Re: [PyrNet-L] Midnight battle on the Pasture front.

["Elizabeth L. Mihalcik" <elm@flmnh.ufl.edu>]

>
>My Rescue Pyr, Rainbow, has been with us for 2 months now. My other Pyrs will
>accept anyone who we let in the house, no problem. But the other day when my
>brother came over (who had never met Rainbow) she sat right next to my
>chair and
>every time my brother got up to come over my way she'd stand up and stare
>at him.
>Didn't growl, didn't do anything else, just stood up and stared at him.
>I'd have to tell her
>to "chill it" and she'd sit back down. He came over to pet her and she
>never would even
>look at him, just tried to edge away, I told him just to leave her be. My
>brother's not a
>"dog person" and can't read dogs any better than he can read German, I'm
>sure she
>could sense that.

Well, you might have prevented some of Rainbow's aprehensiveness by
introducing your brother to Rainbow.  This is Rainbow's house your brother
came into.  Then ask Rainbow to sit down.  People who don't particularly
care for dogs ignore them and the dog can sense that.  I don't think I
would like to be ignored in my own house.

I *can vouch for his character though and I don't know why she was
>acting that way.   Obviously Rainbow is not quite sure of him and
>rightfully so.  You don't know Rainbow's past and maybe folks were not
>nice to her in a similar situation.  Rainbow needs time and reassurance
>from her immediate family that this is okay.




I think it's because he just walked into the house and sat down and
>started talking and she didn't have a CLUE who this stranger was that was
>taking
>liberties at "her" house. I admit I did sort of like her protective
>attitude towards me
>though <G>, it certainly made me feel protected. Unlike my other dogs who
>were all
>trying to shove their heads up there 1st to get petted :-)

   Your other dogs know your brother and the way he is.  Rainbow does not
and she should not be faulted.  I had gotten my female maremma, Gina, at 10
months old.  The lady of the house was indifferent and sometimes not nice
to her. Only the men in the house paid a lot of attention to her. She had
to make a big adjustment with me because I was the only human in the house.
Gina took a long time to really trust me and strangers.  It took more than
6 months of work and reassurance but it paid off.  I don't like to invite
anyone including family members into my house who are not fond of dogs
because the dogs are quite taken back by this.  I certainly don't like
inviting family members to my house that don't like me.  It is quite
uncomfortable to be in the same room with them.  I believe that is what the
dog feels.


Elizabeth
>