Page 22 - IFV_Issue 6_2022

Lifestyle

POWER BREED SAVVY

BY CASEY BROWN

Whether it’s going
on a Parkrun or
taking the ‘family’ to
watch a club rugby

match, it turns out
taking pooch along
is a great ice-breaker
when it comes

to engaging with
complete strangers.
And, as I found out
recently, one can

learn a lot from
other dog-lovers.

M y significant other is who stopped dead in their tracks the have never mentioned this unspoken
I find it strange that the staff at pet stores
his
moment they saw us, and turned
about
passionate
club rugby. He’s also
chatty club friend asked if our pup was
are what the colours mean:
very protective over our 2-year old around and walked the other way. Our code before, but for the uninitiated, these
(teenage) puppy who’s almost never vicious – to which I replied, “No, not at RED – this dog may be aggressive and
left alone at home. She falls into the all.” But it appeared that the sturdy red one should not approach or
category of being a power breed – and leash that we had her on was indicating allow other dogs to approach it.
you may have guessed, she’s a Pitbull otherwise. ORANGE – likes people, but does not
– an innocent, non-aggressive, very As a kid, my family always owned get on with other dogs.
indulged princess. Other breeds that dogs. Yet, this was the first time that DARK YELLOW – up for adoption.
fall into the category of being a power I heard about the colour-coding of LIGHT YELLOW – this dog is anxious
breed include Mastiffs, Dobermans, leashes. We had bought the red leash and needs to be left
Rottweilers, Bull Terriers and Staffies, when the pavement special Canis alone.
amongst others. Africanis, acquired from the ‘mayor’ of GREEN – friendly and sociable.
Taking a power breed to a rugby match a squatter camp for R30, grew into a BLUE – service dog in training.
always causes a stir, but what I didn’t really solid, but placid, Mastiff/Labrador. PURPLE – do not feed.
know is that we were inadvertently Max has since passed on to the Happy WHITE – the dog is either deaf or blind.
transmitting an unspoken signal that Hunting Grounds, but while he was with The advice of all authorities on canine
we were completely oblivious of, until us, he certainly did enjoy those walks behaviour is to always ask the owner’s
one of our club members stopped to and the Parkruns, securely attached permission before approaching a dog to
chat (pretty much every time he walked to one of us by that same trusty red pat it. It is actually good manners, in any
past us!). leash. But now that I’ve heard about the event, but it may also avoid those nasty
I must admit, I was puzzled by colour-coding, it does make me wonder surprises, if by any chance it turns out
the behaviour of some of the home – was the red leash in fact strong for a that the dog is not in the right mood to
spectators (ours were the away teams), different reason? be petted by strangers.

20 • Issue 6 2022 • The Villager