HurricaneBox
Boxer Insane
Ok so I have to take a minute to brag here, and I have to tell the whole story so this is kind of long. This past weekend I took Hurricane out to Petsmart and the pet food store where I get his Canidae, because he only ever sees DH and myself and I KNOW he needs more social interaction than what he gets.
We walked into petsmart and he immediately went into leash pulling "let's haul mom all over the store" mode, and it would have worked except his nails needed trimming and so he was slipping all over the floor rather than being able to get a grip to pull - which was really funny to watch, btw. So I think, well here is the grooming salon right at the front, I will just have them trim his nails for me while I am thinking about it. As we were waiting in the salon, I knelt down and had Hurricane in a sit stay and was praising him as he stayed still, when all of a sudden he ducks behind me and starts trembling.
I turned around and who is there but a HUGE mastiff (think around 225 lbs... BIG boy he was) and Hurricane was terrified of him! Normally he is very dominant or at least confident around other dogs. This one scared him though. It was a very sweet 1 year old mastiff whose mom let me pet him (I love mastiffs) and Hurricane hid behind me the entire time, even when the mastiff tried to introduce himself. It was hilarious. I just ignored Hurricane completely and petted the mastiff until Hurricane stopped shaking.
After that he was much more subdued and in control and walked very nicely with me through the store (yay! some training finally paying off!) and was a huge hit with everyone he met. Hurricane is the friendliest pup, and kids seem drawn to him for some reason.
A couple of parents were nervous but as soon as they saw him licking their kids to death they were ok.
Then (here is the brag) around the corner comes a little girl, maybe a year old, daddy holding her by the hand. Normally Hurricane is a quivering ball of energy and kidney beans like nothing I have every seen, but as soon as he saw this little baby and her dad, he got very still and very slowly took a couple of steps toward her and stuck his nose in her face. Didn't lick, didn't really even sniff, just put his head up to hers and held still. I could see the slight panic in her dad's eyes and then she reached up and acted like she was going to grab an ear, but couldn't reach and just ended up touching Hurricane's cheek, and then they walked on by and around another corner, Hurricane exploded back into overstimulated puppy mode, and we went on our way.
I was just so proud of him for being careful with her!!! Of course I was watching very closely to make sure she would be safe with him (he has never been around very young kids) but he was just an angel and I did not have to correct him for anything. It touched my heart and I actually got a little teary on the way home, it was just such a sweet moment to see puppy and baby have this little connection on an aisle at Petsmart. I forget sometimes that he is very much still a puppy because he is so big, but he is only 9 months old. I couldn't believe that something told him to be still and be careful with her!
Sorry I will stop raving now, I was just so proud of him!
We walked into petsmart and he immediately went into leash pulling "let's haul mom all over the store" mode, and it would have worked except his nails needed trimming and so he was slipping all over the floor rather than being able to get a grip to pull - which was really funny to watch, btw. So I think, well here is the grooming salon right at the front, I will just have them trim his nails for me while I am thinking about it. As we were waiting in the salon, I knelt down and had Hurricane in a sit stay and was praising him as he stayed still, when all of a sudden he ducks behind me and starts trembling.
I turned around and who is there but a HUGE mastiff (think around 225 lbs... BIG boy he was) and Hurricane was terrified of him! Normally he is very dominant or at least confident around other dogs. This one scared him though. It was a very sweet 1 year old mastiff whose mom let me pet him (I love mastiffs) and Hurricane hid behind me the entire time, even when the mastiff tried to introduce himself. It was hilarious. I just ignored Hurricane completely and petted the mastiff until Hurricane stopped shaking.
After that he was much more subdued and in control and walked very nicely with me through the store (yay! some training finally paying off!) and was a huge hit with everyone he met. Hurricane is the friendliest pup, and kids seem drawn to him for some reason.
A couple of parents were nervous but as soon as they saw him licking their kids to death they were ok. Then (here is the brag) around the corner comes a little girl, maybe a year old, daddy holding her by the hand. Normally Hurricane is a quivering ball of energy and kidney beans like nothing I have every seen, but as soon as he saw this little baby and her dad, he got very still and very slowly took a couple of steps toward her and stuck his nose in her face. Didn't lick, didn't really even sniff, just put his head up to hers and held still. I could see the slight panic in her dad's eyes and then she reached up and acted like she was going to grab an ear, but couldn't reach and just ended up touching Hurricane's cheek, and then they walked on by and around another corner, Hurricane exploded back into overstimulated puppy mode, and we went on our way.
I was just so proud of him for being careful with her!!! Of course I was watching very closely to make sure she would be safe with him (he has never been around very young kids) but he was just an angel and I did not have to correct him for anything. It touched my heart and I actually got a little teary on the way home, it was just such a sweet moment to see puppy and baby have this little connection on an aisle at Petsmart. I forget sometimes that he is very much still a puppy because he is so big, but he is only 9 months old. I couldn't believe that something told him to be still and be careful with her!
Sorry I will stop raving now, I was just so proud of him!
