On our walk tonight we mat a bloke walking a puppy. As I usually do, I moved well off the path so they didn't have to get near my 'nasty' looking dog. I also said, 'he's friendly, just wants to play' (so people don't get alarmed if Buster does a little play-bow) and the man came over for his pup to meet Buster :-D

It was a 4 month old lab. The man was saying how he takes every opportunity for his dog to socialise with others as it's so important, his little girl chipped in that it's especially important to try to meet big dogs, so he doesn't get scared :)
He never had to say a word, just seeing the pups reaction to Buster spoke more than words. Buster watched and sussed out pup as he was approaching, Buster then let out a couple of play-bows - pup did too, Busters play-bows were very energetic and with the side-to-side motion they were used as an inviation to play, not to calm. It was plain to see from pups whole body language that he knew that Buster was friendly and despite being a huge lump was only offering a game, to which the pup most definately wanted to say 'yes' to :-D They didn't get to have an off-lead game but spent a few mins bouncnig around each other, trying to start a chase game and sniffing each other.

What a smashing pup, with an understanding owner, that's another person that will NOT be doing all they can to avoid letting thier dog near Buster - yay :-D
The list is slooooowly getting longer of people that realise Buster is a friendly dog :)

Sorry for getting all excited at what must seem like a minor thing, but it's not often that people allow thier dogs to greet Buster and when they do, dogs are often frightened of his size, so it's a really big deal to me. Busters socialisation was pathetic as a pup, due to him being crippled with ED. Since getting mobile, socialsaiton has been sooooo very hard as people often go the other way when they see us coming ( :( ), but I've worked very hard with the limited oportunities  we've had to try to help Buster be social, so little things like meeting a pup that is well socialised is just FANTASTIC :-D

Great to hear this, hopefully you get to meet more like this.

Imreally envious of that bloke!with such a friendly pup.my lot have always been wary rather than wanting to play,although river at 16 weeks is the friendliest pup out of the 3,at the same age,lets hope i dont do wrong with her whatever i did to the other two!

I wish we'd had a Buster when I was socialising Daisy, rather than the mean bunch that bullied  her and beat her up, give me a big daft lump any day of the week.

yaaaaay for Buster !!! :-)

Oh that's lovely, I understand your desire to share that story, it seems that good puppy owners are a bit like good parents - you know they are out there but they're often outnumbered by the eejits :-)

I see a woman out with her dogs most days when I'm walking mine. These two are just a few months older than my youngest collie, so are now almost 7 years old and she has never let them come and say hello to mine, not even when Gem was a pup too and desperate to play and despite my shouted assurances. Last week we met on a narrow section of path and had to pass each other closely, she stood off into the grass and one of hers made the most awful noise - a continued deep grumbling the whole time we were trying to get past - none of mine wanted to get too close to it and had to be encouraged past! I can't help thinking that if she had just allowed them to meet mine and other dogs when they were younger walks would be so much more pleasant for her now :-)

>socialsaiton has been sooooo very hard as people often go the other way when they see us coming

Have you ever thought that it's not Buster they are trying to avoid?  :-)  Sorry mastifflover, just couldn't resist!  :-)

I think it's great that the little girl had obviously been taught things that most kids don't know.  Obviously a great family there.

One thing I have picked up on, over the Buster posts, is just how much you have learned about dog behaviour and body language.  I am well impressed girl.  ;-)  :-)

That is lovely, it is great when we meet like minded owners and not morons as is often the case.  I often imagine what it must be like for our dog, she lives with all humans (and one other dog who hates her) and spends most of her time with humans.  Imagine if we were owned by aliens, and one day your alien was out walking with you and you saw another alien walking a little human, how your heart would ache to speck to your own species.. that is how I feel when I'm out with my dog, she must long to speak to her own species!  So, it is great to meet folk who want to stop and let the doggies chat.

oh if only i dare be one!im too afraid one of mine might nip,can be very embarrassing when they do.I did try,honestly,i wanted well socialised dogs,but jess got badly scared by a large dog at 5months,and ran off home,and i think thats what started her wariness,and then the nipping-im still working on it-then i found gwen was starting to do the same,although shes loads better now.then of course,im protective-dont want another dog running home,its easier to avoid other dogs,sad as it is.its not as if either of them have ever shown any inclination to want to play,maybe i shouldnt beat myself up about it.

