What is WRONG with PEOPLE today!!!!???

[jicksies]

...Ok ok I've just about had it again....Another bad experience with my three boxers at the park...Beautiful day, sun is shining, Park is nearly empty...I'm walking up a windy trail with my two pups on leashes and my older boxer leading the way with no leash (very well trained)...come around the corner and there is a man, a creepy looking man at that, hitting Bumper (the older boxer) with his cane! Dear God, what is wrong with people today!? I tried to CALMLY tell him to PUT THE CANE DOWN and he refused! He kept screaming "get your dog away from me NOW you blankety blank!" Again, I told him, "Pleaseee put the cane down and do not strike my dog." To no avail...he is swingin the stupid cane like a mad man and Bumper, poor Bumper is freaking out. Now I'm mad...really mad...Bumper is as sweet as they come, has never hurt anybody, jumped on anybody, even growled at anyone and here is this maniacal man attacking him!I finally managed to get by this man, dragging the poor pups along and heeling Bumper to my side...This man was SCREAMING AT ME the whole time! There was a split second where I actually wished Bumper HAD BIT HIM but am thankful he didn't. I feel as if times have changed for good; that I can no longer go to the park with my dogs and RELAX and ENJOY them...I miss those days...Thanks for listening...needed to vent...so frustrated and even feeling sad about this...I feel trapped too, wanting to take my dogs out for a run and hesitating because of these past several events I've had with people "out there"...I just don't get it. Anyway, thanks again for listening everyone...had to get this off my chest...

 

[muttersley]

What an idiot. I had a similar experience when Tess was 4 months old. She sniffed at a joggers heels and he screamed out and kicked at her saying she was vicious. Vicious a 4 month old boxer pup!!!

I think I would have struck the guy my self I would have been so angry.

Hope your baby gets over the experience soon.

 

[DoomRat]

There would haev been an ass kicking happening right then and there. Sorry, but any person EVER strikes at my dig and I will hurt them. No if's, and's or but's about it. You should have taken that cane and beat him upside his thick skull.

 

[TypeAMommy]

Boy am I gonna get railed for this...

Guys, I have to say this. I know I'm hitting on a SORE subject, but hear me out. We cannot assume that every dog is friendly as our wonderful boxers. Some people are terrified of ANY dog. Others have had a bad experience with dogs. In my city, there is a leash law, and we aren't even allowed to have our dogs off leash unless we're at one of the few city dog runs. That's why we have a fenced backyard. I think it is really unfair to put someone in the situation of feeling potentially unsafe (this man did NOT know if your dog was friendly) and then berating him for being scared. If any dog I DID NOT KNOW was off leash and my 3 year old and I were walking toward it, I would get out of the way, and pick up my child. I know I've just stepped on a thousand toes, but you really need to see how others feel, and know that not all dog owners are as responsible as I'm sure everyone on this board is. There I've said it. Fire away.

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

TypeAMommy,
I agree with much of what you are saying. I love my dogs and they are well trained but I understand not everyone loves them like I do. I think it is sad when people are scared of my dogs since all they want is to be petted and loved but I also realize that a 75 lbs, 27 inch male boxer can look intimidating.

The reason people are scared of dogs is due to past experiences with dogs that were not trained or were vicious. We don't often hear about all the dogs out there that passed a CGC test but we do hear about dog bites.

I have also learned to be careful around unknown dogs by myself and with Bru and Amaya. You NEVER know if that dog is trained, is it up to date on shots, is it dog agressive. Brutus was once biten while greeting another dog becsause that dog was dog agressive. I have done everything I can to keep my dogs safe and happy but unfortunately there are others out there who give dogs a bad name.

Jicksies- sorry about your experience. The best way to overcome situations like that is through education and owners like you who have well trained dogs.

 

[Linda]

I completely agree with the responses so far.

NO one knows which dogs are nice and which are mean, but... to strike first and ask questions later seems a bit harsh.

