#small dog problems

But it gets sooooo frustrating when people encourage their kids to come manhandle your little dog. And I find it worse with a little dog than I do with larger ones. I’ve had rotti’s and malamutes and hounds my whole life and had some issues here and there, but not to the level I do with Jon. Parents usually seem apprehensive of allowing their kids to rush up to a big dog. They straight up tend to encourage it for a small dog. 

Yesterday we were out walking on a sidewalk, and I am at this apartment complex area where my brother lives. I hear from one of the buildings the muffled sounds of screeching kids playing inside. No biggie. As we walk, this lady opens her door and says “Look kids! Look! Come out here! A puppy dog! Wanna go see him?” 

And I just KNEW they’d mob us. So we just up and jogged over to my brother’s place and I waited them out. 

And I know the woman was probably thinking I’m the rudest bitch in town at this point but I hate it with a passion when parents do this. Please don’t encourage your kids to rush up to a stranger’s dog. You really don’t know if a dog is reactive or friendly or skittish. I had the feeling the lady only did this to get her kids out of her hair for a while and into mine. I’ve definitely known people to do that in the past.

Jon is terrified of children, all because of these examples in the past have created a fear for him. To him, kids are loud, scary and grab him. He has a weak knee from a past injury and I think he’s aware of it enough to be nervous of kids. Yes, kids in the past have rushed up and picked him up! Parents didn’t usually do shit, or were not fast enough to get their kid under control. Usually, the parents don’t care.

Jon’s wonderful with my nephew who lives with me, but all other stranger kids he wants to ignore as we go about our day, but if they try to rush up he ends up zooming behind me trying to pry himself out his collar by pulling backwards to get away from the kids. I have to put on my bitch pants and tell them they can’t touch him. Jon calms down quickly once the kids are at a distance. But I know since he’s good with my nephew that he has it in him to be fine with kids but everyone’s else’s kids scare him because he associates kids in public = very scary experience. 

This is not normal for this dog. She normally just barks. And I usually hear what she’s barking at. And she usually looks at me to see if I’m concerned while she does it. 

Nope. 

She’s in full guard dog mode.

So I start to feel spooked.

She sniffs obsessively at the bottom of the door and lets out a soft “woof.”

Okay, I’m officially freaked out.

I pause my show and slowly stand up because the big window near my kitchen is open; if someone is out there with nefarious intent, that’s their most likely entrance.

I hazard a glance out said window.

Nothing. Even the apartment at the end of my building that is often frequented by noisy college-age bros on Friday nights (ugh) is quiet.

My dog barks menacingly, breaking the silence, and I jump.

I quickly shut the window - just in case - and make my way to the smaller window near my desk that I’m not entirely sure someone could fit through, but who’s taking chances? Not me. I glance out that one as I shut it.

Still nothing. 

I check the big window one more time before finally forcing myself to open the door and see what’s going on.

My dog cautiously walks out in front of me, ninja dog that she is. She looks around for a second and growls, ready to attack. That sends me into full guard mama mode (shoot me, not my dog!), so I pick her up.

I glance over and see my next-door neighbor in front of his place, picking up a trash bag that broke open as he was about to take it out to the trash cans.

My dog barks. Not at him. At the trash bag. 

We both chuckle, he in a far more amused manner than I.

Mortified, I bring my 20lb guard dog with her cute pink and black collar (with a bow on it, I might add - so threatening looking!) back inside. 

THANKS, DOG.