I wonder if any of you have come across this! Last summer my brother-in-law came to visit us with his new dog - one of those gigantic super=size German Sheppards. Sassie went outside to meet him - walked right underneath his tummy and when the bigger dog looked down, he took one look at poor Sass and jumped literally sky-high! He leaped over the back of his daddy's pick-up truck - and stayed there, quivering in fear!
Yesterday, we took the Sass to the vet for nails and needles. There was a beautiful absolutely huge collie sitting in the waiting room. As we walked in, he saw Sassie and went ballistic! He started barking and growling - and backing up to get away from her - knocking over all the chairs in the process! His owner was fit to be tied - and we had to take her out of the room so he would settle down.
What is going on? Are larger dogs with long noses scared of pugs because of their lack of, well, nose space? If this keeps up poor Sass is going to get a compex! Sassie, of course, is afraid of absolutely nothing - including big huge dogs. I am wondering if it is the puggie sort of resemblance to a human baby on four legs that does it?
Replies
Marta (about 1 year ago)
I've had a similar experience with a German Shepard/Rottweiler mix. He isn't scared of Loopy but he doesn't like him very much. He's our neighbor so when they meet in the backyard Loopy is always his happy bouncy self and the other dog prefers to stay away from him. When Loopy comes too close he growls at him. I think this might happen because most pugs act like puppies when wi other dogs...They get very excited when they see other dogs and older dogs might find that weird. I've also realized that older dogs sometimes don't have patience for puppies. I don't know about Sassiest but Loopy is still a puppy so older dogs seem to find him quite annoying (except for other pugs). I've also read that some dogs get scared when they see a pug because of their dark faces. I have no idea whether or not that's the case but I'm praying that my family's dog will get along with Loopy this summer since they will be house mates for a month.
asher2121 (about 1 year ago)
This happens to Winston too, a lot and he's a small pug. I often wonder if it's that he's so excited and happy all the time and the other dogs don't really make what to make of it. I suspect some of it is like Marta says too, Win can be quite...spirited (read annoying). He wants to play all the time and a lot of dogs just don't seem to find his enthusiasm fun.
KatrionaSolas (about 1 year ago)
WOW!!! I wonder if this is why Vermin (Rottweiler and my service dog) kept outright ATTACKING Tankster!!! I literally had to take Tankster with me everywhere I went in the house and outside to PROTECT HIM from my service dog!!! It was awful and it culminated in a huge fight and Tankster had to have an eye removed at a time when my hubby had been laid off because of the economy and we did NOT have that $600 for that surgery! I've put that story under the 'HeartBroken' post because we are actively searching for Tankster! He's still our baby and we're very worried about him! If you read his story you'll understand why we're worried and searching!
JanandSass (about 1 year ago)
Oh NO, Katriona, I am so sorry about that - I take it Tankster is missing. HOpe you find him OK, check at local vets, put up posters, check the dog shelters, etc. As far as the Sass goes, she doesn't get overly excited around other dogs, just normally playfull and curious. This was just one quick look without any interaction at all! I stil think it has something to do with their smooshy faces which may look sort of alien to some dogs - especially young dogs who have never seen a flat-nosed breed before.
lillianthepug (about 1 year ago)
Was Sass snorting or panting?? Ive noticed some dogs stay clear if my babies when they have been running or playing and are panting hard just because they dont understand//like the silly noises
JanandSass (about 1 year ago)
I actually didn't notice. She probably was, cause of being excited. Never thought of that!
Kat_and_Rex (12 months ago)
My brother has a short haired pointer and as much as rex wants to go and say 'hi' the pointer has to keep a 15ft distance between, it's quite ammusing to see this little pug running towards this large'ish dog and it acting like it will catch pugism if touched.
Tonkatot (12 months ago)
Tonka gets a long great with bigger dogs, its smaller dogs that seem to have a problem with him. Usually a jealousy thing when their owners pay attention to him, but occasionally, just being brats. There was 1 large dog, I think a shepherd cross, that barked at him for about 5 min straight right up in his face and followed him around and kept doing it until finally Tonka got up the nerve and barked back a few times.
Vicki-Boone (12 months ago)
I have had this problem too! Boone will happily play with any other dog, he's never so much as snarled or growled at another dog, he wants to play with everyone. But there have been plenty of other dogs who see him and are either scared of him or want to attack him. Some big dogs and some small. And once, a black pug!
I have wondered if maybe the other dog doesn't realise that Boone is a dog as well, just because of their general different look!
But Boone's best friend is a German Shepherd/Boxer cross and they get along like a house on fire. This could be because I introduced them when Boone was only thirteen weeks old.
JanandSass (12 months ago)
They are so cute when you have a pug that is raised with another type of dog. I have 3 other dogs, and her sister is a sheltie-golden cross. Somebody else on here has a nice pug with a collie. Infite diversity.
Kat_and_Rex (12 months ago)
We have a pug and a collie, we used to have a german sheppard too samson who sadly passed away just after christmas. They got/get along great, even though the GS & Collie are/were much older than Rexi (and no where near as spoilt).
HANK2008 (12 months ago)
I have had 2 different goldens that were afraid of "smashed faced dogs", One was afraid of a shar pei and another did not like boxers. I never new why.
We'd love for you to add your comment! You just need to be registered and logged in!