A Most Unusual Encounter
Right, well, I've been going on and on about socializing Ace. I've encountered pretty much every size, shape and gender of human being with him. I thought I had covered all the bases... until today.
Enter CDL - Crazy Dog Lady. She was peculiarly dressed this fine Friday evening - I could see her... ahem... undies from a mile away, saying hello over the waistline of her pants. You'd expect this sort of outfit from the younger generation, maybe, but this lady was easily pushing 60. She had a fake tan, peroxide-bleached hair, and the voice that only two packs a day of cigs could make. You know the type!
So she waltzes up to my husband and me just as we were entering the courtyard of our apartment complex. It's been a pretty long day and we (Ace included) just want to turn in for the night. Well, CDL isn't about to let that happen. She greets us and says she's seen the flyer I put up about needing volunteers to socialize Ace. Cool! I have had ZERO people actually call me, and she says she has been meaning to. CDL squats down in front of Ace and says she'd like to help out. Great, I say.
And then she crouches down in front of him, makes direct eye contact, and starts saying "Viens là" (Come here, in French) about a MILLION times. I was about to say that I train him in English, and offer some dry cat kibble I happen to have in a Tupperware (long story). She says No pretty brusquely, and says she needs to get him to come without the aid of food. I think to myself, Good luck, especially when she gets off on the wrong foot by getting directly up in Ace's grill.
Then, disaster. She demands a bisou (kiss). Okay lady, you're pushing it. Even I haven't had a kiss from Ace and I freaking own him and spend 24 hours a day within arm's reach of him. How does she set out to accomplish this? CDL grabs the leash that was in my husband's hands and tugs Ace toward her leathery, suntanned face. At this point, my dog is silently freaking out and doing tons of calming signals to try and defuse the situation. He's looking everywhere else than into her stony gaze, and his feet are gripping the paved ground with all their might. He does NOT want to kiss her.
CDL grabs his collar (at this point I motion for Ben to get Ace out of this lady's grasp) and pulls him in towards her. My husband says "It's time for us to be going", and she refuses to let him go. Oh god. We've officially entered Crazy Town. She grabs him forcefully and says in a most sinister voice, "He should spend two or three days in my flat with my dog. It would be good for him". What the flipping heck? NO. Let the F go of my dog, NOW. Ben had to pretty much wrestle Ace out of her death grip in the most polite way possible, and then we booked it back home.
What the hell just happened? Did this lady try to dognap Ace... in front of us? I think my husband and I reacted so late because we didn't realize just how far someone could go in forcing themselves on to our dog. Ace isn't any worse for wear, and I sincerely hope that this didn't set him back further, but yeah. CDL is officially black listed. @_@
Edit: HOW COULD I FORGET? She also asked if Ace was beaten in his early life. I said no, my husband said no. She said he obviously was, and that we had been lied to. At this point I was asking myself if this was real life. This lady was TELLING US that our dog, whom we love and adore, was obviously coming from a broken home. Yes, clearly all shy dogs aren't under-socialized, they necessarily must be beaten. What the F!
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Comment by abcd on March 31, 2012 at 10:22am
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Oh man, I totally understand how you felt during this. When I had Einstein, he had alot of fear issues, fear aggression as he was a singleton. Trying to socialize can be frustrating, or awesome :) The fact that his lady put her face in Ace's is awful. After all the behavioral training we went through with Ein, the things I learned, NEVER put your face in a dogs face. Strangers especially. When I was working with Ein on socialization of strangers, kids especially would rush up to him in my complex, not slowly walk up and ask for a pet. This didn't help. I would have to have the kids ask for permission to pet once they were done bum rushing him. In the end, we never were really able to get Ein out of his singleton rut (and we had him from 8 wks old....never hit/abused or anything like that! His actions would say differently, as he would act as so). Getting labeled as coming frmo a broken home when that is the exact opposite is annoying. Even coming from the best of homes, you can still have a dog that has issues with fear. I am glad that Cleo did not turn out this way, even when she grew up with Ein and received the same NILF positive re-enforcement training. I just need to work on her 'approaching BIG dog' skills, as she is shy...and puppies too. She has started to lean towards a princess since she is the only corgi in the house now :P
Good luck with your socialization, you are doing all the right things, and it is ok to walk in the other direction when you see that lady. It is not rude.
