Walking in my paws.

Today's post is part of the first WOOF support blog hop ( Working Out Our Fears )

First of all I would like to apologise for a short post but I'm pushed for time, there's never enough hours in the day at the moment. 

I will start off by introducing myself and explaining how I managed to end up in the state I'm at for the benefit of the members of the group who don't know me.

I'm Sheba a Dogue De Bordeaux/Rottweiler I was 5 yesterday 14/2/2013.

Me when I was a pup.

And now all grown up.

When I was a pup Mum and Dad would take me out in the front garden to toilet so I got used to traffic and people walking past with dogs, and when I had finished my puppy vaccinations and could go out I went to puppy socialisation classes to get me used to being around other dogs which I loved playing with the other pups.

And then one day it all went horribly wrong, We were out for a walk and I was quite happy sniffing lamp posts and minding my own business walking at Dad's side when out of a house came 2 Staffordshire Bull Terriers running straight for me I tried to hide behind my Dad but one of them managed to get behind me, Dad eventually managed to kick them away before the stupid owner called them back saying she didn't know how they got out, leaving the front door open might of had something to do with it.

I just got over that incident when we were walking past a house when 5 Cocker Spaniels ran out of the front garden, that was the last straw and I've never gotten over it it took me months before Dad built up my courage to walk past that house again I used to drag him to the opposite side of the road. Why do people have dogs if they can't keep them in a secure environment.

So now I don't trust any dogs I see and am a complete nut job when on the lead barking, lunging forward and spinning around on the end of the lead trying to get away, I'm not aggressive and have never attacked another dog I just like them to keep a safe distance from me, I love all animals apart from dogs that I don't know cows, sheep, horses don't bother me and I can walk through the park off lead past the ducks and swans and I'm not interested in them. I live with 2 cats who I love very much despite people saying cats and dogs cant live together it's all in the way your brought up.

If I'm off lead I'm fine around other dogs as can be seen from the above pics. So Mum and Dad try to avoid putting me in stressful situations and let me off lead when it's safe to do so. We have had a few comments but when Dad explains that I'm better behaved off lead most people understand, and I always stay close to my humans and don't run off so am always under control.

Luckily for me Mum and Dad are very understanding and have always worked with me when a lot of other people would of gave up on me and put me in the shelter.

I feel sorry for Dad because he gets abuse hurled at him and 1 person said I should be put down I'm glad I don't live with him. Dad used to get all protective to defend me but Dad's shouting made me worse so now he's learnt to ignore the comments and to carry on walking, Mum says he must of caught his selective hearing off me I don't know what she means by that.

All I ask is for people to be understanding of my needs and not to judge me before getting to know me, the only people who really know what I'm like are Mum and Dad because they spend 24/7 with me, I might be a pain when outside when on the lead but am as good as gold around the house where I spend most of my time.

Dad says if he was in the pub and someone punched him on the nose he would be weary of strangers it's the same for me.

I'm a lover not a fighter.

Me with Mum and Cody and Coco.

This is the WOOF Support Blog Hop, where reactive dogs and their owners can come together to share similar experiences.  Are you a reactive/fearful dog or its owner?  Then please join us and share your story.  The Blog Hop is open through Sunday, February 16th on Oz the Terrier's blog as well as on co-hosts Roxy The Traveling Dog and Wag 'n Woof Pets blogs.