How many times have you heard that phrase from a dog owner? And how many times has that phrase just slipped out of my mouth myself?
But it's actually a sentence that you, as a dog owner, should forbid yourself from saying. Because even though you feel like you know your dog and its signals 100%, you don't know 100% all the situations it can find itself in in a split second. Or the people or animals you expose it to.
And how often in dog parks or other similar situations have I heard dog owners either defensively or on the verge of tears say: It's never done that before!
I trust my sweet, peaceful dog 100% – but even so, I don't take my eyes off him for two seconds when, for example, I have visitors with small children. Because yes, my dog likes small children, but can I expect him to be able to avoid reacting instinctively if the little one pulled his tail hard or lunged at him? Fortunately, I don't know, because here I dare not trust my dog, by definition, not to do anything.
And can I trust 100% that my (not particularly playful) dog will ignore, walk away or just mark if an overly playful dog keeps insisting and doesn't understand his signals? Even the gentlest dog can get angry if it is pressured long enough and hard enough. And then it's no use for the other dog owner to stand there and say: My dog isn't doing anything, he just wants to play. Because I can't promise 100% that my dog won't do anything - and that the other dog won't react too.
I was recently reminded of that again. And it was entirely my fault that my “it doesn’t matter” dog did something.
I had been out for a walk with a friend and her dog – we have been walking together for years now with the dogs, and they know each other well and have long since found their places in the hierarchy. We then come back to my house, and I am about to show off Bassen's latest activity toy, and how good he is at it. Out of the blue, Bassen then crashes into the other dog's head, as he peacefully tries to sniff the toy. And out of my mouth comes the words: Oh no, he's never done that before!
But once is a good time, and just because Bassen hadn't reacted that way before to other dogs with his toys, it clearly doesn't mean he couldn't come up with it. It just didn't work with that dog or that day.
Fortunately, most of us know our dogs and their signals well and are aware of how to avoid situations that could end badly. But we should also just keep in mind that there are no guarantees.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger:
Heidi Christiansen is a happy dog owner of the 5-year-old mini poodle Basse, who is primarily a comfort and companion dog.
She works as a translator and therefore has plenty of time with her beautiful, energetic bundle of energy.
It doesn't do anything!
How many times have you heard that phrase from a dog owner? And how many times has that phrase just slipped out of my mouth myself?
But it's actually a sentence that you, as a dog owner, should forbid yourself from saying. Because even though you feel like you know your dog and its signals 100%, you don't know 100% all the situations it can find itself in in a split second. Or the people or animals you expose it to.
And how often in dog parks or other similar situations have I heard dog owners either defensively or on the verge of tears say: It's never done that before!
I trust my sweet, peaceful dog 100% – but even so, I don't take my eyes off him for two seconds when, for example, I have visitors with small children. Because yes, my dog likes small children, but can I expect him to be able to avoid reacting instinctively if the little one pulled his tail hard or lunged at him? Fortunately, I don't know, because here I dare not trust my dog, by definition, not to do anything.
And can I trust 100% that my (not particularly playful) dog will ignore, walk away or just mark if an overly playful dog keeps insisting and doesn't understand his signals? Even the gentlest dog can get angry if it is pressured long enough and hard enough. And then it's no use for the other dog owner to stand there and say: My dog isn't doing anything, he just wants to play. Because I can't promise 100% that my dog won't do anything - and that the other dog won't react too.
I was recently reminded of that again. And it was entirely my fault that my “it doesn’t matter” dog did something.
I had been out for a walk with a friend and her dog – we have been walking together for years now with the dogs, and they know each other well and have long since found their places in the hierarchy. We then come back to my house, and I am about to show off Bassen's latest activity toy, and how good he is at it. Out of the blue, Bassen then crashes into the other dog's head, as he peacefully tries to sniff the toy. And out of my mouth comes the words: Oh no, he's never done that before!
But once is a good time, and just because Bassen hadn't reacted that way before to other dogs with his toys, it clearly doesn't mean he couldn't come up with it. It just didn't work with that dog or that day.
Fortunately, most of us know our dogs and their signals well and are aware of how to avoid situations that could end badly. But we should also just keep in mind that there are no guarantees.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger:
Heidi Christiansen is a happy dog owner of the 5-year-old mini poodle Basse, who is primarily a comfort and companion dog.
She works as a translator and therefore has plenty of time with her beautiful, energetic bundle of energy.