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Comment by Yuki & Ellie on March 31, 2012 at 8:53am
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Wow, as other have already said this was creepy (to say the least.) I hope you don't have to deal with her again. :/ If you do encounter her, politely decline any future contact and definitely keep those leathery hands away from poor Ace. :(
On a side note, some people think that they should be able to just put their faces right up to a dog despite what the dog is saying with its body language. I used to see a woman walk her shepherd near one of my former apartments. The woman, I kid you not, would grab him by his snout and put her face right into his whenever he didn't do exactly as she wanted him to. Usually this was for something as small as not stopping exactly next to her when she stopped walking. His body language was always screaming "get the heck away from me, I'm uncomfortable!" but she kept right on doing it. The truly sad part is that the dog will be the one to be put down should he finally have enough and bite her in the face. It boggles my mind how people like that are allowed to own a dog, let alone a huge shepherd.
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Comment by Ludi on March 31, 2012 at 6:58am
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Thanks all. :) Judith, that sounds like a recipe for disaster had Murray not been a perfect gentleman about it. I HATE when people think that it's fine to just stick their faces all up in Ace's business. I realize that he's small, cute and his shyness make him seem like an unlikely biter, but it's not a reason to forego any and all doggie manners. -_-
As for CDL, I plan to avoid her like the plague. Sadly she does have my mobile # from the flyers, but I sincerely hope that she was intoxicated and won't recall this particular incident later today when she comes to. If she does call, I plan to screen her. I really don't need this level of insanity and intrusion in Ace's life. He was doing so well around human women, and then this hurricane comes along. :(
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Comment by Lucy & Ricky (Wendy/Jack ) on March 31, 2012 at 2:15am
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Sounds like the CDL is in need of meds or is self-medicating with meds or alcohol. I'd forget about politeness if you run into her again, and just move yourself and Ace away pronto. Don't be afraid of being rude. Cross to the other side of the street if you see her. She needs a strong message that she's been inappropriate and you're not having any of it.
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Comment by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on March 31, 2012 at 12:21am
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Oh my, she really is crazy!!! For someone who loves dogs, didn't seem to know much, when it came to approaching Ace or how to act around him!! Seriously, trying to take the dog away from you!!!! :O I would steer clear of her, and hope you never run into her without your husband!!
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Comment by Judith Andre on March 31, 2012 at 12:00am
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I can't match that, but today Murray and I were tending the gallery and a whole herd of high school kids came in. They were more interested in Murray than the art..a bunch gathered around Murray giving him his favorite...tummy rubs. Next thing I know, one of the boys is kissing him on the nose. Luckily Murray is socialized to death and took it all in stride, but the kid could get himself in trouble doing that to a dog he doesn't even know. Interesting how ignorant people can be about how to treat a strange dog.
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Comment by Bev Levy on March 30, 2012 at 8:56pm
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First lesson...always protect your dog from bad situations even if you will appear rude. It is amazing to me how many really stupid people there are out there and you appear to have encounter a real gem! I can tell you plenty of stories but your's is pretty special :)
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I generally love dog people. They are kind, enthusiastic, and very vivacious - much like dogs themselves. But this lady, I don't know what her deal was, or maybe if she was intoxicated. I sincerely hope I do not encounter her again, much less when I'm alone. I don't think I have the physical strength to wrassle Ace out of her meaty arms. :S
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CDL is truly insane. I fear she may try to spend more "quality time" with Ace. I kind of hope she was just drunk from pre-gaming, or something. >_>
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Thank you all. :D I added to my post; I can't believe I forgot to mention it. She TOLD US that Ace has been beaten. Not questioned, not even insinuated. Nah, she straight up said to us that Ace had "obviously come from a broken home, and that's why he was so fearful". Yeah, it's got nothing to do with the fact that you pretty much violated every atom of private space that my dog once had.
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