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Comment by Linda on March 11, 2013 at 10:10pm

Rosemary...maybe trust was not the perfect word to use but they need to learn that a new person is not a threat to what they think of as their family or pack.  I have had great luck with just sitting and letting a dog approach me in their own time and way.  It's just a non-threatening way for them to check you out.

Comment by rosemary on March 11, 2013 at 7:37pm

Yes, Mini is an alpha dog (I looked it up), when her and the golden go outside, she has to go first or she nips him, same when walking, she holds the goldens leash in her mouth in the beginning!  She has to be the boss of other dogs when playing, her doggie friends defer to her, if they don't she say "bah" really loud and make it clear she is boss.  We say no no sometimes cause she bosses the golden around big time.  She is very affectionate, smart, sweet, cuddlebug like but even at the vet, she'll go "bah" loudly in the hallway so the other dog walks around her, even a big doberman too!  The girlfriends dogs don't live with her, she has a single apartment at the college, I wonder why Linda said it takes time to earn an alpha dogs trust, my ten year old golden and Mini age 8 are my very first dogs so I have more to learn.  Mini was always kind of bossy even as a puppy, but she is sooo smart and clever we just accepted it.  Maybe being an alpha dog she feels my son is now being "owned" by his girlfriend vs. her and she is mad about it.  Just a guess.

Comment by Jane Christensen on March 11, 2013 at 9:12am

Great ideas especially aboiut sitting and letting the dog approach her. If she's taller it could be as simple as that. I know some of mine don't care for people bending down and towering over them.

Comment by Linda on March 11, 2013 at 8:36am

Hope the next meeting goes well and is the start of a good friendship.  Mini sounds like an alpha dog and sometimes earning their trust takes a little time.  The GF's dog may also be an alpha and Mini is smelling that and transferring it to the girl.  Just a little insight after a lifetime of having dogs...got my first one before I was a year old and I'm 62 now.  So many cats and dogs that have shared my life over all those years....I've never not had at least one of each in my life.

Comment by rosemary on March 11, 2013 at 8:00am

Thanks Linda for your reply.  Yes, she is rather tall, and we are short, so maybe that could be it too!  We did try the treat idea though but not having Mini approach at her own pace, that's a good idea along with not looking directly into Mini's eyes.  We will try your approach and see what happens!

Comment by Linda on March 11, 2013 at 7:37am

Dogs are very persecptive when it comes to reading people.  But you say this girl has a dog already, your's is most likely smelling that dog on her and there is something she does not like about that smell.  I know when I pet another animals, cat or dog, while I'm out I get a total going over when I get home.  Most times the reaction is good and I get a warm welcome but there have been times Max does not like the smell and is stand-offish.

Try having the girl just sit on the floor quietly after she comes in.  Having a treat or 2 in her hand would help.  Maybe a piece of cheese if Mini thinks that happens to be a special treat.  Let the dog approach her at her own pace and then give a treat, also don't make eye contact right away.  Also have her use a soft tone of voice without any kind of excited inflection in her voice that would get a dog excited.  I've used the sit on the floor trick over the years when I've gone to check out dogs in a shelter or even when we went to see both Max and Katie at the breeders...both were adult dogs when we adopted them and we had other dogs/cats in the house so their scent was on us.  We tower over them when standing and that can add to intimidation in their eyes.

Good luck.

Comment by rosemary on March 11, 2013 at 12:43am

Thanks Kristin for your comment, yes the girl likes dogs, her family has a lab and she also wants to get another dog.  The girl brought the treats as my son suggested it, knowing how Mini "can be" sometimes!  Mini has peed on the feet of several folks, two of them were contractors who gave us estimates, turned out both of them were dishonest like taking money and never delivering.  She peed twice on the relative who asked for money, a few years apart, each time she tried to "guilt us"into giving it to her.  She peed on the feet of another person who turned out to have issues with my hubby.  Other than that, she is very good, rarely only goes in house if she has raging bladder infection (she doesn't have one, just had urine rechecked after course of antibiotics). Mini is so smart, she was occasionally woofing one night, turned out my new microwave had a short and was displaying a service message with occasional beep, she picked up on that and alerted us. I have a golden retriever too, he loves just about everyone, but her, she is a real character, that's why I love them so much, she makes us laugh all the time with her funny ways.

Comment by rosemary on March 10, 2013 at 11:45pm

Thank you Jane for your answer, I guess our dogs pick up non verbals clues that we miss, I don't think they think that way either but I do think some people trigger anxiety in her which causes her to feel either threatened or mad!

Comment by Jane Christensen on March 10, 2013 at 11:38pm

I agree with Brian...although my dogs have never pooped/peed on things  I don't believe they have the concept to think" I don't like this person so therefore I will poop near their shoe"...but  I do believe she might not like her for a good reason . I have taken Wynn with me specifically for the reason that he is very good at judging people.

Comment by rosemary on March 10, 2013 at 11:16pm

Thank you Brian and Oscar, never thought of that one!  Maybe Mini doesn't like the girl vs. just being jealous of their relationship, I will try to read Mini better as she is very very smart.  One time a relative was trying to get me to give them money, and she peed right on her foot!  That relative is problematic, smart little doggie!

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