biting

I've been living with mom and dad for a long time now.  They have taught me, over and over, that biting is bad.  I admit that I bite (nibble really) when I get scared, but not hard unless I am really pushed to the limit.  That hasn't happened since my first days with them.  Still, when I don't know somebody, I want to bite their feet.  I would like to explain why, but I don't even know.  I don't want to hurt them, I just want them to know that I have my eye on them.  So when we have visitors, mom and dad only let me visit after awhile.  Usually I get to come out during parties, which is great because there is always food on the ground and everyone pets me.  But almost always I find someone I don't trust totally.  So I watch them. Mom says that is guarding and not okay.  Once I know you though, I'm all good.

Something happened today that freaked everyone out though.  Well, it freaked me out a lot.  It freaked mom out a little.  Dad was cool with it though.  That is Soooo the opposite of how our life usually is.  But.... Rocky BIT someone.  He was really sorry afterwards.  But dad said he did exactly the right thing.  I AM SO CONFUSED. 

I  am really the only one who saw exactly what happened. Mom heard it, and sort of understands. A woman came to the front door with some boxes.  Rocky and I barked at her...furiously.  Because that is what we are supposed to do, right??!!  But mom and dad didn't come and she just opened the door and came in.  Right into our house!!  And Rocky bit her right in the butt.  Not a big bite.  Not a dog mauling, I'm going to kill you bite.  Just a little pinch in the butt to tell her it wasn't ok for her to be in our house without mom or dad or somebody they knew to say ok.

She came back a little bit later with her boss.  They seemed to be really nice, but mom doesn't trust them.  They talked to the neighbors which mom says is bad because they are already scared of me and now they will be scared of Rocky.  Dad says too bad.  We are always good and on leashes or in our own yard.  Other dogs in the neighborhood run free.  He also says Rocky is a good dog because if someone walks in our house without mom or dad there to say it is ok, then they should be bit.   I have a lot to think about now.  I thought I knew the rules, but I'm not so sure now.  This person shouldn't have been bitten, but she shouldn't have come in the house.  She didn't mean to hurt anyone, but how is a dog to know???

Dad says a dog doesn't have to know.  If someone comes in without a family member's permission to bite first and ask questions later.  Mom says that is probably right, because we have the right to protect our house and our mom.  And mom will sleep good at night when dad is on his long trips.