Wonderful but Cool Day
Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 6:29PM 
We went to the dog event in Newmarket for a couple of hours. We took Stone and Misty. What did I find out? Neither Stone or Misty likes very loud music. The music was too loud even for me. They also didn't like dogs that pushed themselves in their face. Those that did a proper meet and greet, they were happy, tails wagging etc. They didn't do anything when dogs were in their face and I mean in their face - no growl but their body language said they were unhappy. So, we were proactive as we want them comfortable in crowds. How did we do that? When people allowed their dogs to do that, I said excuse me, I need to go over there. People are clueless and these were all very large dogs. We only saw 2 small dogs. There was a Newfie that was so stressed and his owner was pushing him to say hello to everyone. A proper meet and greet is hello and take the dog away. People need to do classes. Slow conditioning and exposures are always best. a dog shouldn't be forced to deal with dogs that have body language that says, I am too stressed.
All and all it was a great experience as we made it a positive experience. Then we went to Global and they were love and kisses to the owners.
Home we came and took Inula and Kat on a 4k walk after walking up and down hills between the farmers market and the dog event. The afternoon, I dematted while Nathan took dogs for walks. His legs are on fire. Mine too.
Dogs all enjoyed the walk. Nathan is in bed reading. LOL I am blogging. Dennis is laying outside with the dogs soaking up semi good weather till the rain hit and then they sat under the gazebo and watched it come down. No one seems to be afraid of the thunderstorms. They just chill all over the couch, chairs and under the gazebo. It is chill time.
It doesn't matter who comes even if someone is insecure, Misty makes them her pal. She is wonderful that way.
Tomorrow Spicy and Cooper arrives - hooray! Gucci departs - such a sweetie!
We also head down to our daughters for a couple of hours as she is having a house warming party. it will be my 1st time seeing her house other than photos. Hope the weather is good. She has invited a lot of people.
Reader Comments (4)
We had the Taste of the Kingsway, again loud music which Leo didn't like, so much he whimpered if we got too close,which we said enough we go home. They were well behaved the rest of the time and happy, we've taken things slow on account of Pixie, and she is getting much better. But why do people bring unruly dogs, especially large dogs, to public events where they can barely control them, unpleasant for everyone.
They hear things more acutely than us so I imagine very loud music was not pleasant. This was way too loud for even me.
I am glad you survived.
I am surprised at the lack of small dogs at this show. Most were waist high. Every now and then we saw one well behaved but most times they were not and the owners didn't have a clue or thought it was funny that their dog was intimidating our dogs. When I say obnoxious, it is an understatement.
I did say to one guy, would you let a human do that to you? He said no but they are dogs not humans. I said intimidation is intimidation no matter what species you are. I did see him not allowing his dog to do it to others after.
But both were good considering how crowded it was and the unruly dogs. The ones that were swimming and people paid to let their dogs swim was chaos in action and no one was inside monitoring. They were just let loose to run, play fight and swim in a fenced area.
We went while it was still not crowded, 1st big public event. A pug lunged at Leo, Leo basically looked at him and thought why are you doing that. And then 2 women with 2 large mix breed, at least 80lbs apiece, had to literally double hand pull hard to get those dogs from going after mine. If a small child had been between us and they perchance lunged, someone might have been hurt.
And don't get me started on those dangerous retractable leashes, nearly had my fingers taken off when neighbor let her dog extend out and spin around me through my front garden beds. Those leashes are for scent tracking purposes only in expert hands. And I even explain it to them, more than once, and they even witness what happens. You can't retract those leashes fast enough. I tell them throw away those leashes and get a 6ft standard leash. Freedom for the dog, yeah sure, then complain they can't control their dog and it takes off loose down the street while my 2 trot lovely beside me on a short 4ft leash.
We don't let ours off leash in the school yard either for the nightly 'dog get together', just can't trust those other dogs and their absent minded, distracted owners. No thanks, we'll go on our walk with the other small dogs that enjoy our company.
I think the small dog owners have had enough with those large misbehaving dogs at these events that they don't take theirs anymore. I don't dare take mine to the Pet Expo, seems like just a parade as to who can bring the largest intimidating animal in public. It has changed, it's not as enjoyable and I wish it wasn't so.
We do not take the dogs to Pet expo either. I agree with you!