MEETING STRANGE DOGS

While I was in Des Moines I witnessed an interesting situation. A man came into the Hospitality suite with his intact Doberman. Now. A lot of people bring dogs to watch the tack or the trucks, so some of these dogs are very sweet until you try to walk into their territory. This was a big, handsome, intact male Dobe and by his body language he was clearly an alpha dog. I was sitting in a chair. I said hello to him, rubbed his ears and when he seemed not very interested, let it go.
Susie went over and also talked to him, (he was on a leash) and he was less stand-offish with her.
One of the volunteers was seated behind a table in front of which the dog was standing, very alert. She stood, cooed at the dog, placed her hands on the table and leaned forward to talk to him. Immediately, he stiffened. I watched very carefully because the room was crowded. The volunteer continued to lean forward, looking directly at the dog who by then had began staring back, and cooed and gurgled at him.
Nothing in the dog's physical appearance suggested friendliness. Ears up, tail up, on toes, perfectly still, staring. And then I heard it., The very low, almost inaudible rumbles. Someone started to reach to pet the dog and I shook my head and said "Not now" and then told the volunteer to look away and sit down in a tone that left no room for argument. As soon as she broke her gaze the dog relaxed, and stopped growling.

Later I told her never to stare at a dog, particularly a dog like that. She had no clue. Absolutely stunned. No wonder people get bitten!

This little dog I never touched. She did not seem interested in being friends and I have been nailed by enough tiny dogs to be a bit wary.

I didn't get photos of the Cattle dogs, or the Swiss Mountain dog (who was a sweetie.)

There were two Corgis at least-- the other that I saw was a tri.
This was dinnertime the first day.
They said she never gets people food and she never stops trying, which made me think maybe she does. (Get people food) since the behavior should be extinguished if it is never rewarded.

I was also surprised at the number of horses whose owners were adamant that the horses never get treats-- not apples or carrots or peppermint (Horses have a sweet tooth.) I used to know a Saddlebred who drank Nehi Tropical Punch.

And of course, there was Flash.

                               The blur you see is Flash's tail.