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

[Lisa M]

Re: receiving end

Originally posted by artemis4951
i nearly got attacked today while walking my dogs. so i can somewhat relate to mr. paranoid.

this same dog goes after us every day and he's unrestrained and completely unsupervised. i don't think his owners were home, even.

for the last week, as i jog by this dog's home, he runs up to the fence, goes through a huge hole in it, and chases us down the street.

I have similar situations near me, I've found pepper spray is very helpful. Since I've had it I just point it toward the apporaching dog and say "NO" in a voice that conveys that I'm not scared and if you come any closer you will be sorry - the dogs have all stopped dead in their tracks and turned away. It is amazing (much easier than changing the route, running, yelling or having to kick or hit a dog with a stick). You might want to get some even if this one dog is taken care of with animal control, you never know when a stray dog will be around or a dog who is used to being in his yard somehow found a way out.

 

[Linda]

Originally posted by Lisa M
People who don't like dogs do have the right to go about their business without being approached by a dog that they may be scared of regardless of whether it is friendly or not.

I agree Lisa. I have to remind myself that few people like our dogs as much as we do.
But in the situation with Bumper, I think the man should have VOICED his concern/fear rather than striking him. I know the man had no way of knowing if this dog approaching him was aggressive, but I think he should have handled it differently.


Last summer while camping, I had Bailey tied to a long lead in our campsite. She could just reach the edge of the road. A woman and her children were walking by. Of course, Bailey saw a little kid (a girl about 3) and got as close as she could (at the end of her leash). Bailey was all wiggles and wanted to see the girl. Bailey walked along "following" the girl as far as her leash would go. The girl screamed, "THAT DOG IS CHASING ME. GET AWAY YOU MEAN DOG!"
Bailey was tied, couldn't get near the girl, and was NOT acting aggressive in any way. I felt very sad for that girl. And the mother just stood there and smiled.
Kids need to be taught respect for dogs and learn never to approach a strange dog, but I felt this girl was extreme.

 

[Lisa M]

And maybe you could pepper spray the guy too, jicksies, just in case I hope you didn't think I meant the guy was justified in what he did in my reply, I totally understand how upsetting that must have been for you.

I just meant to keep your dog safe from people who might be scared and over-react like that I think it's better to call them to heel when off leash until you can tell if it is safe for them or not. It's not just out of respect for their rights but also to keep your pet safe from all the loonies we have in this world.

Casper is a total maniac and still can only be let off leash at dog parks or contained areas. He would terrify people even though I know he just wants to play with them. But he runs like a jack rabbit - I look forward to the day when he'll be as well trained as Sumi.

 

[jicksies]

To Lisa M....

Thanks for your response and I am sure you didn't feel what the man did to Bumper was justifed either...hmmmm pepper spray....good idea! ...I do want to say though that I did heel Bumps to my side but at the time of the incident Bumper had trotted a little ahead of me (it was straight up hill and I had the two pups on leads-quite the endeavor!), and there was a blind corner so I had no idea a man was even approaching from the other way. It all happened in a matter of seconds and the man gave me no opportunity to even heel Bumps; he immediately swung out at Bumper. By the way, I don't want to give the impression that this man was elderly and handicapped-he was my age approx.(40) and did not have a handicap. He was merely using his hiking stick as a weapon. This park that I go to is virtually empty every day of the week as well and that is one of the reasons I love it so much and feel comfortable about having Bumper off-lead. I have run into other dog owners there over the years who have their well-trained dogs off-lead and they feel the same way about this park. We have no dog parks in our area unfortunately so 99% of the time all three of my dogs are on a leash. Anyway, live and learn I guess. I just miss the good ole days when fear of dogs was minimal-all the publicity regarding dog attacks(bad owners) has really hurt us dog-lovers(responsible owners) and I just feel like things have changed forever...signing off now...time to run my puppers!!!!

 

[TypeAMommy]

Education

I also agree that education is key...when I told my father we'd gotten a boxer, even he said "oh aren't those vicious?" I quickly explained to him,--as I do to everyone I meet on the street!!--that we chose a boxer SPECIFICALLY because of their great temperment, especially around children. However, as those of you who read my post about our completely trustworthy golden retriever mix biting my 3 year old recently know, ANY dog of ANY breed can be unpredictable, or make a mistake...so I really agree with Lisa M's first post about people having a right to feel completely safe from even friendly dogs.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

Re: Boy am I gonna get railed for this...

Originally posted by TypeAMommy
We cannot assume that every dog is friendly as our wonderful boxers. Some people are terrified of ANY dog.

