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Post by grizabella on Jun 4, 2012 6:34:56 GMT -5
What are your hounds like with kids?
On the television programme 'Dogs 101', they described Salukis as being nippy, and not great with small children. I don't know if it depends much on the temperament of lines and the individual dogs, but that hasn't been my experience with Bella. She's more tolerant of very small children than our Golden Retriever, Tiggy was, and she really loves being around kids. Her only issue is that she can be a bit bouncy and excitable when meeting people, small children included, which is probably rather scary for a small person as she's quite a tall dog. She is generally very gentle with children though.
What are your experiences?
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Post by Gazinghound on Jun 4, 2012 23:42:13 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't know that I'd describe them as nippy, exactly...sighthounds in general have something of a reputation for being a little high-strung, temperamental, and snappish, but I've never seen one fail to get along at least adequately with a kid. I think it depends on a combination of the individual dog and the behavior of the children. I find it surprising that a Saluki would love kids more than a Golden Retriever, but obviously such things happen!  I can understand the boisterousness being an issue with small kids and people who don't appreciate it--but I'd definitely rather deal with that than biting and nipping. In fact, I've got one friend who's decidedly a small-dog lover (he doesn't much care for large animals on the whole, really, and strongly dislikes horses)...one time five years ago, Ulla jumped on him on my couch. I've got a photo on Facebook that looks as if she's kidney-punching him, and he's shrieking and freaking out; it's hilarious. He likes her, but also finds her a bit creepy and calls her the "Spider-dog," because--especially when she was younger and hadn't kind of grown into herself yet--her long, gangly limbs reminded him of an arachnid. ;D He gets a bit freaked when she jumps on him. So, yes, their exuberance can be intimidating even for certain adults. Honestly, Ulla has spent very little time with kids, simply because there aren't any around. Whenever she's met any, though, she's also been pretty gentle and friendly. She doesn't take kindly to teasing and annoying shenanigans from Jack, so I don't imagine that she's much appreciate them from children, either...but as long as they were decently respectful, I can't imagine her not being good with them. Even if they did bug her, she'd probably just try to get away, unless it was something severe enough to warrant a surprised nip. |
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Post by grizabella on Feb 1, 2013 22:36:37 GMT -5
Unfortunately for Bella, she's still not making a good impression on my little niece and nephew, even though she's always polite when greeting them, she's boisterous enough that they get frightened very easily. It's a bit of a shame because she really wants to be friends with them.
Last time they were over here she gave them a fright when she rushed to greet them, and they then spent the rest of the time playing 'naughty Bella'. The game consisted of chasing each other around with a toy that was for the purposes of the game 'Bella'. Poor Bella, the actual one, not the toy, looked a little confused by the constant shouts of "No Bella!" as the children played their game. So Bella is a villain now, poor thing!
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Post by Gazinghound on Feb 3, 2013 1:15:27 GMT -5
What a tragedy!! It's like a movie...she WANTS to be friends, but she scares them, and furthermore is befuddled when her name is borrowed and used for a villain in a game! That's so sad. 3= I'm sorry, Bella. For what it's worth, villains are often my favorite characters! You get to join the ranks of some really cool ones, and plus, the Dark Side is renowned for its cookies... It's the curse of all big, boisterous, excitable doggies...they can be just too much for kids. Or heck, not even kids--I think I related the tale of my one friend who calls Ulla "the Spider-Dog." Now, he's a bit easily freaked out by some animals, and has a strong dislike for horses in particular.  (One which apparently doesn't extend to ponies, fortunately.) He finds Ulla a bit freaky, but admires and likes her well enough when she's not doing one of her flying-ninja leaps at him, with her gangly spider-limbs outstretched, flailing, and ready to throw another punch...XD She does enjoy torturing the people who are willing to put up with the least from dogs. |
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Post by grizabella on Feb 3, 2013 5:19:48 GMT -5
I don't imagine your poor friend would like Bella much either! I was terrified of dogs up to when I was eight years old, I can certainly relate to being intimidated by an over-enthusiastic flailing dog.
Luckily for Bel, not all the kids in our family think of her as a super-villain. I have three young (but not AS young as my niece and nephew!) cousins who adore Bella, and she thinks very highly of them too. When they visit, it's not so much to see Mum, my sister and myself, rather to see Bels!
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Post by Gazinghound on Feb 9, 2013 3:14:12 GMT -5
Oh, no! Yeah, I’m sure he’d be overwhelmed by Bella as well, at least at first. I guess he never really lost his discomfort with bigger animals, partly because the only pet he had growing up was a Cairn Terrier. Fortunately Casey didn't bother him because she was reasonably calm and not jumpy. She only jumped up on me when she was younger, within the first few years of us adopting her.
Ah, good to know that there are extended family members for whom Bella is a real star—and vice versa! D’aaww!! That is sweet. As a kid I too was always at least as excited to hang with my relatives’ animals as with them!
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(One which apparently doesn't extend to ponies, fortunately.) He finds Ulla a bit freaky, but admires and likes her well enough when she's not doing one of her flying-ninja leaps at him, with her gangly spider-limbs outstretched, flailing, and ready to throw another punch...XD She does enjoy torturing the people who are willing to put up with the least from dogs.