Aw, that's great! You can bring him to meet my 2 Cavaliers if you want, I always like them to meet as many big dogs as possible. While not wanting them to get squashed by an out of control big dog, I do think that they need to learn that most other dogs are going to be bigger than them and they will just have to get used to it and deal with it. :-)

I read your post with great interest Mastifflover.......I have a male bullmastiff who had his 1st birthday on Sunday......he is a big boy....stands 27" to shoulder and is 40" inches long [not including tail !] and was weighed at the vets on Monday at 55kgs......still not as big as your boy but I totally agree with people's attitudes on a occasion ....we have tried so hard to socialise and interact with as many people, children and other dogs as possible but as he has got older and bigger more and more people cross the road or simply go the other way......ironically especially when I am walking him alone......almost as though I can't control him !!

He is such a good boy on occasion we often walk on such a slack lead that I check to see if it's fell off.......he still has the puppy tendencies when he sees new dogs close up and simply wants to play and say Hi.....displaying the same greeting as Buster and often bows to say hi.....

We had an occasion on Sunday in the local park....as I entered there is a small section of a blind spot just prior to entering the park and Boscoe was off trotting on his extended lead when bolting round the corner came 2 off the lead staffies......now I have no issue with this breed and actually like them BUT......shortly after a young lad came running shouting SORRY.....I said its fine as they both ran around Boscoe at speed ...I said its good for him to socialise.....he said no its not that the male does not like other big male dogs and will often bite.....OMG.....why oh why was it off the lead !!

What happened next did make me smile.....and I am sorry if this is wrong BUT.....as you will all know bullies are not known for barking and Boscoe does this very rarely.......BUT as this staffie continued to run around him snarling and baring teeth and yapping Boscoe raised his front paw placed it quite firmly on top of the staffie stood over him and barked in such a loud , deep and very booming way that the staffie simply lay down and did not move......my boy immediately removed his paw looked at me and sat.....wagging his tail......I swear if he could talk he would have said ....oh good god be quiet and sit down you bloody nuisance........

The young lad then put them both on leads and dragged them away......my boy simply trotted off and went sniffing......just as we got round the corner he met his friend a 9month old lab and they both went off the lead chasing each other around the park and had a good old time.......

Again......I hope it's not wrong to be proud but my boy showed no sign of aggression and simply appeared to be fed up with the silly running around and barking.....

He is so misunderstood by others when they see him coming towards them and I feel sad to see others cross the road !!

i wish id seen that!what a good boy!reminds me of when i rehomed a gorgeous german shepherd bitch,i had other dogs at the time,including max,a jrt.He was a little pain,wouldnt leave her alone,yapyapyapping in her ear,she was so gentle,ignored him,till one day i heard the yaps turn into squeals,ran out,and had to laugh-max upside down while sheba stood over him.funny,that cured him!lets hope that staffy learnt a lesson,too!

> Have you ever thought that it's not Buster they are trying to avoid?

LOL, funny, that's what my hubby always says to me! :-D

> this staffie continued to run around him snarling and baring teeth and yapping Boscoe raised his front paw placed it quite firmly on top of the staffie stood over him and barked in such a loud , deep and very booming way that the staffie simply lay down and did not move......my boy immediately removed his paw looked at me and sat.....wagging his tail......I swear if he could talk he would have said ....oh good god be quiet and sit down you bloody nuisance........

LOL :-D I like the fact he was wagging his tail and looking at you, as if to say 'look how good I was', bless him :)

> we have tried so hard to socialise and interact with as many people, children and other dogs as possible but as he has got older and bigger more and more people cross the road or simply go the other way

It's so frustrating isn't it :(

> Imagine if we were owned by aliens, and one day your alien was out walking with you and you saw another alien walking a little human, how your heart would ache to speck to your own species.. that is how I feel when I'm out with my dog, she must long to speak to her own species!  So, it is great to meet folk who want to stop and let the doggies chat.

Yes, exactly!!

Buster is an only dog, lots of dogs we see are on thier own. You'd think thier owners would relish the chance to let thier dogs meet other dogs. I feel so sad sometimes when Buster sits so nicely, hoping a dog is allowed to come and see him, but it is walked away from us, bless him all he can do is sit watching it disapear :(
It is frantastic when owners let thier dogs come & say 'hi' :)

If it's an consolation, my girl only ever barks at big dogs (bad experiences as a puppy)...and they NEVER react to it! Always ignore her, and then she plays with them. I can't say the same for some of the smaller dogs we meet. In fact, I don't think I've ever met a nasty large breed whilst walking my two littlelies! I like to think I can recognise behaviour enough to avoid wary large dogs, but I always feel more comfortable letting my dog greet a giant than any other dogs. ;)