My Manly Shiba is actually a complete wimp when it comes to....
We encountered a plastic bag twirling in the wind yesterday on our walk. Like the one in American Beauty. Mercutio was freaked out and thought it was out to get him. He also lost a play fight to a minature french poodle in the park. The poodle was half his size and had these kind of boxing punches with it's front paws. Mercutio ended up on his back and was very surprised!!
What makes your dogs melt down?
What makes your dogs melt down?
Comments
- Any dog (regardless of size)
- Any sudden sound
- Any sudden movement
- Anything "out of place"
- Any stranger
- Any new place
Yeah...I've got a mogul of issues to navigate through:). But he's a smart bugger and I'm hoping/praying a light bulb will come on in his head personality wise when he gets closer to a year old.Jesse
The other night it was a coat that was bunched up funny and looming on a chair.
One day a stealth jet flew over us (what???) really low and the dogs were understandably spooked... geez, I was pretty creeped out too.
as far as the plastic bag situation, ive encountered that before but she just got really aggressive and barked like crazy at it and eventually bit it and ripped it up.
-men in baggy clothes. If they come in the house, he'll greet them as if he hadn't seen them in years. But once the introductions are over, and he realizes who they are, he follows them from a "safe" distance and gives low "boof" sounds.
Ike melts down whenever I tell Beebe off and goes to hide under my loveseat. He's very sensitive.
Her protective triggers are:
- a stranger approaching us on a walk who I have not acknowledged. Appearently, my "hello" make everything ok.
- anyone but my mother entering my area of the house unannoucned especially if I'm not up. This becomes particularly not fun when we had family visiting, or I ask my father to knock on my door to be sure I'm up early for something.
Her fear triggers are:
- arguing/yelling. It doesn't have to be at her; she just needs to be around an argument and she 's a mess.
- odd, unexpected sounds.
- strom drains
- children, babies, and strollers. This isn't a cowering reaction; it's a bark like crazy reaction, but I make sure she's under control around kids.
I'd say, though, he is more accepting of kids than baggy clothed men. My sister brought over one of her friends, big guy with a bushy beard, wearing an over-sized trench coat, and piercings all over his face. Tetsu saw him and wouldn't stop his "boof"s. If the friend doesn't move, Tetsu would sniff his feet; but the moment the friend did move Tetsu would bolt to a "safe" distance and keep up the "boof"
Gunshots
Fireworks
Unexpected noise (such as Jazz is in the bedroom & something is dropped in the kitchen)
Miso gets princess paws in the rain, and refuses to go out back when it's raining. He will only go out if you take him for a walk and he is a wimp the whole time.
My dogs aren't afraid of much though. I've taken them through every situation I can think of so they don't care about people, dogs, loud noises, crowds, trains, planes (we actually spent a day at the local jetport so they could hear planes taking off and landing, SCARY as crap for me because I hate planes, but I wanted them to be okay), buses, cars, trucks, construction sites, fireworks...the list goes on. My kids are pretty comfortable with any situation.
Hanzo feared NOTHING at all, he was only reactive about dogs in his immediate space and windshield wipers
Hachi feared just about everything when she was indoors except interactions with other dogs, outside she was practically fearless until a tall or looming person came into her immediate space
Tsuki fears very little, plastic bags rustling and the vacuum are about it. And maybe yelling - I stubbed my toe recently and screamed and her tail when down and she went behind the couch!
Kitsune fears a bit more, especially new people and big rigs driving by our house. He hates to approach anyone or anything he isn't familiar with (including agility equip., argh)- he is the quintessential undersocialized aloof shiba inu.
The Big Pink Ball - She hates it... And for those who have not yet heard about this, the big pink ball is a balance ball in my office.
Things that are not where they should be - Crazy OCD dog.
Plastic Bags - Again, she hates them. Inside, outside, she barks at them. If one happens to blow into our yard from the neighbor's, she barks at it. If one is in the neighbor's yard where she can see it, she barks at it.
The UPS guy - Again, she hates him. She is fine with the FedEx lady and the mailman... Not sure why the UPS guy is suspect in her eyes.
Robins (yes, the bird) - She will not get off the porch if there is more than one in the yard. Not quite sure what that is all about either... Maybe because they are the only birds that really hop along the ground? Who knows....
Nola:
Up until recently, she has never been freaked over anything... Now she is afraid of a box. Not any box, just one, the Harry and David box that our holiday snacks came in. And only if it is on the floor. If it is on a shelf she is fine. Not quite sure what that is all about, either.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my Shibas???
BATH TIME!!
Not surprisingly. Otherwise he is a tough little guy. Nothing phases him and I love him for it!
Taj-storm drains and grates on the sidewalk or in the road and skateboards
News-shaker cans
Kohji-thunderstorms, lightning, gunshots, firecrackers
Image-nothing yet, she's fearless!
Also the big one I just remembered
THE VACUUM CLEANER
He hates it and goes ape when it's turned on!