing when he's so excited and jumping on people (still working on that) and will come running up to me and suddenly abort a jump without me having to say a word! Booyeah! Not to say it never happens but I correct him immediately. And he doesn't like the boundaries I set on his leash. Hehehe! It's slow and tedious, but there is definitely progress.