Probation
One thing I’ve noticed lately is a slight change in SoMi’s behavior. I like to think she has an animalistic sense of smell and knows things are changing in me and is therefore more protective of me … but, the reality is, I really don’t know why things have changed.
A few weeks ago when I was taking her on a walk, I saw a man and a small dog approaching. I hadn’t seen them before. And since so many people show fear and discomfort when they see SoMi, I’ve started making her sit to show she’s not a mean dog. That day, as SoMi was patiently sitting and the man/small dog combo passed, he said, Wow, she’s such a well-behaved dog. And just as he finished saying it, SoMi got up and ran right at the small dog, scaring and scarring (mentally, not physically) the man/dog combo. His response, I take that back.
I was mortified. I immediately made SoMi sit down. Then I made her lie down. Then I made her put her head down on the ground. (For those not in the know, making a dog put their head on the ground like that is forcing them into a submissive state; in other words, it’s showing them who is boss. It’s humiliating for a lot of dogs, but is a way to hopefully correct bad behavior.) It seemed to work, because she immediately calmed down.
A couple weekends ago, SoMi and I were out for another long walk. I saw a woman approaching, who I could tell was freaked out. Her whole body went tense. She pulled her dog onto a very short leash. And her otherwise relaxed state turned into a set of awkward robotic movements to push past us. In my mind, I was thinking FREAK, because SoMi hadn’t even noticed them and was calmly smelling the grass. But, I made SoMi sit anyway. And as this woman was passing, again, SoMi jumped up, made a huge arc around the back of them and actually growled at this other dog.
I was mortified by her behavior. Again, I made her go through the sit, lie down, head down routine. And then I proclaimed SoMi was on probation. She needs to be reeled in, because this behavior is totally unacceptable. From that moment forward, every time we saw another dog, I made her sit. And I held onto a short leash. And I wouldn’t let her break from sitting like that until other owner/dog combos had safely passed. I can only hope this behavior is short-lived and with some immediate corrections, she’ll be back to her friendly, less protective self.
Ironically, off-leash, SoMi is great. Super friendly. Sweet. Playful. And that hasn’t changed since my change in status.
She had a great time at the groomer the other week. And the next day, she was having a great time at the leash-free park. Until she got a little too close to the pond. And the dog who is afraid of water took one step too many and fell into the pond. The momentary look of fear on her face? Priceless. Watching her splash/paddle to turn herself around and get back onshore? Priceless. It was all too good for even a Mastercard commercial, because who can put a price on a sight like that?!
And then, the next day, the dog who normally is unaffected by smells, decided to roll around in something in the grass. I like to think I stopped her in time. But, seriously? I just had her groomed two days before.
So much for taking her out East looking all cute and clean and dapper. Well, at least her nails are still clipped. Sigh.
August 4th, 2010 at 6:36 am
Maybe she’s having a sympathy pregnancy for you?
August 4th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Wow, she is just super cute. What a face! Love it! I think they do sense things and may react accordingly (and by accordingly, I mean according to THEM!). I think you are doing the right thing by reinforcing your position in the hierarchy with regards to behavior correction. My sweet dog is old now (almost 13), but she definitely used to go through behavioral phases…there was the phase where she wouldn’t cross a threshold, the sleep in the closet phase, the won’t eat treats unless they are broken phase, etc. Or, my dog is just really weird. Which is pretty much a fact. Keep doing what you’re doing with SoMi and have a great week.
August 4th, 2010 at 7:47 am
I think that when dogs get older, they tend to get bitchier. Fuzzy Britches NEVER made enemies, but for some reason hated the dog across the street (they moved). We boarded them at the same place, same time once and despite the fact that the owners usually kept FB in their home because she was so nice and sweet, they had to put her in the kennel for the day because she couldn’t get along with the other dog.
And every.single.time we bathe FB she automatically rolls around in the grass as soon as she can.
August 4th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I have the same problems when walking my moms dog, Murphy. He’s 100-lb golden lab and the friendliest dog ever but people are scared of him. Also, he’s not nearly as well-trained as Somi so sometimes it’s hard to get him to SIT when other dogs are passing. He just wants to play but people think he’s being mean. One time I was walking him and he wanted to go play with this woman that was walking and I’m holding him back, making him sit and she’s like “It’s OK, he can come say hi” so I let him and he put both paws on her shoulders and licked her face! Hahaha. Luckily she was cool with it because she also had a big dog!
August 4th, 2010 at 8:33 am
I’m not a dog expert by any means, but maybe because she’s getting older, something in her personality is changing. It really could also be she senses that she needs to protect you. Was she only doing that to people with other dogs? In any case, I hope for your sake it stops!
August 4th, 2010 at 9:27 am
LOVE that pic of Somi! I totally believe she’s sensing something is up with you and is protecting you. She’s such a well behaved dog otherwise. I think she’s certain she’s protecting you! But I know it’s a pain for you when she lunges at passing dogs and folks. Hope she settles down soon!
August 4th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Dogs know.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:44 am
She probably senses the changes in you. I am glad to hear that you know how to handle it. I know it is not acceptable, but part of me think it is sweet that SoMi is protective of you in “delicate condition”.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:51 am
She is probably protecting you and may sense something is different. And she may be feeling threatened that her life will change so she’s acting out so to speak.
