For those who walk amongst JRTs...

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Ranyhyn

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I felt very sorry for an old lady we met on the beach walking, a few weeks ago.

The beach we walk on is a dog hot spot, it's lovely to see everyone out with their pooches, mostly all getting along and I've not once seen anything truly untoward happen.

We were heading back with our two JRTs and retriever when we saw a lady with 4 small dogs, one old JRT, two Bichons and a westie. The old JRT bustled over and growled gruffly while everyone met and then tonked off in another direction (still gorwling to himself) and the lady exclaimed

"Oh how nice, I just met a man on the beach who told me I wasn't fit to have a dog, because Bobby growled at his dog. He doesn't mean it, he's just very grumpy"

I told her not to worry, that some people don't understand dogs and to enjoy her walk. She seemed genuinely hurt.

I thought it really quite sad that this older lady had gotten such a mouthful from someone who clearly doesn't understand dogs meeting or indeed, the JRT way. To my eyes this dog had no intention of following his growls up with anything plus being a JRT you get to understand that a LOT of what they do is loud vocals and sounds a heck of a lot worse than it is. I think that's the case for most dogs as well IME?

Would you have told this elderly lady she wasn't fit to have her dogs, if her JRT growled at yours? Just wondering what the general consensus would be?
 
I would be entirely sympathetic as Ricoh is still prone to having growly howling fits at certain passing dogs - he means nothing by it, if allowed to approach his tail starts going like mad and he then greets very nicely, he does growly yowls to greet me when I get home from work, it's just the sound he makes.

Some people mistakenly interpret it as aggression and drag their dogs away which makes it worse IMO, then their dogs begin to wonder if something is wrong and you get a sort of Mexican standoff, if their dog starts to raise hell then Dax has begun wading in to protect her doofus brother. :rolleyes:

I agree that most of it is handbags and noise, they generally sort themselves out, only once has a dog genuinely tried to 'attack' one of mine and it was so clearly different in terms of body language and noise from 'you're a bit rude and we need to establish what's what' greeting shenanigans like you describe.

ETA: It does get you down and I feel for the lady you met. Not long after we had R he howled and lunged at a neighbour's dog while passing on lead - I was subjected to a lecture on how he'd always known those dogs were dangerous, I'd been lucky with the first one but now they were showing their true colours and I'd clearly bought a dangerous dog. His entire male dog had approached in an obviously confrontational manner, stiffly, tail up, off lead, and taunted my poor boy wolf. I was raging but felt unable to say anything because it was my dog who was making all the noise.
 
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If any dog would just shut he hell up people would be less inclined to think them "killers"............. I keep telling Dex that screaming at others does not make a good first impression! Does the boy dog listen--- no

Everyone is always the blumming expert arent they- a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing!!
 
Typical JR terrorist - one of mine creates all sorts of mumbling mayhem when he sees strange dogs approaching.......but runs for home PDQ if they show any intention of calling his bluff!:D In his defence though, he is a very brave ratter!:o
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Would you have told this elderly lady she wasn't fit to have her dogs, if her JRT growled at yours? Just wondering what the general consensus would be?
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That my JRT's would have probably growled at him first :rolleyes: lol!! Or the baby dog would have flattened him with her over enthusiastic "you do want to play with me? I know you want to play with me!!" act :p
 
Nothing wrong with a dog mumbling at other dogs, our old JRT used to do it at pups which could be a little difficult when owners didn't understand he was just putting them in their place. Our youngest Spin would just look confused and ask "are you sure you don't want to play"
 
So what DO you do when you meet grumbly JRT's?
You add 4 springer spaniels, a small child and a squeaky toy! :D
(you might need to flip your head to watch!)

 
Lol handbags! I'm glad other people don't see it as fuss worthy! I just laughed, proper grumpy old man he was, probably been with this old dear all his life, getting crankier and crankier!
 
I would have complete sympathy with her, my parents old dog who's a terrier cross is a grumpy dog - always has been around dogs he deems not to like. Now his selective deafness has moved onto actual deafness too, although being 15 he's a bit easier to grab hold of before he 'goes' for anything. He's all gruff and grumble.

Had a stupid lady scoop her bichon up the other day screaming 'get that dog away from me!!' frantically. I don't think she realises her ball of fluff is a real live dog and not a toy. Mine wasn't even anywhere near hers, he's no Usain Bolt on his hydraulic stiff old dog legs :D
 
Well my JRT doesnt generally grumble at other dogs (well excluding Suzy who she feels the need to tell off on a regular basis!) however, if a dog does come a bit to fast/keen to her she will let them know she is most definitely not a real live toy, with a grumble - I think its perfectly acceptable. I feel really sorry for the lady you met. I hope it doesnt affect her walking her dogs in the same place!
 
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