| Author | Message | ||
     AHCJR Citizen Username: Ahcjr1 Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2003 |
Not sure if this is the right room for this, but I could use a little pespective. My wife and I have two young boys and another on the way. Though we don't currently own a dog, we are both dog lovers. We have a neighbor who seems to see no problem with letting their german shepherd roam the neighborhood unattended (and do her buisiness wherever she likes.) Now she's very good natured, but that seems beside the point to me as my kids are not that comfortable with dogs yet and more than once she has come into our yard to say "hi.". Of greater concern is that yesterday, my wife heard unfamiliar barking in our back yard. When she looked out the window she saw the neighbor walking back down our driveway with a pit bull in her arms! Now I know that not all pit bulls and not all pit bull owners are alike, but this is a bit much. I guess it's their right to own the dog as long as it is kept on a leash and under control, but I feel I should be a little more "guilty until proven innocent" given the rap (fair or unfair as it may be) that pit bulls have acquired. Has anyone had to deal with issues like this. | ||
| Paris Hiltonberry Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 6819 Registered: 10-2001  |
call the town..potentially dangerous dogs and or dogs that roam free are unacceptable. | ||
| emmie Supporter Username: Emmie Post Number: 698 Registered: 3-2002 |
Maplewood and South Orange both have leash laws, so your neighbor is actually breaking the law by letting the dogs roam free. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2161 Registered: 7-2003 |
Our neighbor got a pit bull puppy and was walking him with out a leash. I pondered calling the cops or animal control, but ended up just knocking and telling him that I was a little scared with my new pup and Fiancé walking around with an unleashed dog. Then I admitted that we were a little scared of the breed. He seemed to understand and I think he picked a Pit because they’re intimidating. | ||
| AHCJR Citizen Username: Ahcjr1 Post Number: 10 Registered: 9-2003 |
I know what you mean Brett. Unfortunately, it seems that too many buy the breed for that reason. It's not like living in Maplewood is like living in a MadMax movie. Seems pretty selfish when you think about the possible impact it could have on your neighbors not to mention the implied responsibility you're taking on when buying the breed. | ||
| catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 27 Registered: 2-2004  |
FIRST, regarding the dog running loose, call the town Animal Control Officer, as there are leash laws, both to protect people and the animal from harm. Regarding so called Pit Bulls, is the dog indeed a Pit Bull? The recent dog show resulted in a few newspaper articles outlining the confusion between some breeds, such as the winning Bull Terrior, and Pit Bull like dogs. Even if it is a Pit Bull, dogs of this breed by nature are very docile. It is the fault of irresponsible backyard breeders, people cruel to animals, and irresponsible owners who have given Pit Bulls their bad reputation. "Petey" from "Our Gang" was a Pit, as was "Tighe" from Buster Brown. If this dog was chosen carefully and shown to be docile, then there is no reason to worry. I would, however, be concerned by an owner allowing dogs to run loose. This does not make for a responsible pet owner. | ||
| Claudia Mattheiss Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2006 |
Hi All: I volunteer at the local shelter, have a vet tech certificate and handle all dog breeds in training. I can understand that you are uncomfortable but please let me assure you that a pitbull is no more likely to bite you then any other dog breed. However a pit bull and many other breeds that have the size and strength require a responsible owner. Letting your dog roam the neighborhood is not responsible since it is not only an issue that your dog might frighten sombody but also that they can get hit by a car. Pit bulls are very wonderful and loyal dogs and also very good with children if they are raised properly. Remember the "Little Rascals" well the dog was a pitbull. Insist that your neighbor leashes his dogs but do not judge a book by it's cover. I can tell you that the few times I have been bitten the dogs where small lapdog breeds that bit out of fear. If you like dogs then get to know the puppy next door and who knows you might fall in love with him/her. Bajou | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2163 Registered: 7-2003 |
