I wish I had known that. Didn't have enough time to think of anything except flee meant she could kill me and standing still meant I would be alive. I suppose it would be a "slow" turn, instead of a "fast turn" to present the side view. When I saw her, she was already close to me as she was hidden by a bush and was suddenly there, and she was ready to make that leap, so I was staring at her. That all happened within seconds. I was still for maybe two or three seconds before she was on me. I think I turned into stone - that was what it felt like. If I am ever in that situation again, I'm turning to the side. Thank you.
You did great for the time you had and you seem to have a natural talent.
Dog body language is infinitely subtle and watching dogs interact is like watching a hairy ballet.
The “big dog” is the one who stands still, disregarding the subservient sniffs, chop licks and stares of the other ‘lesser’ dogs.
Poor Odin, the big galoot, is completely unnerved by little Gypsy’s blatant disregard of his existence.
Right now she’s out with the puppy teaching her good manners.
She stands in the middle of the room while the pup play bows and barks into her face incessantly, trying to get a reaction.
Then, almost imperceptibly, she’ll slightly shift her eyes or her head and the pup ~leaps~ away, head low and tail wagging in dutiful obeisance.
To us, the signal’s nearly invisible.
To dogs, it’s a huge, blinking red neon warning sign.
Everybody should spend a day or two in a dog park, watching the intricate power plays, mutual agreements and running ‘conversations’ dogs have.
It’s cool.
:)