What is it about Shar Peis that other dogs don’t like about them?

I feel so bad for Theo.  He just wants to say hi to dogs and then something goes wrong.

Today was an EVENTFUL walk and it started just a few houses down the street.

We were walking on our side of Chesterton and I could see the dog across the street jumping up on the gate.  There was a sign on the gate and it was making noise.  The next thing I know, there are two dogs coming at us - a blond lab and a pug.  They seemed friendly, and I just started going to their house and they didn’t follow.  So I rang the doorbell (like really rang it) with Theo in tow, and the owners came out.  They were all calm and the dogs came back to them, no problem and luckily, there were no cars going by during this whole time. Theo and I went back to our side of the street and the lab came up to Theo, started sniffing and next thing I hear is growling - from the lab.  Now, it could have been that the owner was grabbing the collar and trying to get him going, but I doubt it.

So we continue our walk.  The bus was coming by one corner (on Middlebury) and there was a little shih tzu so we went across the street and continued walking.  After the bus left the owner and dog started down the same way we were going (just on the other side). The dog was barking the whole time at Theo. As I got closer to the poop drop off, the owner stopped to get a bag and kind of gave me a funny look (maybe because you could only see my eyes because it was so cold) because I was coming towards her I think and I said, “I need to drop off.” She grabbed her bag and continued to walk. We dropped off the poop, and then started walking the same way as they did.  Of course, they got to the corner and turn around, so I pulled Theo over to the side and said “Wait.”  thinking the owner would just continue walking. No - she let’s the dogs stiff and the next thing you know, the little shit, nips at Theo.  The owner never asked if it was ok for them to snif or if Theo was friendly. Never said a word to me.  Once the dog started nipping at Theo, she just said “____ your are such a bad dog.”  - Never apologized - nothing.

We started to head back home (on Bowfonds) and I heard people getting into their car in their driveway (which I couldn’t see down until I got to the driveway). Next thing I know, a dog (maybe a poodle mix), was coming down the driveway and I’m yelling “get your dog!” The owner is yelling at the dog “Jagger, sit” - she said it a couple of times and the dog didn’t listen.. The whole time I’m pulling Theo towaards me. He’s calm.  Once the owner grabbed the dog, she said, “Is he friendly?” I said, “yes, but sometimes dogs don’t like him.”

It’s so hard to explain to strangers - yes he’s friendly, but sometimes the dogs that he meets don’t like him.  I read on the Facebook Shar Pei owners group that other dogs can’t read Shar Peis so sometimes it ends in fights when they met. I read today that Shar Peis give off a scent that is different than other dogs so if a dog has never encountered a Shar Pei before, it gets nervous and then starts a fight.

Who knows - I haven’t see any scientific info, just people posting. However, the more I see, the more I believe.

Starting the new year with good and bad

So today, we were supposed to go to Dan’s mom & her husband’s house (Lois and Harry) for their annual New Year’s Day open house. The three of us were supposed to go, but as I woke up, I got a sinus headache and was getting so grumpy.

Dan ended up going alone and taking Theo.  I ended up taking like 3 naps and still not feeling 100%. My head still feels full.

Theo did well at grandma & grandpa’s house - even with a full house.  Dan did say that he get a little testy at the end when people were leaving and he was ready to go.  He was grabbed/trying to stop him and I guess he tried to nip someone.

I ended up talking to my brother, Brett, for awhile, and just watching tv.

We got our annual stocking from Lois and Harry full of goodies - fruit, cookies, candies, little stuff, and lottery tickets.  We always have fun with the lottery tickets - even more fun that we actually won $130!!!

So, 2018 is starting out as a turn of luck! Let’s see what happens when the lottery numbers are pulled on Wednesday!  We purchased a couple of tickets since no one has won in awhile and the jackpot is BIG!