That sly smile, those determined eyes, that unwaning pleasure to please... the mere quality and characteristics of the APBT have evoked more human emotional, rational, and irrational response than any other breed that exists today. By no means are these dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people. However if they are properly socialized they will not even be aggressive with them. These are truly quality companions for quality owners only! The American Pit Bull Terrier is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight an enemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. For the most part they are very friendly, but not recommended for most people. Excellent with children in the family, they have a high pain tolerance and will happily put up with rough child play. As with any breed, they should not be left alone with unfamiliar children. Originally used as fighting dogs, the powerful American Pit Bull may go for the throat of strange dogs. A minimum of training will produce a tranquil, obedient dog. Socialize very thoroughly when young to combat aggressive tendencies and be sure to keep the dog under control when other dogs are present. It has given outstanding results as a guardian of property, but is at the same time esteemed as a companion dog. When properly trained and socialized, this is a very good dog and a great family companion. Unfortunately, some choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name. I retain my right to think that in the wrong, or incapable hands, Pit Bulls a dangerous. | ||
| Southerner Citizen Username: Southerner Post Number: 704 Registered: 2-2004 |
I say feed the little guy with a splash of something special (I am making this humane for my New Jersey friends). Where I live, I'd simply say, if he's on my land, hand me the shotgun honey and get the pickup ready. This may sound cruel but it beats having my kids mauled. | ||
| jbirchby Citizen Username: Jbirchby Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2001 |
I'd have to agree with Catmanjac. No owner should let their dog run loose especially in such a congested area as M/SO. Perhaps before you go sounding the alarm you should speak to your neighbor and meet the dog, you can explain that you have young children who are scared. It seems extreme to immediately assume the worst about the dog. I have a pitbull. I've had her for 10 years and she is the biggest marshmallow there is. In fact most of the time she is way more afraid of people then they are of her. She has never ever done anything aggressive to anyone (except when someone tried to break into my car with me in it and I think that was pretty justified and even then all she did was bark). I got her because I wanted a loyal, loving, intelligent dog who wasn't too big or too small. And she's been all that and more. She has been the best pet (and I've had many) I've ever had and I cannot imagine these past 10 years without her. Here is a great website from CA that is trying to educate people about pitbulls and some of the myths behind them. http://www.badrap.org/rescue/ | ||
| catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 31 Registered: 2-2004 |
TAKE YOUR SHOTGUN AND STICK IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE!!! | ||
| dave23 Citizen Username: Dave23 Post Number: 1359 Registered: 5-2001 |
Yes, Southerner, it would be cruel. It would also be illegal and based on misperceptions and wrong assumptions. | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 91 Registered: 12-2005 |
I've often heard the refrain that "pit bulls make wonderful pets" if they are not treated badly or trained to fight. I don't profess to be an expert on dogs, but why is it that whenever I hear a horror story about a kid getting mauled or killed by a dog, it is often a pit bull? I would much rather have a lab or a golden retriever as a neighbor. | ||
| jbirchby Citizen Username: Jbirchby Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2001 |
Because when someone's lab or golden retriever mauls somebody it's not news. | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4083 Registered: 12-2001  |
Any dog can be raised to be aggressive and vicious. Are pit bulls being singled out for special treatment just because, pound for pound, they can do more damage than other dogs? | ||
| catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 38 Registered: 2-2004 |
Because the media loves sensationalism, and Pit Bulls are ripe to pick on, just like Tonya, et.al. I'm not saying that a Pit is the ideal dog for everyone, or the ideal dog period. But a properly socialized one that is shown to be docile is as gentle as a kitten. (I've seen one afraid to pass a cage of kittens, it was so timid) | ||
| AHCJR Citizen Username: Ahcjr1 Post Number: 11 Registered: 9-2003 |
I don't mean to imply that I have an agenda against the whole breed and I do agree that the issue is more about responsible ownership. From the news it seems there are fewer responsible pit bull owners than irresponsible (good for you jbirchby for being one of the former.) There are several dog owners on our street who all pass by the house with their pets on leashes. We even invite some of them onto the property to introduce us to their dogs and our boys have a ball. They are all on a leash though so that if the kids get frightened the owners can gently pull them away. I guess my wife's understandable reaction would have been the same had the dog been a boxer (which she has owned), a poodle, or Newfoundland. Unkown, unleashed dog on your property + young kids is a less than optimal situation. If it happens again, we'll opt for the neigborly chat option before letting loose the big guns (not that I condone or agree in anyway with what southerner wrote!) | ||
