This was the first time Roxie met the family. I hope it's not the last!
The 75 mile trip began with Bob and Roxie in the backseat. I had a premonition that made me dibs the driver seat, and I was right. She howled, barked, cried and screamed for about 30 miles. She finally jumped into the front seat, turned around three times and went to sleep. (One of these days I'll get a video camera with audio so you can listen to her. She's incredible.)
It seems she likes the front seat.
So, that problem solved, we continued on to the family gathering, wondering if she would have her good company manners on. She didn't.
First I had asked Bob to make sure the dogs met each other outside. Of course, he didn't listen. Of course... the dogs met in the front hall and right away the little dog thought she was the boss of the bigger dog. Sound familiar?
Roxie's cousin is Zoey, a Brittany, who is around 12-ish, not in the best of health, and a wonderfully sweet little girl. I'm sure she choked when she met Roxie.
Saving drama, I'll say right up front that Rox was bossy, growlie, pushy and feeling very alpha to Zoey. I would have more pictures to share but whenever I got close to clicking, Rox would get all territorial and snarky at Zoey. Hence the single down-angle pic. I can't imagine what the Zoester thought when her Aunt Gena and Uncle Bob brought such a pushy little dog for Xmas...
On the whole, Rox was ok, but she felt so comfortable she helped herself to the sofa many times, much to the consternation of Grandma Sonja. While we were pleased that Rox jumped off the sofa when called, we nonetheless feel she may not get any return invitations.
They tried to play a couple of times, nose-to-end, tails up and wagging tentatively. But with so many family there, at the very first hint of a growlie, many hands reached to separate them. I have to conclude that it was probably not the best event to introduce them. So bad on us...
Lessons learned:
1. Just because we love her doesn't mean everyone loves her.
2. Just because we think she's sweet doesn't mean she's sweet when visiting.
3. Re-think about obedience school.
4. Get out the Cesar Milan book to review.
5. Don't introduce two dogs at a large holiday family gathering.
6. Make the back seat the preferred travel location for Herself.
All in all, it went well enough. No bites, no blood; everyone said Roxie was cute. They all said they liked her. But we wondered after we left what they were REALLY saying. Zoey probably wanted to move and leave no forwarding address! Poor Zoey........... sorry baby girl. We'll try to make it better next time!
The 75 mile trip began with Bob and Roxie in the backseat. I had a premonition that made me dibs the driver seat, and I was right. She howled, barked, cried and screamed for about 30 miles. She finally jumped into the front seat, turned around three times and went to sleep. (One of these days I'll get a video camera with audio so you can listen to her. She's incredible.)
It seems she likes the front seat.
So, that problem solved, we continued on to the family gathering, wondering if she would have her good company manners on. She didn't.
First I had asked Bob to make sure the dogs met each other outside. Of course, he didn't listen. Of course... the dogs met in the front hall and right away the little dog thought she was the boss of the bigger dog. Sound familiar?
Roxie's cousin is Zoey, a Brittany, who is around 12-ish, not in the best of health, and a wonderfully sweet little girl. I'm sure she choked when she met Roxie.
Saving drama, I'll say right up front that Rox was bossy, growlie, pushy and feeling very alpha to Zoey. I would have more pictures to share but whenever I got close to clicking, Rox would get all territorial and snarky at Zoey. Hence the single down-angle pic. I can't imagine what the Zoester thought when her Aunt Gena and Uncle Bob brought such a pushy little dog for Xmas...
On the whole, Rox was ok, but she felt so comfortable she helped herself to the sofa many times, much to the consternation of Grandma Sonja. While we were pleased that Rox jumped off the sofa when called, we nonetheless feel she may not get any return invitations.
They tried to play a couple of times, nose-to-end, tails up and wagging tentatively. But with so many family there, at the very first hint of a growlie, many hands reached to separate them. I have to conclude that it was probably not the best event to introduce them. So bad on us...
Lessons learned:
1. Just because we love her doesn't mean everyone loves her.
2. Just because we think she's sweet doesn't mean she's sweet when visiting.
3. Re-think about obedience school.
4. Get out the Cesar Milan book to review.
5. Don't introduce two dogs at a large holiday family gathering.
6. Make the back seat the preferred travel location for Herself.
All in all, it went well enough. No bites, no blood; everyone said Roxie was cute. They all said they liked her. But we wondered after we left what they were REALLY saying. Zoey probably wanted to move and leave no forwarding address! Poor Zoey........... sorry baby girl. We'll try to make it better next time!
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