Yappy Hour! BYOB&B

poodleholic · 05-09-2008, 06:08 AM

A local pet store/doggie daycare/grooming establishment used to have Yappy Hour, Bring your own bone and booze on the first Friday of every month for people and their dogs to socialize, but it sort of petered out.

I met up with an old friend I had tried to find when I first returned to FL back in 2001, while we were both out walking our dogs! Turns out we live only a few blocks from each other (for 5 of those years)! LOL We used to have frequent get-to-gethers with several other people and their dogs all the time, way back when. So, we've started our own Yappy Hour, BYOB! LOL Meeting at each other's homes, or, for the two in apartments, we either choose a park, or one of us who lives in a house with a fenced-in yard will volunteer. It's really been fun, and is so good for the dogs! Quite the motley crew, and big size differences, too! (9 dogs total)

My Maddy has been labeled The Benevolent Diva, because she races to the rescue when one of the bigger dogs seems to be a bit overbearing with a little dog, and on one occasion where a female GSD mix had pinned a little Scnauzer. Maddy noses the little dog, who ends up going and standing behind her, and she "tells off" the offender (verbally, and/or will briefly nose poke the neck/head, or nibble neck and shoulders very fast, and firmly), then trots away with the little dog in tow, usually stopping close to where I am sitting (and on the first occasion with the GSD, stopped in front of me, then backed up until her butt touched my knee, and stood there with head high and tail straight up, alert, but not tense). Really interesting to watch. She isn't aggressive about it, but very assertive, and so far the other (2) dogs (a male lab and a female GSD mix) have deferred to her without question or incident.

The feedback I'm getting about what's happening sometimes makes me want to scream "oh don't be such an idiot!" But, of course, I don't give in to the temptation, just smile (and take another sip of my wine or big swig of my beer)! Arrrrrrgh. BTW, the "stupid" stuff is coming from Cesar Millan fans, who think they know it all (becuse they've watched the show and are parroting what CM says!) LOL

I'm no expert on dog behavior by any stretch of the imagination, but my take on Maddy's behavior is this:

She is NOT an aggressive, dominant dog who is potentially dangerous to other dogs. (She will be 7 yrs. old the 19th of this month, and has never started a fight, instigated a fight, and is rather skilled, actually, in de-escalating situations with other dogs!)

She is a confident and fairly independent dog, having been well socialized in diverse environments with people, places, and things.

Her nose pokes and nibbles are saying something to the effect of listen up! leave that little guy alone, we're all friends here. If she were being agressive, fur would have flown!

The fact that she trots the little guy away from the offender dog over to me is because she trusts me to protect her (which I've done on occasion when out and about), and, her butt touching me and standing in front of me is because I'm her backup, if she needs it. Or, she could also be resource guarding me from the "evil one!" LOL

Am I humanizing her behavior? (Sorry can't think how to spell the word that starts with anth or something like that! No sleep yesterday b'cuz of a dr. appt.)

What's your take on what's going on?

poodleholic · 05-13-2008, 05:58 AM

Geez Laweeze, guys!

I'm disappointed that not one person has offered an opinion on what might be going on! I thought it would be fun and interesting to get the perceptions of others, but I guess not! Well, bummer! LOL

FriendsOfZoe · 05-13-2008, 09:47 AM

I'm less of a dog behavior expert than you, but I think it sounds like you are right. I've seen several dogs in my park visiting hours who are sort of the "police dogs." One would even run over and jump in on wrestling matches because he didn't want it escalating lol. So, yeah, I've seen a few dogs who do this type of thing and they never seem to cause any trouble--I would think that they would be jumping in on a situation, but I guess theyr'e just distracting the dogs enough to break it up...never seen a problem from it.

Yappy Hour sounds like a lot of fun...maybe if I ever get more friends with dogs...right now they're all still living in teeny tiny apartments in the heart of the city and think I'm crazy for moving an hour away just to have a yard!

BobSD · 05-13-2008, 10:54 AM

Obviously you have one great dog to be proud of, lucky you! My personal take is when one big bully dog is picking on a smaller no contest dog other bigger dogs seem to go and get behind the bully dog. That is just how it normally works in ther animal world. Wish I could join in and share a cold one with you and your friends, but it would be one for TV, if you could video an event that you discribed. Bob

I forgot to ask, what breed is your great dog??

poodleholic · 05-14-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobSD

Obviously you have one great dog to be proud of, lucky you! My personal take is when one big bully dog is picking on a smaller no contest dog other bigger dogs seem to go and get behind the bully dog. That is just how it normally works in ther animal world. Wish I could join in and share a cold one with you and your friends, but it would be one for TV, if you could video an event that you discribed. Bob

I forgot to ask, what breed is your great dog??

Maddy is a Standard Poodle, and the alpha in our household of 3 permanent resident dogs, and, currently, 2 foster dogs (a young female lab and a female Heinz 57 mix). Her role is maintained psychologically rather than physically. Everyone just defers to her, although she often willingly allows one of the others to take her toy or to drink, first. She's a benevolent leader, my Maddy, The Diva, The Devine Miss M! LOL
Maddy is very kind and friendly, quite sensitive to the fosters we take in, some of whom have issues!