| Claudia Mattheiss Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2006 |
Dear Southerner: I was one of the volunteers that went to Lousiana for Katrina relief and I experienced first hand what the consequences are to the average southern animal caretaking. Dog fighting and rooster fighting is a huge sport in the South. We rescued close to 9,000 animals and for some reason none of the dogs where neutered. When I asked what's with all the unfixed dogs I was told that a southern man wouldn't own a neutered dog. So what's up with that yall? Is that the reverse of "something"-envy? By the way do your "breed" a favor and don't perpetuate the dumb, tough southern guy image. I have met plenty of real southern gentlemen (even the inmates I met while I worked in a prison in Jackson, LA). C | ||
| catmanjac Citizen Username: Catmanjac Post Number: 39 Registered: 2-2004 |
Claudia, I never laughed so hard, I'm practically crying! | ||
| jbirchby Citizen Username: Jbirchby Post Number: 60 Registered: 11-2001 |
It's funny how people's perceptions have changed after meeting my dog. My mom was dead set against me getting her, after a couple visits she loves her so much she now fights other family members for who gets to dog sit when my husband and I go on vacation. My husband's grandma refused to even meet her for a long time. Now she goes running up to other people's pitbulls to say hi. Tho I no longer live in the area, there were many occasions while walking her in Maplewood (the park near the train station where everyone lets their dogs go) that other people's unleashed dogs would come tearing out of nowhere at us. Nothing ever happened but I always wondered about owners who let their dogs run all over the place unsupervised. Forgetting all the other possibilities, aren't they terrified that their dog could get hit by a car? Anyway AHCJR, best of luck with your neighbor, hopefully she'll realize how irresponsible she's being and everything works out. | ||
| Tofugrl3 Citizen Username: Tofugrl3 Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2005 |
I volunteer at a local animal shelter as well as for a rescue group that rescues pitbulls, among other breeds. Perhaps the breed most over-represented at shelters across the country is the pitbull terrier. We have many that are awesome dogs with great personalities but will not be adopted simply because of their breed. Just today, a father told his son to stay away from the pitbull because they are dangerous and vicious animals. I found that to be totally unfounded, especially since, according to the CDC, the breeds responsible for the most bites in this country are labs, golden retreivers cocker spaniels and german shepherds. It is our experience that pitbulls are the most loving, intelligent, communicative, trainable and loyal dogs you can ever have. Due to a pitbull's intense desire to please their owners, unfortunately some people are able to teach them to become aggressive to other animals and humans, some even using them in illegal dog fights. The media only feeds the stereotype that pit bulls are inherently aggressive. According to statistics, labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels, both common household pets, are more likely to attack than pitbulls. Irresponsible dog owners are the cause of most fatal dog attacks. There are no evil dog breeds, only evil dog owners who make their dogs mean by abusing them. Any breed can be made aggressive and hostile by neglect and abuse. Pitbulls in particular have been in a firestorm of bad publicity, and throughout the country pitbulls often bear the brunt of breed specific legislation. One severe or fatal attack can result in either restrictions or outright banning of this breed (and other breeds) in a community. While any severe or fatal attack on a person is tragic, there is often a tragic loss of perspective as to degree of dangerousness associated with this breed in reaction to a fatality. Virtually any breed of dog can be implicated in a human fatality. Any dog, regardless of breed, is only as dangerous as his/her owner allows it to be. I've included a link to a video that will hopefully educate the ignorant and eliminate some of the negative stereotypes associated with this great family dog. "There is nothing to fear, except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings." Dorothy Thompson (1894-1961) http://www.pitbullproblem.tk/ | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 1310 Registered: 10-2002  |
