random snippy-ness with strangers

CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
edited July 2009 in Behavior & Training
The homeowners insurance thread got me a bit nervous...here's why..and I need some guidance from my fellow forum junkies..

Our pup is good, and I know all dogs bite....but she's "snipped" at 2 people, both outside, on a leash, when I was getting annoyed. By snipped I mean her mouth opens about 1/2 and inch, and it's just the front of her muzzle and it's a little head movement / open / close of mouth.. I would assume a warning?

The first was at a little girl who's mom kept asking a million friggin questions while I was trying to purchase the dog bed/toys/food and signing my CC, plus the girl was scared and she kept putting her hand under her muzzle and pulling away quickly...god knows how many times she did this before Shao New got "snippy". I pulled on her leash and said "NO".. I asked our then trainer about this and he said "well she (the girl) shouldn't have done that".

The 2nd time was in portland, and I was finishing my lobster, this woman comes up to us first at the side of the table, playing and asking questions, then she sat herself down next to us and kept playing with the dog who's under the table and talking to us / her...she was really wierd and we were getting annoyed b/c we wanted to finish our meal in peace....well Spuds must have picked up on my annoyance again and proceeded to snip at the woman. At which point I said "relax pup" and didn't really do much about it b/c the woman did leave after that (i know bad)..

but how am I supposed to train her on this? I really don't want her to bite kids or anyone for that matter, and she KNOWS biting is bad and a huge no no (i do the walk away and shut the door move whenever i feel mouth on me which has worked wonders).

These are the only two times she's done this, she doesn't bite the neighbors, people that come into the apartment, she doesn't even growl...oh yeah she gave no warning either ...both times she was sitting looking all cute and attentive...I just don't want this to escalate?

Thanks in advance for all of your comments / advice.

Comments

  • tjbart17tjbart17
    edited July 2009
    I don't see why we have to ask our animals to like everyone. I don't like everyone, so my animals don't have to either. I also don't like people's hands in my face. Maybe this can be resolved with you just asking people not to put their hands in your dog's face.

    In both situations, I think the people kind've handled the dogs incorrectly. First off, don't continue to put your hand in an animals face and pull it away. It could be a tease or just plain annoying. Second situation, if your dog is under the table this is usually a sign of them not wanting to be bothered. Tell the person not to bother or what I used to say is don't wake him up he's resting.
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    I kind of agree with Tara... It seems that Shao New was trying to correct the rude behaviour of these two individuals. How would you react if some kid kept sticking his hand in your face and jerking it away or if you were hanging out under a table snoozing or looking for dropped crumbs and a strange person kept bugging you? Both of those, IMO, are rude behaviours that need to be corrected... and Shao New corrected them in the way that she knows how.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    wow..I never thought about that...you're both right, I think I was getting "exposure to different people /situations" mixed up with what's just plain rude. (Well in the little girl's case rude to Shao New) that and sometimes I'm afraid to offend people..I'll look out and get more corrective before she does! Thanks!
  • IppusIppus
    edited November -1
    You're right. In a just world, neither our pups nor we, ourselves would have to put up with inappriopriate behavior from others... or would at least be free to correct them. But alas, the world we live in is anything but. The issue here is that if your pup actually injures someone, you can be held liable, and be in for a world of hurt. Most municipalities won't kill your dog on a first offense, depending on the severity of the injury, but you can still be sued, even for a little nip, and certainly fined... and your insurance may refuse to cover your dog ever after.

    It sucks, but that's the way it is. Your best option is to play it safe. It sounds like you've done a reasonable job of training your dog not to bite, so it may be that the only thing you can do is try to preempt any situation where some idiot may be agitating your dog. If that makes you seem rude to the other person, well, that's easier to handle than the potential alternative.
  • AkiraleShibaAkiraleShiba
    edited November -1
    Shao did not growl before trying to snip ?
  • WrylyBrindleWrylyBrindle
    edited November -1
    second third and fourth all of the above!
    There's nothing wrong with Shao New. It's our job to protect our dogs from having to make their own canine justice decisions in situations like these. I am learning to be more decisive and proactive (rude!) to protect my dogs from getting painted into a corner. It is hard for me to say, "No, you can't visit" or "Sorry, we're not friendly." I find it easier to say "we" rather than point the finger at my dog. Think of it that you are protecting her from the paparazzi! :)
  • BradA1878BradA1878
    edited November -1
    I agree with the above.

    I am not a rude person, Jen and I are both pretty shy... I have a hard time telling someone "no, you cannot pet my dog"... but it's got to be done, so I do it. I do it even with the dogs I know love people (like Ahi), because she gets a bit excited and that can be too much for people... so I just error on the side of caution. when someone looks at me like I'm being rude I just say "sorry, it's for your safety, you must understand that..." (or something like that).

    Let's face it, Nihonken can be kinda bitchy... I'd start getting used to it and not let it bother you. I think it sux too, but it's life now (with law suits, BSL, and all), and we have to adapt to cover our (and our dog's) a$$e$.

    ----
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    hehe on paparazzi :) I do like the "We" instead of She.

    AkiraleShiba, no she did not growl which I found a bit odd both times no real warning it just happened, and she is amazingly intuned to "real" feelings about people and her surroundings, etc. So I'm wondering if she picked up an oddity about the person (for example the girl being scared) plus me getting super annoyed with the mother and trying to ignore her...

    But perhaps really what's best is for me to step in and be rude rather than get sued or have a dog labeled as "dangerous".
  • santuzzasantuzza
    edited November -1
    I don't know too much about shibas as a breed, Tosca being my first, but I have had dogs all my life and none of the previous ones even came close to Tosca in regards to picking up on and reacting to my moods.

    I don't think politely requesting that some annoying fool step away for your dog rude. You didn't get a dog for everyone on earth to go up to it and bug the hell out of it whenever they please.
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    If you feel rude about telling someone to stop touching your pups, than do what we did at the mini-meet up and move Shao New away from the situation if you can. Often times when I see Tetsu getting agitated with some kid or person and they don't take the hint, I'll pick him up or act like I have to take him somewhere else.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    I have to admit initially I didn't see this situation as correcting myself but rather the pup, and you're all right, it was me and my husband that needed to step up :)

    Thanks again for your of your comments / advice...sometimes I need to be told the obvious ;-)
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