just wanted to run this past you to make sure I'm not under-reacting!
Took Lucy (fat old rotty) out just now as usual but came home a different route which involves walking along the main road. No problems until a young chap came walking towards us on a fairly narrow bit with a rolled up newspaper in one hand which he was banging into his other hand, I really didn't take much notice of him as I didn't feel threatened or anything but Lucy obviously felt different as she growled as we passed him. She didn't lunge towards him or even alter her step she just gave a low rumble and then carried on. Now I'm putting this down to the fact that she felt threatened or felt that I was in some way by the way he was smacking the newspaper into his hand, she's a rescue so I don't know if that action is significant to her in some way. Like I say I'm not overly bothered as she gave no other reaction but the growl, but I'd be interested in your opinions as to whether I should be more concerned.

Strange man, snapping rolled up newspaper and approaching you --- all she did was growl a bit???? Very good dog :D :D Mine would have had a smidgen o' trouble with that too :rolleyes: Worse, if the chap had been wearing a hat ;)
It's a very threatening action to many dogs. Especially, if she had been corrected when young by being smacked with newspaper.

Be proud of her :) She was more alert than you were, but remained very calm about the issue.
toodles

Thank you Sara :) Lucy, Alert, not 2 words you usually put in the same sentence! :D I really think thats all it was but I just wanted to run it by a few of the Knowledgable Ones to make sure I wasn't missing something :) Even hubby was of the opinion that the chap must be a bit odd to pass anyone with a dog whilst snapping a paper, (hubby isn't usually allowed an opinion :D )

That'll do, hubby, that'll do ;) :D :D

Two summers ago, we had a plague of biting flies out on the trails. Bad 'uns too :( The girls were off leash, when a German woman erupted out of the bushes, mad as hell, and waving her arms all over her head trying to get the flies off of her. She really scared them both since they had been absorbed in smelling out the mice, so they reacted by barking at her.
Did she stop waving and yelling like a madwoman? NO! In fact, she started running AT them before even giving us a chance to respond. Good thing the girls know "leave it" very well. :rolleyes:
She walk/ran by us cursing about our "vicious" dogs :(
Hubby and I just looked at one another, shrugged our shoulders and said --- BUG SPRAY!!!! :D :D :D
Never have seen her since Sure, they reacted to her, but what normal animal/person wouldn't have???? Very threatening.

btw:I better explain something before I get misunderstood ---
It's just my opinion that there are strange men/people out there and dogs are sometimes more aware of 'possibilities' than we give them credit :)
A controlled "wake-up" warning to an owner to pay attention isn't a bad thing imo. :) My dogs like everyone, but when there is someone that they actually bother to feel threatened by, I honestly believe there's a good reason by now.

Toodles, I think your dogs reaction was brilliant. Her sudden burst from the bushes must have really made them jump. What a well trained pair of dogs.x

LOL Toodles but 100% correct ( I think) LOL

Pam :-)

No - I don't think you are under-reacting.
Lucy voiced her suspicion of this stranger approaching her with a newspaper. You weren't bothered or threatened by him so she picked up no vibes about his appoach from you - she may have either a bit of defence for herself or a bit of protection towards you - or both!
You did right to not react and just carry on. All you need now is to be aware of the fact that she may be suspicious of strangers and give them a wide enough berth in case she ever did lunge.

No I think Lucy 's reaction was quite valid. At the end of the day she felt that there was a treat to her and to you.

Mars bless her cotton socks only did this once when she was alive. I was walking down an alley way with her. A group of youths came towards us in a very menacing way. Mars stood her ground , hackles up, and teeth half bared, until they had walked past. She didn't lung at them just stood there infront protecting me . After they had gone past, she turned round wagged her tail and then looked at me as to say, 'well are we going to carry on with this walk' !!

Lucy

PS hope you don't call all Lucy's 'Fat old rotties' !! :D :D :D

My visual image of "Lucy" is a petite 7lb black wirey doxi mix that had a sign on her cage in the shelter "will kill ducks." Mom took one look and said, "Well, we don't have any ducks to worry about" and took her home :)
Lucy had a very long happy life from 1980-1994 :) Never did manage to catch a squirrel though :D :D
The only other Lucy I know of is "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" series. But she became a queen :d :D :D

Oh Sara, are you a reader too?
I have loved reading since I first learnt how, I'm always reading even now.
I loved CS Lewis' Narnia series. :D
Nicky

sara, try this visual image of Lucy... short stumpy, 7 stone and in no way petite! :D BTW I am describing my dog!!! :)

Jue
I think the 7 stone bit gave that away (talking about the dog !!) I haven't been 7 stone since I was about 12, that was at least 15 years ago ;) :)

Beth xx

Yes, love books -- tons stacked around the house and in the attic :rolleyes: And I remember most everything I ever read, so my brain is quite cluttered with useless trivia ;) :D I figure I'd be rich if I hadn't spent all that money on BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS :D :D

Julie, you sound beautiful. I was told what a stone equals in poundage, but since I've never used that measurement, it has little meaning in me 'ead. :D :D :D

Hi Julie
I think Sara is 100% spot on with her reply. :D
Lucy was just letting the chap know she wouldn't have anything happen to you, and who knows she may have been hit by a man with a rolled up paper before you had her.
Nicky