I would start with a friendly knock on the door to the neighbor and explain that despite the seemingly good nature of their german shepherd, you're concerned about any dogs not on leashes, and you've noticed their dog off the leash and see they have a new dog. Given that it's the law and you're uncomfortable with the dogs off the leash around you and your children, request that they use the leash with the dogs going forward. If they say they won't or they say the will and don't follow through...call the police every single time you see one of their dogs off the leash. Even if the Pit Bull doesn't tear your face off or go for the jugular, it's still a generally aggressive breed. A friend of mine has a pit bull mix and even though it's "friendly" that dog is in my face (literally) all the time whenever I'm there. | ||
| jbirchby Citizen Username: Jbirchby Post Number: 61 Registered: 11-2001 |
What tofugrl3 said. If this dog is in your face all the time then your friend didn't train it properly. I've known many different dogs who are waaaay too in your face (barking hysterically jumping up and generally behaving like lunatics) does that make them "generally aggressive breeds" or does it just mean they have bad training? My friends pug bites all the time when playing and just cause he's small he gets away with it. But those bites can really hurt. | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 92 Registered: 12-2005 |
It was said above that most bites are caused by labs and retrievers, etc. Maybe so. But isn't there a huge difference between the bite strength of a lab and the bite strength of a pit bull? If a lab bites you, is it likely to nip and let go, or hold on and continue mauling? If a cocker spaniel attacked me, I feel I would be able to fend it off. Not so with a pit bull. What do you get when you cross a pit bull with a collie? A dog that rips your leg off and then runs for help. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 1313 Registered: 10-2002 |
This is true - even smaller dogs can be in your face all the time. But, somehow when the dog is 75 pounds of solid muscle in your face, it is more threatening than a 10 pound little dog. It's more threatening when a Pit is in your face than a little toupe with legs.... In addition to being more threatening, it also hurts more when their 3/4-inch thick claws scratch you as their jumping on you. I particularly hate visiting their house in the summer -- I have to remember not to wear shorts. (Yes, I know other breeds besides Pits fit this description....I'm really not trying to Pit-bash) | ||
| Tofugrl3 Citizen Username: Tofugrl3 Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2005 |
Another great site. It's amazing how many believe that pits have "lock jaws." Not sure where that stereotype originated, but there is no such thing. http://www.pitbullsoforegon.com/faqs.html | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3083 Registered: 12-2004  |
LilLB, have to say I take real exception to this comment: "Even if the Pit Bull doesn't tear your face off or go for the jugular, it's still a generally aggressive breed." Absolutely NOT true. I too have a pitbull and have had him for nine years, since he was two months old. He's a great big mush and loves everyone. And anyone who bothers to take the time to get to know him loves him back. Like Tofugrl, a lot of people thought my husband and I were nuts when we got him, and decided to be deathly afraid of him before they even met him. Mostly it was my in-laws. Now they love him to pieces and realize what a wonderful dog he is. I used to work for a vet who had a behaviorist come in and consult with clients who had dogs with attitude issues. Not one of those dogs was a pitbull, rottweiler, doberman or shepherd (all of the breeds that are supposed to be aggressive). I have known at least half a dozen other people who have the breed, and each of those dogs was a great dog. My dog has seen the birth of three children and gets along great with each one of them, and tolerates all kinds of nonsense from them. What a pitbull (and a rottweiler and a german shepherd) does have is a dominant personality. That is very different from aggression. These breeds need to know that the owner is boss, no questions asked. So the person that adopts these dogs needs to know how to be the boss. Labs and Goldens are dopey and couldn't care less about being the boss. They're just happy to have anyone pay attention to them, and are content to be the low man on the totem pole. Problems arise when folks who have no idea how to handle a dominant breed fail to take control. And control just means proper training and a strong, dominant personality. The reason you hear so much about pitbulls in the news is because the wrong people get them for the wrong reasons and treat them the wrong way. It's a status thing. And any dog can be nasty. | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3084 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sorry, I got sidetracked (I've had to defend this dog the entire 9 years I've had him). AHCJR, dogs are not allowed to be off leash when they are off the owners property. Speak to the neighbor and let them know you do not want their dogs on your property. No need to rationalize it by saying your kids are afraid. They're dog has no business on your property regardless! If you get no satisfaction, then I say call animal control every single time you see the dogs "at large." | ||
