Quick question on how Luna reacted

k_sep · 11-05-2011, 11:19 PM

On Halloween, a few friends came over to get ready at my house before we went out. One of my friend was already dressed up when he came over and Luna was wandering the house. She didn't seem keen on getting near him, though normally she's fine with my friend. He wanted to approach her and pet her, but she kept backing up like she was afraid of him. I just told her to leave her be because she was happily getting attention from everyone else. He didn't listen and tried to pet her anyways. When his hand got near her, she let off a few barks and a growl, what I assume to be a warning. He STILL didn't back down and I started to tell him to just leave her alone, he advanced toward her further. Well, Luna snapped at him. She's never bitten anyone before and I think it's entirely my friend's fault for not listening to both me and the dog's clear body language that she did not want him near her.

Just asking, but was it an aggression issue, or just my friend being a moron? I didn't get mad at Luna since she seemed fairly clear in her intent, but I was angry at my friend for being so stupid!

KSdogowner · 11-05-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_sep

Just asking, but was it an aggression issue, or just my friend being a moron? I didn't get mad at Luna since she seemed fairly clear in her intent, but I was angry at my friend for being so stupid!

Seems like she gave all the signals she could to avoid a confrontation. So, I would say it is not an aggression issue but your friend's behavior that caused the situation. I would suggest to step in-between the incessant friend and your dog immediately next time he doesn't want to listen to you or immediately remove Luna to a place where she feels safe.

msvette2u · 11-05-2011, 11:48 PM

Yeah...don't let your friends harass your dog.

e.rigby · 11-06-2011, 12:36 AM

The bite was caused by your friend... however, I still see it as a training issue and would work on fixing whatever caused your pup to be so fearful of that particular friend.

msvette2u · 11-06-2011, 12:51 AM

I was assuming -

Quote:

One of my friend was already dressed up when he came over

plus the mental trauma of him ignoring her when she was clearly giving off "leave me alone" signals?

KZoppa · 11-06-2011, 01:32 AM

Your friend showed up already dressed up. Costumes freak dogs out, especially if they've not been exposed to them. Suddenly someone she knows is all kinds of different and she's not sure what to make of it. Then he approaches, you warn him, she warns him and he ignores it all even after clear dog warnings and OWNER warnings. Your friend is an idiot. You dont have an aggression issue but i agree you should work on training to desensitize her if possible. I also suggest you give your friend a solid smack for being dumb.

msvette2u · 11-06-2011, 01:53 AM

The problem is, those incidents are like bricks in the wall.
She'll remember that and take it with her towards the next bad experience. Pretty soon you have an unstable dog, due to her past and bad, scary incidents.
It's up to you to protect your dog. I'd have smacked the guy long before he made the 4-5th advance on her with you telling him not to!

Konotashi · 11-06-2011, 01:57 AM

Our lab loves just about everybody. (I know, so strang for a lab, lol), but on Halloween, we have to put her away. Someone that she had known for about 10 years, if not longer, was dressed up as a pirate one year. She was growling at him, so we put her up. She just doesn't like anyone in a costume.

I think that Luna's snap could have been easily prevented had your friend just listened to you in the first place. (Or if he listened to Luna). His behavior, along with what he was wearing, egged her on.

Scarlettsmom · 11-06-2011, 08:59 AM

Scarlett doesn't like ghosts or anything that looks like a ghost. She is afraid of balloons (things aren't supposed to float in mid-air according to GSD laws of physics), people are supposed to have features that are recognizable and billowy fabric around people, mailboxes, trees, etc look too much like ghosts. She is OK at Halloween, but we do try to minimize her contact with "ghost like" things and people.

I think your friend should have backed off before your poor dog felt so threatened.

11-05-2011, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
k_sep Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: LA, California Posts: 233	Quick question on how Luna reacted On Halloween, a few friends came over to get ready at my house before we went out. One of my friend was already dressed up when he came over and Luna was wandering the house. She didn't seem keen on getting near him, though normally she's fine with my friend. He wanted to approach her and pet her, but she kept backing up like she was afraid of him. I just told her to leave her be because she was happily getting attention from everyone else. He didn't listen and tried to pet her anyways. When his hand got near her, she let off a few barks and a growl, what I assume to be a warning. He STILL didn't back down and I started to tell him to just leave her alone, he advanced toward her further. Well, Luna snapped at him. She's never bitten anyone before and I think it's entirely my friend's fault for not listening to both me and the dog's clear body language that she did not want him near her. Just asking, but was it an aggression issue, or just my friend being a moron? I didn't get mad at Luna since she seemed fairly clear in her intent, but I was angry at my friend for being so stupid! __________________ Luna: GSD puppy rescue Niki: 12 yo Shih tzu/ lhasa apso mix

11-06-2011, 12:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
e.rigby Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 498	The bite was caused by your friend... however, I still see it as a training issue and would work on fixing whatever caused your pup to be so fearful of that particular friend. __________________ Virgil, CGC - GSD Tara, Reagan, Madison, and Jefferson - Aussies Socrates - the cat The birds: Dante - CAG / Sammie - Blue fronted Amazon / Gavin - TAG / Nero and Sunshine - Budgies

11-06-2011, 01:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
KZoppa Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland kinda missing CO Posts: 13,832	Your friend showed up already dressed up. Costumes freak dogs out, especially if they've not been exposed to them. Suddenly someone she knows is all kinds of different and she's not sure what to make of it. Then he approaches, you warn him, she warns him and he ignores it all even after clear dog warnings and OWNER warnings. Your friend is an idiot. You dont have an aggression issue but i agree you should work on training to desensitize her if possible. I also suggest you give your friend a solid smack for being dumb. __________________ The more people I meet and talk to,the more I love my dogs and their intelligence. www.krystalscollarcreations.weebly.com Riley GSD/BC 1/10/05 Zena GSD 6/1/03 Shasta GSD 5/5/10

11-06-2011, 01:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
Konotashi Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,380	Our lab loves just about everybody. (I know, so strang for a lab, lol), but on Halloween, we have to put her away. Someone that she had known for about 10 years, if not longer, was dressed up as a pirate one year. She was growling at him, so we put her up. She just doesn't like anyone in a costume. I think that Luna's snap could have been easily prevented had your friend just listened to you in the first place. (Or if he listened to Luna). His behavior, along with what he was wearing, egged her on. __________________ Ozzy - Chocolate Pom "In a perfect world, every dog would have a home and every home would have a dog." My Photography

11-06-2011, 08:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Scarlettsmom Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 734	Scarlett doesn't like ghosts or anything that looks like a ghost. She is afraid of balloons (things aren't supposed to float in mid-air according to GSD laws of physics), people are supposed to have features that are recognizable and billowy fabric around people, mailboxes, trees, etc look too much like ghosts. She is OK at Halloween, but we do try to minimize her contact with "ghost like" things and people. I think your friend should have backed off before your poor dog felt so threatened. __________________ Scarlett WGSD 2/07 CGC TDI Paige Husky/GSD mix 2/95-12/08 In a life and death situation, do something. . .. It may be wrong, but do something!

11-05-2011, 11:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	Yeah...don't let your friends harass your dog.

11-06-2011, 01:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	The problem is, those incidents are like bricks in the wall. She'll remember that and take it with her towards the next bad experience. Pretty soon you have an unstable dog, due to her past and bad, scary incidents. It's up to you to protect your dog. I'd have smacked the guy long before he made the 4-5th advance on her with you telling him not to!

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