Learning to speak dog...

[Pat and Traveler]

Not really a play pose...

 

No mistaking this message!

 

Trav and I had an interesting couple of days house and pet sitting for a friend. I’ve been a little nervous about doing this ever since I agreed to it, because my friend’s dog, a Dane mix named Eve, doesn’t really like other dogs. She and Trav have been together a couple of times, but my friend was there then to help monitor and keep the peace. This time I was on my own.

The house is out in the country with a large, unfenced yard, plenty of brush, a garden, a chicken coop full of chickens, an old dog run and some other outbuildings. I decided to put Trav in the dog run for their first meeting this time around. After I put him in the run, he barked and howled to high heaven when I walked away. Nice. I cautiously unlocked the door to the house and opened it a bit, talking nicely to Eve, who was also barking. She recognized and greeted me, so I let her go check out Trav in the dog run. After she’d had a few minutes to get used to the idea that he was there, I took a deep breath and let him out. He was ecstatic, and rushed over to her. She wasn’t pleased at all, growled some at him, but I reprimanded her and she toned it down. They waded in the creek for a while, Trav following Eve everywhere she went and Eve pretty much ignoring him.

When we headed back to the house, Trav found a ball and ran with it, trying to tempt Eve to chase him. ‘Chase me’ is a game Trav dearly loves and plays often with his other dog friends. Eve doesn’t play. She ran him down, got the ball and snarled. Trav backed off for the moment, but after she dropped the ball he got it again and ran again. This time she pretty much ran right over the top of him, got the ball and REALLY snarled. Lesson learned. Eve’s ball.

Once Trav understood that Eve ruled, things went fairly well. I was on high alert all the time though, and it was sort of exhausting. I fed them in separate rooms, with closed doors between them, as I didn’t want to risk Trav getting near Eve’s food bowl, and I removed all the toys from the floor in the house so Trav wouldn’t try to play with them. One interesting thing Eve did was to start guarding me. I could push her away and let Trav come up to me, but she would continually try to put herself between us. She didn’t snarl doing this, but she definitely used body blocking.

I feel like I've had a crash course in dog language in the last few days!

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

I was hoping you would post about this dog sitting responsibility you had accepted after posting about the party at their house. It sounds like you handled it as well as anyone could have. What a jewel Traveler is! You must be so proud of him and grateful he is yours.

 

 

[Pat and Traveler]

Eve must have missed us--my friend says she ripped down the drapes and broke a lamp.  She was trying to get out of the windows!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

You are very brave! Good job Trav!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like you handled these interactions perfectly....and Trav was such a great Dood for being so adaptable.

[Pat and Traveler]

I was really proud of Trav.  He learned to give Eve her space, but he wasn't too scared of her.  He was still willing to play, or follow her or sniff at her.  Once she'd claimed a toy, he stayed away from it, but he found an endless number of sticks and other 'unclaimed' items, and found a frisbee that I fear might have been a neighbor's.  We played with those things.  He remained good-natured and playful, just what a dood was meant to be. 

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

poor Trav!! Glad everything worked out thou! 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

This just confirms what I already think...Doodles are the best!  I am sure you were exhausted after the weekend was over.

[Linda and Murphy]

Very interesting weekend. Glad everything worked out.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Sounds like an exciting couple of days. I babysat a friend's dog once and it was very interesting to see how they worked things out. Who played with what, how to let each other know that they were done playing, etc.

[Pat and Traveler]

Joanne--doesn't the gentle leader have a chest hook?  Eve's harness, which I think is cool!--has a top hook.  This is her FOURTH home--this time a forever home.  She's fine with people, but apparently has to has to dominate other dogs.  Trav is so easy-going he doesn't care if somebody else is boss--just hopes he'll get a game of catch or chase-me out of it.