| Claudia Mattheiss Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2006 |
May I point out that the french woman who just received the first facial transplant was attacked by her labrador retriever which she had owned for six years. Please go and read the statistics before making judgement calls. Pits are not the number one reason for attacks on humans, actually not even close. Because of this horrible misconception thousands of pits are put down each year. And to LilB..pits are not a "generally aggressive breed" but the family they belong to and another group are known as the difficult dog group ... terriers and toys which combined are at fault for 74% of all dog bites. Pits in itself are a minute percentage in human attacks. Think before you trash them this attitude has been their death warrant. C | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 1314 Registered: 10-2002 |
My point on this thread is that all dogs should be on a leash and that they should talk to their neighbors first about their concerns about any of their dogs being off the leash. About the agressivness - Let me rephrase - I find a pit bull's agressiveness more threatening than that of other dogs that may not be as large or as strong. Is that more palatable? I don't think I'm the only person in this world that would feel more threatened by a pit bull running at me than a yorkshire terrier...Sheesh! | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 1027 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm not afraid of pit bulls because I used to live next door to Francis, a pit bull rescued from fighting, who did the talk show circuit and went to the schools with her moms to teach safety lessons to kids (about what I don't recall). Francis was the only dog my late husband ever allowed to come near our cats, and she allowed our cats, as well as her moms' rabbits, to torture her. I'm not at all a dog person, but whenever I see a pit bill on a leash I am pretty confident that dog has had great training and I feel safe enough to approach it (with owner approval, of course). On the other hand, I grew up in a house full of yapping, nipping poodles and stay far away from them whenever possible. Lil, I'd be afraid of any dog running at me, as well. Would you like to take a little pit bull field trip with me? I know a well-trained, family pit bull who can make you melt. Promise. | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1082 Registered: 3-2002 |
Southerner - puleez - I hope you either are taking the piss out of us, live elsewhere, or are just fond of hyperbole Claudia, First, how wonderful that you gave your time to help out - truly. Glad you have met some nice southern gentlemen...I agree that Southerner is perpetuating stereotypes ...but aren't you too? you wrote: "I experienced first hand what the consequences are to the average southern animal caretaking"...average, perhaps, for the little area you saw there or possibly in more poor or rural areas (Jackson?), but having been raised in the south & living there through my undergraduate years, I can assure you that what you describe is not average for an entire section of our country...rather, there are probably some socioeconomic factors that might make what you experienced more likely in rural VT or an extremely poor inner-city area than in Atlanta or some other areas of the south...I know no southerner who feels their manhood is somehow attached to that of a pet | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 7037 Registered: 5-2001 |
For the dog's own safety, s/he should not be roaming around the neighborhood without a leash. The dog could easily get hit by a car or get in a fight with another animal, especially if s/he wanders into the other animal's territory. Speak with the nieghbor first if you can but don't hesitate to call animal control if the neighbor won't listen to reason about leashing the dog. | ||
| mwsilva Citizen Username: Mwsilva Post Number: 482 Registered: 5-2002 |
Just focus on the law. Forget the breed and all the hype. If the dogs are on a leash, ok. If the dogs are in a fenced yard, ok. If the dogs are running loose, call the Township and insist that they be under control as per the laws. It is that simple. You do not need to go knocking on doors. | ||
| Camnol Citizen Username: Camnol Post Number: 246 Registered: 3-2005 |
The dogs should be leashed or fenced. Period. No matter what the breed or the size. I volunteer at the JAC. I have to say that my favorite dogs there have been the pit bulls. They have been such loves. I've been bitten once--not at the shelter, but by a previous neighbor's cocker spaniel that was in my front yard for some reason. Gosh darn thing sent me to the emergency room. | ||
| Ace789nj Citizen Username: Ace789nj Post Number: 273 Registered: 2-2005  |
Pit bulls? Why are we worried about them?! Chihuahuas....chihuahuas are the crazy ones. They bark like huge rats (if rats could bark) and they'll gnaw off your ankles!!  | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2164 Registered: 7-2003 |
