Let me add to Sauron’s description of our doggies living situation…
They have a nice, large fenced in back yard to play. They both have dog houses with comfy beds in them. We feed them and give them fresh water every day. My oldest son plays with them both every afternoon when he gets in from school.
Our next door neighbor only works one day a week and she brings over her doggie to play on a regular basis and gives them all some treats.
If we could allow the dogs to live indoors I would…but they are just too large and I don’t want them inside when we are both at work.
And as my beloved mentioned…we bring them inside when the temp drops below 25 degrees as our vet has instructed us to do.
I promise they aren’t just left alone outdoors 24/7.
No shit!! “My pitbull is different, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Yeah, right. That’s what every pitbull owner says before the dog maims some child.
The guy who installed my cable told me that he had been bitten three times, and one of them was a lab. I don’t think any dog is too sweet to bite someone.
(I do like dogs, but I would never have a pitbull around my child.)
Unfortunately for the OPer, dogs know when people don’t like them and will make it their life’s mission to change your deluded mind. We know one lady, Andi, who detests dogs and every dog in the neighborhood follows her around as if she has bacon in her pocket. Her utter indifference makes her completely irresistible to them and her contempt merely validates their devotion.
FWIW, I do put Buddy the Beagle out in the yard after he’s followed her around for an hour or two. Don’t want him to wear himself out. When she leaves, he sighs heavily as if to say, “Mission failed, but man, she’s sooooo worth it.”
My dog will jump on people IF I’m not there. ( Or so I’m told). HE won’t do it to me or my SO. He won’t do it when he knows I’m @ home and nearby.
When he doesjump on someone, he’s put out in the backyard.
I wish that more people knew to knee dogs this way. It might help my dog be better behaved when I’m not looking.
I know it’s my responsibility to train him, but I’m not sure how to go about training him to behave when I’m not there. Dumb dog.
I met a very sweet pit bull a few months ago who adores kittens. And not for lunch – maybe she has more than the usual share of maternal instinct or something, but she loves kittens. I’d never leave ANY dog alone with kittens, but I’d be happy to introduce her to mine if I had one.
She also likes people. This dog has been heavily socialized. Kudos to the owner; yes, there are breeds that can be more aggressive by nature, but a combination of decent breeding, socialization and training can produce a perfectly nice dog. The key is knowing what you’re doing, which is what an awful lot of dog owners lack. I’m not a dog expert, but I’ve done some reading and an awful lot of observation of our dogs. You can learn a lot that way.
Indygrrl, that’s a very ignorant, and very sad statement to make. American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers are some of the most wonderful and affectionate “people dogs” that exist. They are far more tolerant and affectionate towards little kids than most breeds. As a general rule, pits can and will happily withstand a world of toddler poking/pinching/stepping on that would drive a less tolerant breed up the wall. They adore people (make horrible “watch dogs” because of this) and have historically been severely bred and culled against human aggression.* That’s more than can be said for practically any other breed.
~mixie
*This excludes your friendly, neighborhood drug dealer/gang banger/backyard breeder of poorly bred and socialized, neglected and abused pits where the intention is to create a “badass dog” etc.
I have a very small (8 pounds and well trained) dog. She is friendly and does like to greet visitors, but when there is alot of commotion or alot of kids in the house, I put her up. It’s safer for her (being so small, and all) and safer for the visitors. Many people are scared of dogs, no matter what size.
Regarding the OP, I also have a friend with a jumpy, ill mannered dog. I hate going to her house because I spend so much time getting the dog off me, out of my face or crotch, hoping the dog doesn’t ruin my clothing, and watching the dog bounce from the back rest of one couch to the back rest of the other couch while sniffing everyone’s hair and face. I really wish my friend would take the dog to an obedience class. I just don’t go to her house very much because of the dog. He’s a nuisance and makes visiting her unpleasant.
That sounds like a very nice situation for the dogs. What has been knotting my knickers lately is whenever I let my dog out, there is always a dog a few houses away that starts barking. I know that poor animal is probably alone because it is the only dog barking. Its been below freezing here frequently the past week or so, and I imagine that animal is no closer to seeing the inside of that house as I am. Dogs are pack animals. I think it is also cruel to leave a dog completely alone for extended periods of time. The rodents that are around (rabbits, squirrels) also are not good company for a domestic animal (cats too) as they are usually home to fleas, ticks and lice.
I see you are living in a more temperate environment, however heat can kill too. I know most dogs are able to handle extremes in temperature better than most humans, but I still am hesitant to make my pet endure any extremes that I myself would suffer in.
Obviously your dogs are from neglected. But there are many idiots out there that treat dogs like easter chicks, disposable. When the animal starts getting larger, starts teething, starts bothering you for attention, it is too easy for some folks to condemn it to the backyard. It isn't the poorly trained animal whose barking is disturbing you, it is the poorly raised owner whose neglect is disturbing you. Puppies grow up, too bad a lot of owners don't too.
I’ve almost used the kneeing trick with kids at theme parks more times than I can count. They forget the “make way for tonnage” rule, and I don’t always see little ankle biters. Luckily, having dogs, I’m quick to adjust to obstacles in my path.
When the shoe was on the other foot, I made a tag at home plate playing softball when I was 12 that sent me sprawling about 10’ when a middle-aged dude unloaded on me. I jumped up, covered in dirt and little scrapes, yelled “OUT!”, and spiked the ball in his face (very 1970s). Bad ass pre-pub I was. My dad was so proud.
