[email protected]

In a message dated 12/15/2002 7:20:42 AM Central Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:

> Last night, I made the same statement about Best In Show. The dog show folk
> are stereotypical caricatures, and each and every bit was something I'd
> seen
> (and done! <G>)---and maybe and maybe NOT all at once! <G> It's a little
> snapshot of my "doggy" life. When you see it smushed together into a two
> hour
> flick, it's hard to believe I'm out there in it---but that's my doggy life.
>
>

I have a doggy question.

Since we lost Percy a few months ago, Ladybug (Jack Russell) has become quite
bearable to live with, doesn't run off, doesn't demand too much attention,
has not once made a mess in the new house (although she did eat the
gingerbread boy and tree off the g-bread house when no one was looking). She
wasn't so bad when Percy was here, either, but now we get to see the real
her, I think. Except for one thing--she won't get along with other dogs when
she's on the leash!

We live in the country on 10 acres and there are lots and lots of dogs who
come around to visit her yard. (I can hear all you city people clucking
about how she should be in a pen, but just hear me out! <g>) There are 3
dogs who live across the field and they hang out with Ladybug and she's just
fine around them outside. But if I put her on a leash and let her sniff any
another dog, she gets to growling and nipping and won't let the other dog
sniff her. (She weighs only 12 pounds and stands about 10 inches at the
shoulders, so she's almost always dwarfed by other dogs, so I understand
feeling intimidated.)

So what can I do to make her feel comfortable around other dogs while on the
leash? She's 4 now and it's time for her to know better. Sometimes I pick
her up and that makes her feel superior and stop growling...but the other dog
cannot come near me, because, of course, she's trapped and protective and
goes nuts. So, I usually pick her up and carry her away from the other dog,
but that doesn't help her learn to accept them. Short of obedience class,
and I shudder to think about all those other dogs there, what to do?

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]