I went to the CDC which I consider a trusted source. For the years 1979 – 1996, Pit bulls lead in the number of dog bite related fatalities. http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0047723/m0047723.asp#Table_1 “A clear distinction needs to be made between canine homicides (i.e., incidents in which dogs kill people) and the dog bite epidemic. The attention given to the homicides has put the spotlight on pit bulls and Rottweilers. Without a doubt, these two dogs are usually the number one and number two canine killers of humans. (See below, The dogs most likely to kill.) It therefore is correct to single out those two breeds when talking about canine homicides, because those two breeds cause half or more of the deaths.” Also from a CDC publication: http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html I would prefer to have a retriever bite me, then a Pit bull kill me. | ||
| Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 1161 Registered: 2-2004 |
Nobody’s arguing that Pit Bulls don't have an extremely powerful bite. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 1315 Registered: 10-2002 |
I was thinking about this thread last night (It actually kept me awake a bit thinking about it which just proves once again that I am addicted to MOL). My reaction to pit bulls isn't really about the actual statistics or the facts about pit bull attacks. It's not even really about pit bulls. It's about the fear of the potential of a strong dog like that -- name your breed rottweiler, pit bull, german shepherd, doesn't really matter. I'm not actually afraid of those dogs, in fact even though I hate the behavior of my friend's pit bull (being barked at ferociously when I come to the house, having to endure a 70 lb dog stand on it's hind legs and push against me for 5 minutes while it checks me out), I'm not really in fear that it's going to attack me. It's actually a pretty nice dog. But, when I see a dog like that in general, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking of the potential it has to do serious damage and I know as well as it does that it could actually kill me. My husband's aunt has a pair of Rottweilers. I've been around them and they actually seem like nice dogs. I don't have a problem with them. But, apparently one of them bit a neighborhood girl a few years back (I don't actually know exactly what happened, but I think they're being sued), and his aunt is walking around still thinking that because they're her "babies" they won't harm anyone and that they are well trained. This kind of thing frightens the heck out of me because I think of all of the people who tell me not to worry because their dog is trained and that they won't hurt me -- are any of them like his aunt?? When I'm walking down the street and see an owner and their dog, how the heck am I supposed to know how well trained the dog really is? This is why I like the leash law... This may seem like a stretch, but I liken the fear of or apprehension about these dogs to people who are afraid to fly. They know that the likelihood of their plane going down is slim to none, yet they are still apprehensive about getting on that plane. They're afraid of the possibility, if even slight, that it's going to be their plane that goes down next. I have also known people in my life who are DEATHLY afraid of CATS. They truly believe that if a cat gets near them it's going to jump up to their face and scratch their eyes out. You can't turn to those people and tell them they're idiots for having that fear and they should "do some research" and read up about cat attack stats or for the people afraid to fly to just get over it and get the facts about jet propulsion/aerodynamics before opening their mouths. Fear isn't really based on stats or a list of facts. Their fear is about the potential of such a thing happening, not the likelihood of it happening, and I think that is where a lot of the reaction about these large strong dogs comes from. I'm actually not afraid of dogs, in fact, I really like dogs - I find most of them really adorable...even the big ones | ||
| Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 1162 Registered: 2-2004 |
Along the lines of your husband's aunt who has her “babies,” I was hiking in Montclair one morning and a woman with a Doberman was walking around with the dog off the least. Well, the dog comes trotting (not a full run) up to me. It gets right in front of me and barks like it means business, all the while staring at my throat. The lady strolls up, “Oh he isn’t going to hurt you.” I was wondering if these were the last words I would hear. Finally as she stood alongside the dog, and I said, “Lady I love dogs, but you need to keep this one on a leash.” She apologized, continued to stand near the dog, leash in hand, without ever putting the dog on the leash. Actually she was a very petite woman, so if that dog got a notion in its head, I don’t like her chances on restraining it effectively, leash or no leash. I would have given her a harder time about it, but it seems as though the dog takes the protection thing very seriously. |
