At a trial this weekend (more about that later) I had a little run-in with a fellow competitor …

Jayda is very adept at dealing with people and other dogs. She is not afraid of people or dogs, but she is VERY environmentally sensitive, and was EXTREMELY stressed about the trial environment (more about THAT later too). I do mean “extremely” – she was hypervigilant of everything that was going on and horribly nervous most of the weekend, poor girl!

I had taken her over to visit some people we know for a minute, and this Other Person’s dog came charging over to her, glued his nose to her butt and wouldn’t take a hint when she tried to avoid him by walking away. He was pretty much pushing her around in circles on the end of his nose…

Normally I would let her handle it, but she had enough to cope with so I gently intervened (didn’t even touch the other dog, just got in his way and shooed him back to his mommy).

At which point, his owner got all huffy and told me (in a rather superior tone) “Don’t do that! HOW’s she going to LEARN about other DOGS ???!!!”

‘Scuse me???

1) She knows quite a lot about other dogs, thank you, and she doesn’t particularly like dogs who can’t take a hint. You’re lucky she was so concerned about the environment or your dog might be missing a nostril or two.

2) Since when does your freakin’ dog have unlimited rights to be rude to mine? My dog has the right to say “no”, and so do I!

Bryce can be a match for anyone in the “rude dogs” category – I keep an eye on him and ask other dogs’ owners if they mind before letting him invade their space. I’m also quick to apologize if he oversteps his welcome – not everyone appreciates his “style”, I don’t take it personally.

3) How DARE you tell me how to raise my kids???!!!

Jackass!