Sometimes, life doesn’t jive with what our dogs need – or want. I am more than a dog owner and a foster mom. I’m also a friend, sister, daughter, neighbor, and each of those roles at times influences my role as caregiver for pets. Sometimes there are conflicts, and I have to ask my dogs to do things that are outside their norm or comfort zone.

I’m currently on the coast of AL, near where my family resides. I’m here for a scheduled work weekend at my parents’ estate. There’s a long-term plan in place to get the estate ready for sale and the first step to this is to rid the acreage of my father’s things. He’s a hoarder. This weekend’s task was to empty out two of the 9 junk cars that are scattered about the property and sort through the items to retrieve his valuables. It’s time-consuming, detailed, and stressful – he was present for the cleanout. 

Because I knew it was going to be an all-day event and I refuse to leave my dogs without a bathroom break for 10 hours, I brought them with me. I also knew that while at the parent’s house, they’d be in their crates for most of the day, but I’d be able to give them several exercise periods. It was the best plan I had.

I forgot to include this detail in my plan: Viktor, my nephew’s dog, would also be present – this beautiful dog suffers from separation anxiety, and he would have to be present and uncrated for the day. My original plan to have my dogs crated and on the porch in the shade was now no longer an option. 

The angels must have known about this day because they gave us beautiful weather and a safe temperature. I decided to leave my dogs in their crates in the car – parked in the shade, the temperature was cool. Of course, all of the windows and the back hatch were fully open to allow air circulation. Temperature wise, they were quite comfortable the whole day, nary a pant. 

I’d also prepared busy work for them, stuffed Kong toys and slow-release feeders. Otis was as content as he could be, given the circumstances.

Carter, however, was increasingly stressed.

Viktor (my nephew’s dog) barks. A lot. Carter was quite stressed about a stranger dog, a stranger dog he could hear but could not see. In Carter’s barking, I could hear his stress, his fear. He was alarmed. I moved my car a bit and asked my nephew if we could somehow move Viktor to an area farther away while remaining helpful with his separation issues. 

Then, members of my family, strange people to Carter, came out of the house and onto the porch, within eyesight of my car and within eyesight and earshot of Carter. 

Carter, who last week was greeting all strangers with eagerness, was now barking at everyone, every voice, every sound. At one point, my mom wanted to meet Carter. I figured he’d like the break and the chance for some attention. 

I pulled him out of the crate, let him walk around, shake off, and allowed him to approach my mom. She bent over, and Carter lunged at her hand and gave a pretty serious, injury free, air-snap. It was loud! (and if you want to get technical, it probably could have been labeled a bite by the bite experts) 

I saw it coming, too – just not in time to stop my mom from inviting Carter to interact.

Carter has very few communication skills – they’ve probably been punished away, or he didn’t learn them during play with his litter mates. 

Carter doesn’t turn his head. He doesn’t lick his lips. He doesn’t raise his lips. He doesn’t snarl. He doesn’t growl, he doesn’t give a warning bark. His ears lay back, but they often lay back. He gives you one warning: He (and his eyes) becomes quietly stiff. 

And you have about three seconds. Or less. 

The last time Carter did this behavior was the day I picked him up. He snapped at the vet tech. I attributed it to stress from the move or possibly stress from being in a vet clinic. Vet clinic experiences didn’t hold many happy memories. He hasn’t snapped at anyone, stranger or familiar, since. To the contrary, he’s been quite friendly.

When stressed, he loses confidence. When stressed, he loses the few coping skills he has.