~ Rocha Family Finds Out Family Dog is Not Aforementioned Legendary "Beastmonster" ~
We have a family dog. He's a 6 year old Mini-Aussie named Koda, which means "true friend" in one of the Indian languages, or so we've been told. I've wondered on several occasions if it might actually be an ancient Indian curse all wrapped up nice and tidy like for purposes of sacrificial convenience. Let me explain ...
If you come to our house you will immediately meet Koda whether you like it or not. Out of annoyance and affection combined I call him an "Attention Whore" because it's both ridiculous and kinda cute how a new person can't get through our front door with out Koda making himself the center of that person's universe. Does anyone else have a dog that does this? Can I get a witness? It's a dog thing. I know I'm not alone. Still, it's an incredible feat to me. Koda is so much like Dug from the Disney movie Up. He's all of that furry, friendly, wagging, happy, best friend, all-up-in-your-face, puppy-at-heart, too-perfect family pet that movies stereotype ...
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"I was hiding under your porch because I love you."
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... until ...
... you take him for a walk on the logging road (or anywhere on a leash) behind our house. Then he becomes ...
THE BEASTMONSTER
... a snarling, barking, whining, lunging, fur-ball of territorial aggression when other dogs are spotted on HIS ROAD. Ugh. It's so embarrassing when the other dog owners look at you like "Why in the world would you think it appropriate to bring a rabid Tyrannosaurus Rex on our lovely community and family-friendly path of serenity and delight? We all strongly suggest you rethink this next time and consider feeding it raw meat to appease it in the privacy of your own yard instead of frightening our small children and kittens."
My mother (who loved Koda so much that she went home to Arizona and bought a Mini-Aussie of her own and named her Kota) came to visit recently. After I told her why we'd all locked ourselves in the house, boarded the windows, bolted the doors, and bought every pitch fork and torch in the village so the locals couldn't form a proper lynch mob (because who can possibly form a lynch mob without torches and pitch forks? Am I right?), she picked up on something I stated above. That Koda was aggressive ... when he's on a leash. She was so sure that this was the problem that she made me promise to find a dog park so she could prove her point ... that Koda really is as sweet and lovable as Dug no matter where he is. He just needed to get off the dang leash and be able to run freely and "just be a dog."
So off we went to the dog park ... Mom with her cute hat, water bottle, "Life is Good" t-shirt and Koda's leash draped confidently around her neck, and me in my full suit of protective armor with "911" pre-dialed into my cell phone.
Koda cried and whined with excitement the entire 15 minute ride there. When we opened the car door he dashed gleefully out like a kid going to Disneyland for the 5th time. I swear he did a cartwheel.
We walked over to a huge open field and let him run ...
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| This picture is called "Koda in a Field" |
... and then I saw them. Dogs. BIG dogs. A Golden Retriever (whew), a Russian Razorback (EEK!) and a Doberman Pinscher (oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!!! ... Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name ... *faint*).
Okay, I'll cut to the chase. "Mom's always right". Koda was awesome! He ran and played and spoke dog language with barks, growls, prancing, playful yips and lots of sniffing. It was like he was entirely another dog! Look! I have proof!
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| Playing with new friends Miles & Abby |
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| Translation: "Wanna go out for tacos after this?" |
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| Meeting all kinds of new friends! |
Turns out there's an actual term for Koda's behavior. It's called Leash Aggression. If your dog is suffering from this ailment, my advice is - Lose the leash. Take your pooch to a legal off -leash dog park. LOTS. (You're welcome.)
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| Tuckered out and ready to go home. Awww, isn't he cute?! |
For more information on this topic, here's a great article I found from THE Cesar Millan.
In closing, you all go put your energy into finding Big Foot, The Loch Ness Monster or Edward Cullen. There's nothing to see here, folks. Move along. Here ... have some pitch forks and torches for your journey, on the house. ;)
PS - THANKS MOM!!!!
