Canine Control
The trials and tribulations of being owned by a large – albeit young – dog.
Article by Andy Barnham
While I know that Gypsy is an eight-month-old puppy, I appreciate that to the rest of the world she’s a 35kg, large, black Labrador Rottweiler cross Mastiff (not that breed or colour should be an issue). To me she is still, and will always be, the little puppy that fit into my hands when she was 10 weeks old. She was tiny then, and in my head, she still is my tiny, 35kg monster. What hasn’t changed is the fact I still get told “Keep control of your dog!”
The first time it happened Gypsy was 11 weeks old, and ran out the house and down the lane to say hello to an older, white… thing. I now know that older dogs can be somewhat impatient with puppies, and don’t like little bundles of energy bounding up to them and reminding them of their elderly status. On this occasion, the other dog was absolutely petrified of Gypsy, despite their similar size, and ran behind their owner in fear.
The owner then body checked Gypsy to protect his perhaps one-and-only friend. Yes, this man was misery-guts. How else do you describe someone who can’t differentiate between a puppy and an attacking dog. “Keep control of your dog!” Since then, a gate has been installed to ensure she doesn’t run out into the middle of the road.
I have, unfortunately, heard that phrase quite a few times in the subsequent months. The usual pattern is when well meaning people come to say hello, but instead of scratching or patting her head, put their hands on her nose and mouth. Somehow the fact that Gypsy doesn’t like this is my fault. “You really shouldn’t bring her into pubs,” I was told by one landlord after she had reacted to him planting his hand onto her mouth.
Last time I checked, the normal way to greet a human is with a kiss or hand-shake, not by sticking a grubby hand at someone’s mouth: and, there’s a correct way with dogs too. Like an elephant, Gypsy remembers everyone she comes across, even if they don’t remember her. The man who kept on putting his hand on her mouth after a few drinks: did he remember? No. Did she? Yes, and next time they met she reminded him to stay away. Loudly. He actually went to complain to the bar staff. As Gypsy is a regular, they answered his inquiry with “What did you do to her?”
Yesterday, on the return leg of a run in the park, it happened again when Gypsy, while on her lead, went towards a female runner going the other way. I am not sure if it was the shock of being shouted at or the fact I was exhausted, but I ran on. The effort to educate another, rude member of society was not a priority. Surely you can see that there’s a dog coming the other way: why run right into it?
Given the frequency it happens, I don’t expect the shouting to stop any time soon. To answer those who will undoubtedly be hurling the statement my way soon, yes, I’ll do my best to curb my puppy’s enthusiasm as long as it doesn’t affect her character. It would be great if you could help too. 