On Busters walk this evening, him and I were both in a bit of a 'dolly-day-dream' mode, plodding along, in our own little world.

Firstly, Bust was out on his long line (about 13ft away from me) and a loose JRT that he's met several time, came trotting up to him. Great to watch as they both appeared to be displaying some good doggy manners! Bust stood still and waited for the JRT to approach, the JRT slowed his approach down and curved slighty to the side so they didn't meet completely face-on. Bust (bless him) was whinging with excitement waiting for the JRT to get to him (I didn't give him any commands, just watched to see what he would do). They had a gentle sniff of each other, then the JRT trotted on his way, Buster stood still as he watched his little 'friend' disspear into the distance (bless, he looked rather disapointed about that).

So a dreary little meet & great out of the way, we wandered on....

We were heading home and I heard the sound of a dog-tag tinkling behind us - it sounded like it was approaching quite fast. I turned around to see a loose GREAT DANE bounding towards us Behind him was the owner, who yelled out to his dog as soon as he spotted us, but the dog wasn't stopping.... He didn't stop untill he was looming over Buster. I heard a growl
I don't know which dog growled but I quickly realised that is was just a communication rather than a challenge, I felt a little better!! (it sounded like a "Oi mate, eeeaaasy" sort of growl, rather than a "think you can take me on, do ya?" sort of growl).
Buster had been out on his long line, he stood still watching the great dane zoom towards him. I'm not sure what happened immediately after the growl, but one second both dogs were face to face, the next second Buster was on his short lead (LOL, I can't remeber doing that,especially as I had a full poop-bag tangled around one hand!),  the dane was on-lead and back a step (out of Busters face) and Bsuter was prancing around doing play-bows - with a look onhos face lieka all his birthdays had come at once :)

I appologised for the slobber that had flinged into the air and landed on the danes back, but his owner said it could have been either of them that did that! I then noticed the TOP of Busters head had been slobbered as the danes lips had brushed by!!!! (Buster is 32" at the shoulder - the dane was the biggest dog he's ever seen up close).

I must say, having a giant dog run towards mine and then to hear growling, gave me shake like a leaf!! I am SOOOOOO glad I keep Buster on a long-line so I don't ever make anybody feel like I did. It's no help hearing "he's friendly" when you have a huge, loose, dog looming into your dogs face!!! Also glad that Buster wasn't emotionally damanged!

Lovely to meet such a handsome dog, but I wish he had approached us a little more under control!

crikey!you did well to cope with the shock of that,well done!And well done buster,bless him!Maybe if you meet again,you could suggest letting them play?He must be really easy going-jess wouldve nipped first and asked questions afterwards!

>Maybe if you meet again,you could suggest letting them play?

Bust would love that. My brain was telling me to ask about that,but my mouth wouldn't work quick enough (due to shock,LOL)and the man was gone :(

I was much later going out than usual yesterday, so I'll try some late walks to see if we can find them again :) Wont be such a shock the second time around!

>jess wouldve nipped first and asked questions afterwards

LOL, bless her :)
Bust is a pretty chiled out dog when it comes to greetings/dealing with other dogs bad attitudes/lack of manners, he's also got much better at not being OTT excitable when playing with other dogs (apart from his rottie friends, Bust turns into a loony with him).

All that said, it could have been Buster that growled - it was the sort of grumble that comes from a dogs throat without the lips moving or nose wrinkling, and as both dogs had a little tension in thier body language and facial expression, I wouldn't like to choose which one growled (could have been them both?).

Hope we can find them this evening.

That sounds amazing, good job that Bust is a cool dude kind of dog :)

I will never forget the first time my dog (bsd) met a rather large Irish wolfhound. She was around 6 months old and I swear she was not sure if it was a dog or something from outer space *lol*

Lindsay
x

Oh bless her!  Remy loves danes, Opi thinks they are gifts from doggy heaven (especially when they are entire, never mind she's been neutered for years, she just loves huge entire boys :-P).

Tia, on the other hand, met one of the local danes (we have about 4 round here) and had she not been on lead, would have barreled up to it all rude and pushy as usual.  Not an ounce of brain, that dog.  Thankfully we were at the park so she was on lead, and we walked with it for a bit till she calmed down.

I do rather wish she'd have some of Buster's manners though!  I did get her really good years ago - regrettably since then she's had the arthritis and her sight and hearing are not great now, so she's more worried when she gets up close than she used to be (so goes with the rude approach rather than cautious - again, not an ounce of brain).

Proud moment isn't it when your dogs shows such good behaviour and manners. I remember quite clearly my most proud moment with Luke when I was walking towards the park to meet someone and a Dane was coming out of it. The dog was on a halti and broke free, ran across the road and came barrelling towards Luke looking and sounding quite menacing. Luke stood there wagging his tail. The dog stood over him ( believe me he made Luke look small) and waited for Luke's reaction. Luke stood there looking forward not engaging any eye contact and continued to carry on wagging. The owner then caught up and dragged the dog away. I was so proud. I have since heard the dog has had to go back to its breeder as he and the other Dane he lived with attacked a Labrador and made a real mess of it.