To the Dog Run
Maybe it’s a good thing that I didn’t immediately tell the public dog run story. It would have been a rather sad story, because she really didn’t like the place at all…
A dog run is a public spot where dogs can socialize with each other. We have one nearby our home, which is great for Wookie since we don’t have a yard. Dogs can be unleashed at a dog run, so they can play off leash without restrictions. In Belgium you’re obliged to keep your dog on a leash at all time in public places normally, so more and more public dog runs are created. It can be a great place, if every owner looks after his dog and keeps the place clean.
Wookie at the dog run.
Anyway, however great the place is, although it’s size is bigger than ten yards in our neighborhood, Wookie hated going there. At three months we took her there for the first time. She was the smallest of the visitors present, and she immediately had lots of fans. Other owners were curious about the breed – Schips aren’t that known in Belgium although it’s originally a Belgian breed! The other dogs found her interesting too, they were surprised to see a little rascal running around. Most dogs at the run are Labrador Retrievers or Border Collies. Her wet-nosed friends wanted to sniff, but they all seemed to scare her. Wookie constantly hid between our legs and even snapped at dogs that came too close to her…
We were a bit surprised, because she actually grew up with a big dog. The breeders we got her from owned a big Rottweiler. Wookie and her four brothers and sisters enjoyed annoying the hell out of that poor old good boy… They teased and ran around until the big dog growled, then of course they would run and hide…!
At the dog run she just ran away, which wasn’t such a great idea, because to the other dogs this was like a tag game…
Fortunately we kept on going to the dog run with her. We though that it was very important that she’d get to know other dogs, and adjust her behavior towards them instead of just running or hiding behind me. She is rather bossy and it’s important that she learns she can’t always make up the rules! (Although I must admit it sometimes broke my heart… She can howl rather sadly…)
Things changed some three days ago. She really enjoys running around over there now. She learned to lie on her back if she gets dominated instead of trying to fight a bigger dog off. She sniffs her friends, and they can sniff too. She doesn’t get mad anymore if another dog comes closer. And she’s making friends! (She’s 5 months now, maybe she’ll be in heat any time soon, maybe that can explain her sudden change in behavior at the park…? Not really sure, should read into it some more first!)
Meeting a Jack Russel!
Schipps are a rather small breed, but that doesn’t mean they’re “small” in attitude towards their humans and towards other dogs. It’s important that you get them social, and the only way to do that is to take her out to places where they can discover new things. Even though they might look scared at first, even though they can get into something that looks like a “fight”. Dogs try to make up who’s boss when they meet, they might jump each other or even try to bite, but they’re not going to kill each other. Best is to let this pass. Especially if you’re taking a pup: one way or other dogs “sense” it’s a puppy, so they’ll show it who’s boss but without too much trouble.
You should really keep up, they’ll thank you for it afterwards… you know, that thankful smile when they’re sleeping at home afterwards. I wonder if she dreams about her new friends…?
Wookie dreaming sweet dreams… <3