Saturday, April 17, 2010

I don’t like dogs with bad manners

Mom tells me that I have a sixth sense about other dogs, because I instinctively know which dogs to stay away from. I don’t really care about a dog’s breed, but I do care if they have good manners. Yesterday there were two dogs at the park that didn’t know the dog rules, which includes:



1. Don’t jump on me unless I invite you
2. Don’t continue to bother me when I’ve already let you know that I don’t want to play with you.



I watch each dog as they enter the dog park and see how they interact with the ‘official greeters’ (there’s always a group of dogs that immediately run to the gate whenever a new dog enters the park. I’m not one of them.) If I see the new dog has bad manners, then I stay way far away from that dog. If the dog seems to be a good dog, I’ll introduce myself and we’ll take it from there.



If I don’t like a dog, and that dog won’t leave me alone I’ll stand by Mom and give that dog a high-pitched bark anytime it comes near me, and I’ll show that dog my teeth. There’s no mistaking how I feel. This happened yesterday and the other dog would NOT get the hint. I was really glad when his mom took him out of the park, because he was harshing my buzz.



I’ve been at the dog park at least 200 times in my life and I can count on one paw (that’s four toes) the number of dogs that I’ve had this reaction to. Mom knows that I have my reasons and trusts that I know what I’m doing. She’s cool like that.



I will admit to being prejudiced a little bit against long-haired German shepherds. That’s the only breed that I won’t go near, no matter how well behaved they seem (though truthfully, I’ve yet to meet a well behaved long-hair German shepard at my dog park.) Pits? No problem. Boxers? Love them. Great Danes? My favorite. Bernese Mountain Dog? My best friend (his name is Chester, by the way.)



What about you? Do you have certain dog breeds that you don’t like to play with?