Dog behavior and size: It's not about me, it's about getting in my face!

Okay folks, enough of the "small dog syndrome" label, please. I know I'm short, but if I'm snarking at your dog, it's not because I'm small, it's because you're pooch is getting up in my face! You don't hear me asking Mastiff's "Hey, how's the weather up there?" Do you? 

Anthropomorphism: an ugly word when it comes to us pet dogs. Let me say it again, "pet dog"! I'm not a human. Yes, my mom the rockin' dog trainer even knows that I am a dog, not a human. And yes, my dog trainer mom, is in fact a "dog mom" too. She coddles me like a baby, and gets all giggly with me, but she does know I'm a dog. 

Why do I bring all of this up? I'll tell you. Mom and I were out loose leash walking with friends the other day. A new friend and her dog joined us. Well, this new dog, who shall remain nameless, got all up in my face...for a bit too long. I was nice, let it go for a few seconds, but he really pushed it. So, I did what any normal, well socialized dog would do, I snarked at him! "Dude! You're hangin' in my face wayyyy tooo long! Back off! Maybe where you come from this is okay, but in normal doggy greeting world, that's totally inappropriate!" 

As soon as I sent him my "back off" signal, he did, which was totally cool. I communicated, he listened, all was right with the world. What irritates me was the humans response: "Gee, Poncho, what's the big deal? Little dog syndrome, huh?" I think this is where mom rolled her eyes... 

Let me be clear: size doesn't matter much when it comes to dogs communicating with one another. Whether it be a Great Dane or Teacup Chihuahua, if either gets in my face too long, I'm gonna snark. Just like dogs who snark at me if I myself don't mind my good manners.

I understand that the whole "little man syndrome" is part of your silly, looking for an excuse, human world, reason for my dog behavior. But let me tell you, in dog world, it ain't! I can almost bet my favorite bully stick that if some stranger got all up in your face you wouldn't be real keen either. I wonder if you might even snark too! Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder. 

Wow! What a night!

This Halloween dealio is pretty cool. Young humans come to our door, I "go to my place", mom gives them treats, then I get to go say *hi* and they give me treats! What a great gig we got going... Treats for everyone! 

One of my favorite little treat givers was a little girl dressed up like me! No, not like a lobster, she was dressed like a puppy! She was small and had cute floppy ears, just like yours truly. Anyway, she made a beeline towards me like I was the winning lottery ticket! Kept saying "look at the puppy, look at the puppy"! 

I went to check her out, she grabbed me, squeezed me really tight, and squealed like one of my squeaky toys... At first I didn't know what to think - it kinda felt like when mom holds me...but it's also kinda weird ya know? Us dogs don't usually greet each other like that... However, I don't think it would have been a good idea to start sniffing each others rear ends...cuz I know you humans don't do that. 

Anyway, mom was paying attention, making sure I was minding my manners...watching my body language because sometimes I don't like being grabbed...right? Just like you, right? But this time I didn't mind it at all... Mostly because I could predict what was coming next, and was excited about it. Bam! there it was! Right in my face! A handful of treats.

So mom immediately rewarded me for being brave and allowing my little friend to handle me - then my puppy friend gave me some of the treats mom had. My little friend also got rewarded for playing nice - she got treats from mom. 

What a great night! I totally dig this holiday...I'm sure many of my other dog buddies would agree. I wonder why we can't do this every night? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

Dorothy was right!!!

Yep, "there's no place like home" as Dorothy said... Last night was complete chaos! This wind is coo-coo crazy! I don't like the wind...it's scary to me... I hear all these weird noises and I don't know where they're coming from. I kept looking around trying to detect the source - but no luck. And frankly, maybe I didn't want to know where they were coming from...

Mom was great though. She is one savvy dog trainer and coach. She is really great at "reading me"... She knows that I communicate to her and dad primarily through my body language (sometimes I bark but that doesn't get me very far...she says I'm annoying when I do that)... Anyway, I communicated and mom listened! She knew immediately I was scared. Yep, me, Poncho - the one who has been known to take on garbage trucks and school buses is scared of the wind. Come on! It's loud, it causes weird noises to happen, and makes things fall from the sky!!! 

So, how does she know I'm scared? That's easy... first thing I do is cling to mom (dad too)... I like to keep my tail tucked under by butt and through my legs, my ears kinda go down and back, I tuck one side of my lip up (mom says I look like Elvis)... I might have one front paw raised if I'm sitting or standing...I also lick my lips a lot and throw a yawn or two in...not because I'm tired mind you. 

The real BIG signals for mom is 1) I ain't hungry! Can you believe it??? Nope, too scared to eat anything and 2) I'm trembly all over...can't stop shaking... You'd think I have the chills or something, but no...that's you humans, for us dogs it means somethings up! We're usually scared or sick. 

Well, mom was my saving grace last night. She picked up on it right away... loud windy noises, I stopped eating... She in turn placed me gently in her lap and cuddled me for the rest of the night...then took me to bed with her. I wonder what mom and dad do when they get scared? I wonder who takes care of them? Maybe each other? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder...