(mis)behavior
The torpedo marked for Henrietta wore a fringed coat of white with black spots. Usually Hen is well matched with herding dogs because she loves to be chased. The Border Collie pursued her and I thought, Great! She’s got a partner to put her through her paces today.
When the barking started, I wasn’t concerned as I’ve observed many herding dogs use their voices while working.
The nips at first seemed harmless. Henny knows how to handle herself, I thought. When things get too intense, she runs off to find a new playmate.
“Quite some herding instinct!” I said to the dog’s twolegs.
“Every time we go to a dog park he latches on to one dog,” he replied.
Henny had drawn the unlucky straw.
“C’mon Henrietta!” I called. “Let’s go to the back field.”
She listened and I had a moment’s hope that the Border Collie was not going to follow, but it was dashed like a snowball on concrete when the torpedo readjusted its angle and latched onto Hen like a burr.
In the back field, the pair continued to run as only young fourlegs can. Two additional mongrels joined the great Henrietta chase. Despite numerous submissive rolls onto her back, Hen remained under attack. I sensed her frustration and noticed her reciprocating nips were now defensive fire…not playful…not playful at all.
The owner of a young yellow Lab approached and said his dog received the same treatment from the same Border Collie recently.
“The dog will not give up,” he warned.
Where was the BC’s owner? Well…he was present, and ineffectively yelling from a distance.
Somehow I managed to get Henrietta leashed and we stood still as a flash of black and white circled us and lunged for Hen’s hindquarters.
I was frozen—not sure how to neutralize the mayhem.
BC’s twolegs was angry.
He yelled.
He threw is soft yellow gloves at the dog.
Then he’d kneel and try to entice the pup with a gentle voice.
uhhh…not working…
Then a rescuer appeared.
Jim…with white and brown spotted Border Collie, Finley.
Finley is one the most regal and well-trained dogs I’ve ever met.
Jim pulled an cannister from his pocket and shot air at the malfunctioning herder.
Harmless and effective.
Another twolegs knelt in the snow.
She offered a signal that the frantic, panting BC picked up.
She got a hold of its collar, the owner clicked on a leash, and six legs headed back across the wooden bridge.
Henrietta was fine, water off a duck’s back.
As I threw her ball and she ran with Finley, I wondered if there was anything I might have done differently.
The b&w border collie is the alpha dog, and its two legs? Transportation to mayhem. He was quite literal in saying his dog always “latches on” to one.
Familiar with Caesar Milan, “Dog Whisperer?” Some objected to his being too physical with a recalcitrant dog in training. But what brought him to mind was his ability to diagnose, and correct, imbalances between a dog and its owner.
With a few questions to the owner, he could spot the problem and take charge of the dog. Bringing it into a proper owner/dog relationship. A happier “pack” in the end.
What to do at the dog park? Always carry “Puff The Magic Air Can” with you!
And hopefully the memory of “Peter, Paul and Mary” will forgive that cultural appropriation...