tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post8701208804014733320..comments2023-06-26T10:11:55.631-04:00Comments on Bringing up Bella: On Meeting MaggieLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538737461438864728noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-91389688498440630932011-10-16T18:19:40.694-04:002011-10-16T18:19:40.694-04:00Funny you should mention that because we found out...Funny you should mention that because we found out Bella is hypothyroid which, as I know from having it myself, can send hormones into all sorts of fits based on how levels fluctuate throughout the day. Good point for us to remember as a result though.Lesliehttp://bringingupbella214.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-53516369225351799222011-10-16T18:17:39.455-04:002011-10-16T18:17:39.455-04:00Hi Pamela - thanks. I really, really like the sugg...Hi Pamela - thanks. I really, really like the suggestion of transferring the focus. I can usually see when things are going to turn south and, like most training programs suggest, we head the other way but if I could just change the focus, she could still be in the presence of the other dog while still cutting the tension. Great idea, thanks!<br /><br />I'm getting better at emotionally handling the "kerfuffles" (love that word!!), but I do feel it's always a set-back for Bella when they happen so best to avoid them if possible. As for B&M, we're looking to recruit the neighbor's daughter for the next interaction (she's fearless!! ;) So this is just another blog-post waiting to happen. :)Lesliehttp://bringingupbella214.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-18413849591185157782011-10-15T16:12:25.792-04:002011-10-15T16:12:25.792-04:00On-leash greetings are particularly difficult to m...On-leash greetings are particularly difficult to manage. And, of course, that's the way our dogs meet each other most of the time.<br /><br />Having had a reactive dog in the past, I learned that intervening when we saw the first signs of tension was key. Not by pulling on a leash or physically interfering but by making happy sounds and running away to get the dogs to focus more on me and less on each other. <br /><br />Don't sweat it too much. A kerfuffle between dogs isn't such a big deal (I'm saying this mostly for myself; it makes me a nervous wreck). And if your neighbors and Maggie are willing to set up another play date, I'd say go for it.Pamelahttp://www.somethingwagging.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-49921230625448846032011-10-15T16:07:58.308-04:002011-10-15T16:07:58.308-04:00And even time of day can have an effect. And even time of day can have an effect. Pamelahttp://www.somethingwagging.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-41798776187492737052011-10-14T13:28:14.569-04:002011-10-14T13:28:14.569-04:00LOL - poor Frankie. ;) I can understand why all t...LOL - poor Frankie. ;) I can understand why all the dogs love him. <br /><br />The falling out is actually rather complicated and has many factors (including another neighbor's dog that Bella is afraid of) but the gist of it is: Bella and Maggie were playing on long-lines, they got tangled, Maggie's hu-dad reached over Bella to untangle her and Bella snapped (not at hu-dad) at Maggie. (Bella is afraid of people and Ron, Maggie's hu-dad, has never been able to pet her - she runs away. This time, she couldn't.)<br /><br />No one was hurt - Maggie has a considerable coat so even if Bella had connected (she didn't), she wouldn't have gotten skin. But Maggie's parents aren't used to having dogs stink at each other and they got frightened Bella was going to hurt Maggie. I don't blame them at all, really I don't. But I do think that their fear is adding to the complex mix. (They're afraid, Maggie gets afraid, Bella senses all sorts of tension and she gets frightened...round and round and round we go...)<br /><br />There's probably a whole post involved in sorting out what happened and why but that's the 'short' of it. I think it's fixable but I think we may have to get the neighbor's daughter to handle Maggie - she has no fear to broadcast down the leash. :)Lesliehttp://bringingupbella214.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-62922094751914336582011-10-14T13:14:02.859-04:002011-10-14T13:14:02.859-04:00Hi Cindy,
Gus and Bella make a good pair because ...Hi Cindy,<br /><br />Gus and Bella make a good pair because he's 'sensitive' to her. When she snarks at him, he backs off (does he do that with Molly?), which is all Bella is really asking most dogs for. I don't know why he's so smitten with her when she's so crabby to him but I'm so grateful that he is. (He made it possible for her to enjoy the dog park back in the day. :)Lesliehttp://bringingupbella214.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-79951973472686262792011-10-13T23:54:41.309-04:002011-10-13T23:54:41.309-04:00Why did Bella and Maggie fall out, Leslie? Depend...Why did Bella and Maggie fall out, Leslie? Depending on why, it's possible they will make peace. Dogs can often sort out their differences if we give them a chance, but it isn't easy for us to not interfere. I hope things work out for them, but if they don't Bella still has Gus:)<br /><br />Frankie has quite a few dogs (male and female) who adore him. He's a bit of a ratbag in that he'll only acknowledge and play with them if it suits him. Which probably just adds to his charisma! Beryl isn't one for playing with other dogs unless they're Greyhounds, or she feels like brutalising Frankie. Greyhounds CAN Sithttp://greyhoundscansit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-26096306320932152922011-10-13T21:39:59.894-04:002011-10-13T21:39:59.894-04:00Gus is naturally jealous of any dog, male or femal...Gus is naturally jealous of any dog, male or female, that has Bella's attention. In a more serious thought, Gus treats housemate Molly very different than he treats Bella. Maybe he knows that Bella would not put up with the repeated frisbee poke to the head. And we think that Molly is the dominate dog of the two between her and Gus.....Cindynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-2418330225074724762011-10-13T20:50:20.835-04:002011-10-13T20:50:20.835-04:00Hi Finn! Thanks for stopping by.
Bella actually ...Hi Finn! Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Bella actually has a boyfriend, too. She has snarked at him in the past as well but a) his parents understand that dogs snark and b) he does, too. :) <br /><br />Interesting to consider how gender, parents and temperament all play into how dogs develop relationships and how those relationships continue to develop.Lesliehttp://bringingupbella214.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228355467064891425.post-86752233298789974422011-10-13T18:50:38.372-04:002011-10-13T18:50:38.372-04:00That's interesting! Sometimes at the dog park...That's interesting! Sometimes at the dog park, one of the doggie owners will say to their doggie, "there's your girlfriend" and he'll run right over to the incoming female dog. I wonder if they ever don't get along. I am going to have to watch this phenomenon! Finnhttp://finnhoward.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com