Eva does that right before my husband leaves for trips. She does stupid stuff that she knows not to do but it gets her attention (not good attention but attention).
It is weird what can set them off. A man who has approached Eva in the front yard without a problem came up to the back fence to see them and she and Ares both went crazy barking.
Eva sometimes suffers from what our trainer refers to as leash aggression. That she is fine off the leash but on the leash she feels threatened. Maybe Somi is suffering from that.
It is hard to say. It sounds like you are handling it well. And hopefully she will settle down back to the old Somi soon.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:51 am
she was such a good girl when we saw her last weekend! matt loves dogs and he really liked somi a lot. i know she was pooped from the trip, but hey, she was on really good behavior as far as i could tell! and she looked dapper to me!
August 4th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Ha, I can just picture the whole ‘falling into the pond thing’ and the look on her face!!!
I think it’s interesting how people you encounter seem intimidated by SoMi… I am really not super comfortable around dogs, but when I see them on the running path, I never get intimidated. Unless they are off a leash, then maybe… But I guess I just trust that their owners aren’t going to take them out to a popular running path if their dog is out of control. The reason I like my running path so much is because of all of the dogs I see actually -- so I guess that means I am not as afraid of dogs as I think I am? I like the distraction they provide on the run! It always makes me wish I had a dog to borrow for my runs!
Hopefully this uncharacteristic behavior is a thing of the past, but it is pretty sweet that she is so protective of you!!
August 4th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Hopefully your quick intervention will help curb the unwanted behaviour quickly. She must sense a change in you and is trying to protect you. We’re having a similar problem with Wolfgang (he is super protective of me) but people don’t fear him because he’s a small dog. It’s still mortifying, though and I’m really trying to break his bad habit.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:40 am
My Flynn is exactly the same! Agressive on leash (because he doesnt have the choice to get away?) and perfect leash free. I lower his nose when he is naughty too and he HATES it. I found it didnt happen until right around his 4th birthday. Not sure what the long term solution is, but I’ve taught him ‘be good’ and ‘make friends’ and he understands one means to behave and one means I’ve judged a dog to be a non-threat. They are short and easy commands that he picked up quickly. Maybe you could try something like that? To train him, if I said “be good” and he wasnt, it was straight in the car and home so he learnt what behaviour was bad and thus what ‘be good’ meant.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I’ve never had a dog, but it sounds to me like you are handling Somi’s behaviour as well as possible. Maybe she just needs a few reminders that you’re in charge.
August 4th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
omg they TOTALLY get protective. When i was pregnant with liv one of our dogs would sit on my lap ON MY BELLY every night and wouldn’t get up unless I got up. usually he’s all over the place but not when i was pregnant. it’s crazy how they know!
August 4th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I think the groomed-then-messy dynamic is good prep for having a baby. :)
I bet SoMi is more protective of you right now because she knows something is up. I bet she’ll be all smiles and wags on walks after Grasshopper arrives.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
When I was pregnant with my oldest, Violet, our Weimeraner, Remi, ate a door. A DOOR!
Remi, who had lived in apartments, uncrated, left to lie about all day on the couch and bed and watch television without ever causing any damage, aside from an occasional trash romp if I forgot to take out the garbage -- ate a door.
I came home from work when I was about five months pregnant, and the door to our laundry room, which had been left open, was demolished. I rushed her to the vet worried about splinters and shards of wood.
The vet, who I worked for part time, shrugged her shoulders at me and said Remi was starting to get anxiety.
I don’t know, it only happened the one time. Here is to hoping that face up there is back to her old self in no time at all.
August 4th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
My dogs have been super-protective lately. They actually argue over who gets to protect me more. It’s so interesting to see how dogs respond to pregnancy.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
It’s so hard when they decide that the people aren’t the boss any more, and they’re going to take control. My guys are so little that correcting them is like trying to correct rabbits, but patience sounds like exactly the right tactic. <3
August 5th, 2010 at 12:05 am
Wow, I am usually uneasy with dogs around my kids, but not Somi. She must be getting protective. And maybe a little confused?
August 5th, 2010 at 8:50 am
I guess it’s true that dogs really do protect their owners when they know/sense that they are pregnant. While it’s socially unacceptable it’s also kind of sweet in some weird/twisted way!
August 5th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
My very gentle 10 year old labrador retriever behaved the same way when I was pregnant. Once I had the baby, he was back to his normal self when just he and I were walking, but when I had the baby with me, he was on red alert again.
They are very protective over their little humans!
August 6th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Even though she’s giving you a bit of difficult time at the moment, she sounds like an amazing well-trained Little Face and you have remarkable control over her. I really do believe that dogs can tell when we’re changing…whether we’re sad or sick or, in your case, pregnant. They just know somehow it seems. I know that other people probably don’t like it very much, but I think it’s wonderful that she’s protective of you.
August 6th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I read the post before I looked at the photo. I was all “Baaad SoMi, baaaaad.” But then I saw that face and I forgave her. I’d be a horrible mother. :)
October 11th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
SoMi is precious… what an adorable face. She’s just protective of you because you’re expecting… What a cutie!