I agree and I know how hard it is to try and tell someone that is freaking out on your dog that they don't bite and to stop. Many times in the past when mine were still pups they would chase people who ran from them (natural instinct for a dog). The person would be freaking out thinking my dog was trying to bite when all they were doing was playing chase. I would be yelling at my dog and telling the person to stop running so the dog would stop. Once a person is scared they do not listen to one word you are saying. With much obedience trainig mine have now learned to control theirselves. I couldn't be mad at someone for hitting my off leash dog out of fear but can understand the frustration felt as the owner of the dog knowing my dog would never hurt anyone. I also can't imagine watching someone hitting my dog repeatedly. It would be very hard to stay calm and not get angry. Jicksies, I think you handled the situation well giving the circumstances but keep in mind the guy must have been scared 1/2 to death to react in such a way. Hopefully nothing such as this happens again and you and Bumber can forget it.

 

[EMWAZ]

Well I'm sorry your baby was hit with the cane. The story I have to relate was after my late boxer Buster was diagnosed with his cancerous tumor. I was walking him in the park and a black labrador ran up to us and was loose and he really scared me because of Buster's condition. I was afraid he might hurt him and if I had too I would have protected Buster with whatever means necessary. The owner thought I was crazy and came over to get his dog. I just reacted that way because I didn't know what was going to happen and I was scared.

 

[jicksies]

Hitting Bumper...

Hi Alisha...I do understand that there are MANY people out there who are afraid of dogs, terrified even but I still feel the man's abusive response was out of control. When I rounded the corner Bumper's ears were back, tail tucked (as much as he could with his lil stub) and was dodging blows from this man's cane (walking stick). If Bumper had charged him, if Bumper had growled at him or showed his fangs, if Bumper had attempted to jump up on him, then YES by all means do what you have to do to protect yourself...but THIS was NOT the case. I understand why leash laws are put in place but I do NOT feel it gives any one an AUTOMATIC RIGHT to hit my un-aggressive, well-trained dog. Yes, I had Bumper off-lead as I have done in the past but ONLY because he is so well-trained and has basically EARNED this privilege. I still pick and choose where he can be off-lead and I always carry a leash for him with his collar already on him. Alisha, I feel your post regarding this incident is saying the man had a right to hit Bumper because he was off-lead. I strongly disagree. I wonder how you would handle it if you witnessed someone striking your dog....it's awful, simply awful. The man was definitely "not all there" because when I asked him to please move aside and just let us get by him (only one trail out of the park, no turning back) he told me "NO" and then told me to just turn around and go back. He said too that he wanted to continue this fight until he was "good and ready to leave"...that scared me even more because I felt his intention was to continue the altercation...it was almost as if he was enjoying the power struggle...here I am with two pups on leashes, Bumper now on a leash and one trail that leads up and out of the park. I finally said, "If you don't let me by with my dogs, I can't guarantee you won't be bitten" By then of course Bumper is sensing my fear and his hackles were up...and believe me, at that point I was relieved! I finally just "pushed" myself by him with all three dogs in tow, and actually feared he may strike me next. All of this-Totally UNCALLED FOR. Do you really think someone has a right to strike your dog without ANY provocation whatsoever? Simply because he's not on a leash?

 

[Timmy S.]

Jicksies....I completly agree with how you feel. That man had no right to do all of that. I commend you for controlling your anger in light of such an aggravating experience. As for me, I have zero patience for ignorant people like that. The more and more I hear about this guy wanting to continue to beat your dog until he was, "good and ready to leave", the more and more I think that this guy deserved an ass kicking. Sorry folks, but that's just how I feel. I would have had to hurt him. I just hope that your experience jicksies is a once in a lifetime one, and that none of us have to go through something like that too. I hate to think of what I would have done to that guy.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

Jicksies, I'm sorry you thought I was saying the guy had a right when all I was saying is the guy was probably scared. I understand exactly how you feel. I've been in this type of situation before but mine ended up w/ an injured dog and a huge vet bill. Tyson got loose, was playing around in the yard, went up to a neighbor and got his head split open w/ a garden hoe. Tyson never growled, showed his teeth, acted aggressive, etc but the 80(?) year old man was scared si**less. I still don't understand to this day why the guy was scared but he did tell me he thought Tyson was a Pit. I explained to him that Tyson was a Boxer, he wasn't aggressive, etc. He told me he was trying to kill my dog and if he could of gotten to his gun he would of shot him. I told him I understood if he was scared and felt he had to protect hisself, I would do the same. I felt it was partly my fault for my dog being loose.:( After I tried to explain to this guy that Tyson is not mean I then went in and cried my eyes out for what had happened to him.

I don't want you to think I'm trying to say it's your fault or that you shouldn't of had Bumper off leash. I walk mine off leash often and like Bumper they have earned that right in a way for being obedient. I just always try to look at both sides of the story and from your first post it sounded as if the man was scared which could explain his actions. From your last post it sounds more like he's just an a**hole. Either way I still think you handled it well like I said before.