I think unfortunately there are so many irresponsible dog owners, it ruins it for the rest of us. :(


We went camping and motorcycle riding a couple weeks ago. I took the dogs to an empty part of the campground to run around. I was watching Bailey and heard this yell. I turned around to see this little boy on his motorcycle with Remy sticking in his nose in his helmet. :p The kid had stopped and was perfectly still. He yelled, "is he nice?" Of course, Remy was wiggling his tail and just wanted to say hello. I apologized to the boy and said Remy wouldn't hurt him. He reached down and patted Remy's head and went on his way. I called Remy back over to me and again apologized to the boy if he had been frightened.

 

[jicksies]

People and dogs....

I agree that there are people out there who are truly terrified of dogs and do understand and even have compassion for those who have had bad experiences with them. My neighbor down the street was very afraid of my three boxers (even the pups when they were three mos. old) and he explained to me he had a bad experience with a dog when he was a child and he has been traumatized ever since. I, myself also have a fear of bees (stung inside my ear as a child...imagine the buzzing INSIDE my ear) but have worked diligently to overcome it. Anyway, I felt bad for my neighbor and we have worked together ever since with introducing my dogs to him slowly. I have educated him as best as I can regarding how to handle an approaching dog, how to avoid eye contact, etc...and it has helped him tremendously. As far as the "Crazy man in the park", I still feel he over-reacted and had absolutely NO BUSINESS striking Bumper. Bumper was not literally trotting up the trail with no signs of aggression in his body language. I think it is ignorance on the part of some people who do not recognize the difference between an aggressive situation and a non-aggressive situation. Even when the man struck Bumper, Bumper looked to me for guidance and did not strike back. I love my animals and love to let them run free when they can. There is a field behind my home (about 30 acres) that I let all three run free...However, when I took the pups and Bumper to this park I knew to leash the pups not only for the other people there (my pups love to jump up to greet people) but for their own safety as well. Bumper and I, on the other hand, have been going to this park for five years and I am quite confident he will be safe there and basically IGNORE other people-he's more interested in all the new SMELLS! I guess the bottom line here for me is this man was way out of hand with his cane and his attitude. By the end of the trail, another couple approached me with their "unleashed" giant schnauzer and told me about the man with the cane...He apparently went after their dog as well further down the trail. Something's wrong there... definitely wrong. I feel for people who have had awful experiences with dogs, I truly do, but I also feel some education regarding canines can help them in lessening their fears in the future and allow themselves to enjoy the park as well. Dogs and parks go together...Thanks for your honest input all of you...I hope these experiences I've had doesn't interfere with my enjoyment and I hope Bumper has not been too traumatized...

[Edited by jicksies on 03-24-2001 at 05:19 PM]

 

[Jennifer(Jenny)Jones]

I agree some people are afraid...some have alergies...I have to admit even with the leash laws I allow Baxter outside the fence in our front yard. I am close at hand though and he does not stray. I also go to parks and unleash him...but only early in the morning when no one is around and he never is allowed to go far enough that I can not see him or easily call him back!!! The one that got me last year was a man who refused to get on the elevator with us because he "hated" dogs, not the lady who had alergies or the man that was fearful!!!

 

[snell06]

i come from greece and and untill recently dog owners were very few and kind of isolated.i myself didn't know how many dogs there were in my neighboorhood untill i got my own a few months ago.
when Boris goes out people are intimidated by his looks.the poor guy is friendlier than a sheep.the first thing everyone asks is"is he a pit bull?" i don't know how things are in the us ,but here specially older people don't have any respect for dogs,and dog owners as a result...i guess it's mainly due to the fact the are misinformed and afraid.things are gradually changing though.that's good for everyone!

 

[TypeAMommy]

Phew!

I'm so glad to read all the recent posts...I was really afraid I'd be "blacklisted" for my pro-leash remarks! I love my Koolba, and I really look forward to some great trips together as it warms up...but I also know we have a long way to go training-wise before I could rely on her, for example, to come back when she's interested in something else...and of course, that's essential if you want to keep them out of the street! I wish everyone was committed to teaching dogs to be good citizens...but until then, we'll just have to get really long leashes or all chip in and buy farms!!