Dog Community

Tried to take Rory to see Santa

Posted : 12/15/2006 3:36:58 PM

Our local mall had a dog day to go have thir pics taken with santa. Rory loves the mall so she was super excited. So there we are waiting in line, our turn is next, I really dont think she actually saw santa until it was our turn, she was too busy scoping out the sexy bulldog behind us. Anyhoo as our turn some up and we start to walk up to santa he stood up to stretch and bent down to pet Rory......oh lord!
She stuck her head right between my knees and would not budge! She has only done this twice before, both when she got bitten by another dog but I was able to coax her out before. Not this time, I was tangled and she leans so hard on my legs I almost fell right there. She wasnt pulling to get out (thank goodness that would have been worse) but everytime I tried to move to turn around or get where I could crouch to her she would stiffen up. One lil kid said "whats that dogs problem" I ended up crab walking with Rory's head in between my knees until santa was out of sight and she let me sit down, that was the only way I could get by barrings straight to grasp my purse, her leash and comfort her.
Sorry for the long post but this is what I dont get. The times before when she has been skeptical of men she barks. She has never EVER been fearful of a humans, just other dogs and a cow once. Anyone ever experienced this behavior?

Kara

Posted : 12/15/2006 5:05:16 PM

Was she exposed to-large-people before? Size may intimidate her.

denise_m

Posted : 12/15/2006 5:19:29 PM

How many kids have you seen absolutely freak out when they come face to face with Santa? I know one of my boys would wait so excitedly in line every year, but when it came time to actually meet the guy, he would freak! I understand Rory completely!

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Now you know how he feels, so don't push it.

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Posted : 12/15/2006 5:48:53 PM

I'm almost starting to see it as funny as everyone in the store did but she was so scared!
My uncle is a huge man and she loves him because he is the only one big enough to pick her up. She just loves it! He's the only one she knows its ok to jump up to because he catches her and she licks licks licks his face all over and he just tooses her around like a baby, ha ha!
Denise, I defintly know now not to ever try and introduce her to santa, its crazy how she just locked up.
Forgot to mention the second we got outside she was just fine, tail wagging, head up, happy as a clam like "ok where to now mom" Ugh, ha ha my crazy lil dog!

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 12/15/2006 7:30:58 PM

It's okay Rory. Santa can be scary sometimes.

Michelle

Posted : 12/15/2006 7:40:32 PM

That's exactly how my kids reacted to Santa the first couple of Christmases. I wouldn't worry, but you might want to crate her on Christmas Eve[

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denise_m

Posted : 12/16/2006 6:23:03 PM

Just wanted to add - DH and I had to stopped at the local mall today. When we got there DH commented on all the kids lined up to see Santa, who was on a break. Everyone was laughing and happy and of course sooo excited! On our way out we passed the line again, which was x2 as long. This time all you could hear was this little soul, crying and upset, being sat on Santas knee. All the other kids were silent, clinging in fear to their moms leg. I immediately thought of Rory. Made me smile!

griffinej5

Posted : 12/16/2006 8:49:50 PM

Max says he knows how bad that Santa guy is. He went to see him last year at Petsmart. He wouldn't sit next to him, but I managed to get him to sit in front of Santa, but he looks completely freaked out in the picture, and you can tell he wants absolutely nothing to do with the whole experience.

willowchow

Posted : 12/16/2006 11:06:26 PM

My mom told me I used to be really scared of the Easter bunny! She said I would always keep them up the night before Easter petrified of how a huge bunny was going to get in our house.

jones

Posted : 12/17/2006 12:11:45 AM

Oh yeah, Santa is like a dog's greatest hits of scary human traits... big person with big coat, big beard all over his face and a weird hat. Give him an umbrella and he's the Freddie Kreuger of the dog world! [sm=rofl.gif]

ladiebug

Posted : 12/17/2006 12:23:40 AM

That's what I wanted to mention. Maybe it wasn't Santa's size that scared her, but all that white fluffy stuff that covered his entire face. Your uncle may be a large man, but he's not wearing a furry costume, hat, or beard and mustache that hides his face when he sees Rory. Just a thought.
Poor baby! {{{HUGS}}}

chewbecca

Posted : 12/17/2006 10:35:59 AM

It took me until I was 11 before I'd sit next to Santa for a picture.
He scared the CRAP out of me.

Sheprano, perhaps it's just a dog thing (or a some dog thing), or maybe it's a bully thing, because my son put on a Darth Vader mask and came upstairs from the basement, and Ella did a low growl and barked at him until he took the mask off and she realized it was him.
She DOES NOT like masks. We crated her and left her home on Halloween because I wasn't sure how she'd react to all the people wearing costumes.

Poor Rory!!!
I can just see that cutie little baby getting all scared and putting her face between your knees! How precious! Like, "No, mom. I'm scared. Make the big mean man go away!".

karin

Posted : 12/17/2006 11:07:50 AM

Big beard + crazy coat and hat + fake laughter and "ho ho ho" = scary for a dog.

Don't feel bad, I bet you were not the only one with a scared dog on your hands that day! Maybe you can try again next year, and come prepared with treats for Santa to pass to Rory.

Susan Robertson

Posted : 12/17/2006 11:27:53 AM

She said I would always keep them up the night before Easter petrified of how a huge bunny was going to get in our house.

Easter has always baffled me. Telling my kids that a giant, egg-laying rabbit comes in the house while we're all sleeping is just too much! They still believe in him, but I am shocked they aren't scared to death of the thought of it all!

Michelle

Posted : 12/17/2006 11:40:46 AM

I have an old PetSmart Santa picture of Tookey and our dear departed Anna. All three are sitting in a row, looking stoney-faced at the camera, and Anna's ears are laid out flat to the side, a signs she is not happy. It looks like a police line up!