MyCharlie · 05-14-2008, 09:42 AM

It also sounds to me like you hit the nail on the head petty well. You were talking about how she WASN'T being aggressive - were some of your Yappy Hour buds saying her behavior was aggressive (aka the "idiots"LOL)? Doesn't sound aggressive to me - just moderating. Like you said, if she were being aggressive, fur would have flown. There wouldn't have been question.

Elana55 · 05-14-2008, 11:18 AM

My take is that you need to think about this further over another glass of wine.....

A little good cheese is nice with that BTW.

FWIW, Standard Poodles are the most amazingly intelligent dogs I have ever known. They are easy to humanize.. fact is, the ones I grew up with seemed more human than dog (or maybe, as kids, we were more dog than human?).

The only job I understand they did not work out for was guide dog work. They would communicate a danger and stop their owner, but if the owner insisted on going forward, the poodle would sort of shrug and say, "well, OK.. THIS will be FUN... " and take the owner over an embankment going "WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" all the way (OK, I am exaggerating.. but that sounds like the Poodles I had!).

If it were not for the clipping, I would own one today. Honest.. that is the thing I did not like. Love 'em to death other than that.

poodleholic · 05-15-2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

My take is that you need to think about this further over another glass of wine.....

A little good cheese is nice with that BTW.

Oh yes, brie goes quite well, along with some red grapes.

We have a couple of guys in the Yappy Hour group who have low opinions about "stupid, useless Poodles," so I love it when Maddy and Beau, fabulous ambassadors of the breed, change minds, just by being who and what they are!

Quote:

FWIW, Standard Poodles are the most amazingly intelligent dogs I have ever known.

They are, indeed, and thank Dog that is tempered by their charm and sense of humor, or we SPoodle people would be in a world of hurt! LOL

Quote:

The only job I understand they did not work out for was guide dog work. They would communicate a danger and stop their owner, but if the owner insisted on going forward, the poodle would sort of shrug and say, "well, OK.. THIS will be FUN... " and take the owner over an embankment going "WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" all the way (OK, I am exaggerating.. but that sounds like the Poodles I had!).

OMG, shouldn't laugh 'cuz that would NOT be funny, but Standard Poodles can have, shall we say, a bent sense of humor! LOL You can have a Standard doing excellent precision obedience work in a trial, and be right down to the end when she spies a friend in the audience, and oh my, off she goes to say hello, and give a big hug and a kiss, but, never remiss, she comes right back to where she left off! LOL

I know someone who breeds and raises/trains SPoodles for service work, guide dogs included, and has had great success. I would have thought that SPoodles would be bored stiff doing service work full time, however, given their love for, and loyalty to their human, I'd guess this is why it works.

cshellenberger · 05-15-2008, 01:19 AM

It sounds like your dog is TRUE alpha, she doesn't HAVE to use force to let others know their places and is protective of the weaker members of the 'pack' when they are together. The trouble making dogs would be lower ranking and trying to elevate themselves by being bullies. It sounds liek she is indeed a great girl!

poodleholic · 05-15-2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

You were talking about how she WASN'T being aggressive - were some of your Yappy Hour buds saying her behavior was aggressive (aka the "idiots"LOL)? Doesn't sound aggressive to me - just moderating. Like you said, if she were being aggressive, fur would have flown. There wouldn't have been question.

Yes, there are a couple of guys and one woman, all of whom are big Cesar Millan fans (and, who know zip about dogs, IMO) who were making the comments. I about flipped when they *informed* me how dangerous she was, and could become! A "loose cannon," I think is how they put it. LOL She didn't mount, she didn't press down with her jaw across the shoulders, she just gave a few pokes, and then some "love" nibbles, the latter softening the point she was making with the nose pokes! Keeping it friendly, as it were.

Maddy is very feminine and pretty in appearance, weighing in at about 53 lbs, but very well muscled and strong. If she wanted to, she could do some damage. But, she's a lover, not a fighter, and very good at it too - she won over my very old and very cranky at times cat, Babe, who used to HATE dogs! (Babe is frequently found curled up on Maddy or Beau, sound asleep.)

I pretty much just consider the source and ignore the comments. You know that old saying:

A person convinced against his will, is of the same opinion, still!"

Quote:

It sounds like your dog is TRUE alpha, she doesn't HAVE to use force to let others know their places and is protective of the weaker members of the 'pack' when they are together. The trouble making dogs would be lower ranking and trying to elevate themselves by being bullies. It sounds liek she is indeed a great girl!

Thank you, Carla! Maddy is a great girl - my heart dog to be sure!

I think she's a true alpha, too. Very wise when meeting up with other dogs, and we've been in some sticky situations that could have gone bad had she not taken over (I was "frozen" so to speak, not knowing what to do)!

Some of the "experts" (and I use the term loosely, tongue in cheek!) "share" their "wisdom" with the rest of us, saying things like feeding the alpha dog first, petting first and so on, yet I've never done that, and don't buy into it. First come first serve is my motto! LOL Or, whomever I call over, comes to me, the others wait.

We'll have a get-together to celebrate Miss Maddy's B'Day - actual day is Monday, the 19th, but the party is on Saturday. The pink feather boa and tiarra are awaiting her royal hinney! LOL