Background first....Miya has played with a small pit bull, small boxer, and a small husky, all have been males, all have been smaller than her. She can be quite the jerk to them, but the pit and boxer will/have walked away when they've had enough of her bullying. Husky is her boyfriend, and he will put up with her abuse forever. she's never mean, never bites, growls, etc, the worse I've seen her is her hair will stand up, but no meanness comes from her. She is dominating, she will place her paws on ones head and jump around, butt punch in the face of others, but I really see it as husky play, she barks and play bows. With the boxer her hair did stand up, and she did push him into the lake, but again it was very playful on her end. The only time she has encountered a dog bigger than she, she was attacked by a pit mix, he was considerably larger than she. She couldn't defend herself, it was a sneak attack.

So today, we go to a neighbors house, they have a male husky, he is bigger than her bf, still shorter than she, but about the same weight as Miya. When they met her hair stood up, I'm used to it, then an ever so quite grrrr escaped her, a very quite low growl, never heard her do this. The poor guy kept wagging his tail, but you could see him shaking, clearly he was apprehensive of her. He never once made any aggressive moves. I spoke to Miya happy yet soft, telling her it was ok, the male dog, never met a stranger and came over to me I gave him some pats on the head. He immediately play bowed to her, and the chase was on. They had a blast. The thing is she never could dominate him, he wouldn't let her, unlike her bf. Bf is a blued eyed black and white fluffy hair, not neutered. New guy looks like her only more refined(better bred), fluffy hair, unsure if he's fixed.

Do I have a problem? Is this normal, because she encountered a dog about the same size as her? She's at least 10 pounds heavier and an inch or two taller than her bf, but with this new guy he is a heavier husky, about an inch shorter. They were buddies in the end, but I'm not sure if this is just a normal reaction to a dog bigger and unknown. At pet stores and in public on leash she could care less about other dogs.

Any opinions would be appreciated, especially since down the road we will be getting a second dog.

Thanks,

Renee

Anuschka did this when meeting new dogs, only after getting Malukhai though...my thought is she was protecting Malukhai. This may be what Miya was doing, protecting you...from a dog she didnt know. You, bringing a new dog/puppy into the household will have totally different dynamics, especially if a puppy. I wouldnt worry about this aspect of it. But she may do the same thing when out and about with her new sibling and meeting a "strange" dog

Come to think of it, the neighbor lady half, mentioned, "ahhhh she's so protective of you" but that was after she met the new dog, Miya kept coming back to me, until I told her to go play, kids. I just want to make sure I have nothing to worry about. I really thought I socialized her well, but she has this odd sixth sense about her and people, so I wondered if it translates to dogs too, her hair stands on end with "odd" people, particularly towards men who don't approach her well, as in let her smell them.

I really dont think you do have anything to worry about. Anuschka did not like my older brother, I will never know why. My father explained it to me that he thought certain people have a way about them, maybe a stance, the way they carry themselves, their voice, etc... that puts them on guard...that they even might sense you tensing up (not that it happneed in your case, its just an example) I'm not positive, but I don't think it matters how well they were socialized, instinct kicks in. Miya did finally get along with the new dog so all is good, and as I said before, the dog you bring in to the family will be entirely different dynamics.

Domination starts at first glance. It's why people stand up taller when new people they don't know enter the room. We size each other up and dogs do the same. Kenzi did the same thing when she first met Heidi, my dads dog who is slightly taller than she, and they would stretch for all they were worth to be taller than the other. The difference was that they were both dominant females and the grudge match never ended. They always say get your bluff in early and if Miya did have reserves about this new dog concerning your safety instinct is going to tell her set the rules from the start. I'm with Jimmy, I don't think you really have anything to worry about where Miya is concerned.

Renne,

I think Miya is fine.

If she responded to many dogs in an aggressive manner it would be one thing but, there are always some dogs that push other dogs buttons.