Bla bla bla.
I live in an urban area, where it’s not a problem.
Let it rest. You don’t know where I live, what it looks like around here. What the laws are, how they are enforced.
No I don’t mean that at all. I have a scar on my face from a dog attack when I was 3 years old. I also have a child myself, and there are a lot of children in my neighborhood. I get really pissed off when I see unleashed dogs. I just added that unleashed dogs in my neighborhood are even more unappreciated because a large percentage of the community is afraid of them, and so it is also a discourtesy to them.
Thanks for the clarification, Opal.
I hadn’t gotten the impression of you as a vigilante seeking to enforce every rule on the books - whether it impacted you or not. But was a little confused by your references to your neighbors’ fears.
Thanks again.
My friend’s daughter is 15. Good thing she wasn’t a toddler or she would have been in much worse shape. She was petting the dog and being too close to it (lots of people will do that) but the guy was right there and didn’t feel it was a problem. You just can’t tell, especially with “questionable” breeds.
My own experience with dog bites came from a friend’s terrier who had puppies. My friend’s mom carried me into the basement so I could look at the new puppies from up high. Well, the mom jumped up and bit me in the ass. Ohmygod! Just like in a cartoon. No serious damage to said ass.
Okay, maybe I should clarify. The “dog”, not the “mom” bit me in the ass. She was a very nice lady. Not prone to biting kids in the ass.:smack:
This reminds me of the debate I had with a co-worker about smoking. She was adamant that the new bi-law being proposed (no smoking in restaurants or areas where children were aloowed) was infringing on her rights.
My explanation, no one is saying you can’t smoke they are just saying you have to do it in certain areas, much like, no one is saying you can’t shit in the middle of the office carpet, we’d just prefer if you went to the toilet.
No one is saying that you can’t let your dog off leash, just do it in an area where it’s either allowed, or is remote enough that you are no going to run into other people or other dogs.
actually, as far as I’m concerned, yes, I am saying you cannot (in the sense of ‘may not’) shit in the middle of the office carpet. (or the sides etc.)
thankyew verrra much.
In my case, I was with my grandmother at her friend’s house. I was 3 years old. One of her neighbors let their dog run around freely. It was a short little weiner dog. But I was a short little toddler. Anyway, my grandmother’s friend let the dog into her house and it bit me. At the hospital, they had us sit and wait until they could call in a plastic surgeon to fix it, rather than the regular surgeons. It was pretty damned messy. Now I have a scar, and instead of lip on that side, I have a little bit of the inside of my mouth stretched out and sewn to the skin. I can sort of hide it color-wise with makeup, but you can always see the dents.
here is a pic that shows the dents pretty well. here is the same photo, after I retouched it to get rid of the scar. scar when I was a kid…another. It used to be quite red, now it is a more normal color.
Dinsdale and others: I hope you at least leash your dogs if you take them with you on road trips. While travelling on an interstate during vacation, I unfortunately noticed what appeared to be the remains of a golden retriever who must have gotten loose at a nearby rest area.
Man, that must have been a terrible experience, Opal. Of course, you are a beautiful woman, scar or no.
One side note, it is often awkward to correct visitors when they interact with your dog in a manner you don’t like. A common one is if you wish your dog to not jump up on people, but a visitor thinks it is cute and encourages it.
Or when a kid comes in, and gets down and puts their face right in my dog’s. It is very frustrating to have people respond to your reasonable requests about your dog in your house - as either unreasonable or suggesting your dog is unusually vicious.
I have encountered very few vicious dogs in my life. But, every dog IS a dog. And liable to react in ways a human might not immediately understand.
I have known some very dominant and aggressive dogs. Guard dogs and the like. Naturally, I don’t interact with them the same way I do with an overtly friendly lapdog. But they have rarely given me any trouble - and none that shed blood.
As I indicated, I feel more comfortable with large dogs. I seem to have a better feeling for their moods and triggers, and how their bodies work, than I am with little dogs - or cats. I have been bitten many more times by cats than dogs. Or - for example - my friend’s bichon friese - who came up to me with his tongue out and tail wagging, and when I put my hand down to pet it, it sank its teeth into the webbing between my thumb and forefinger. I admit I had my guard down. Tho small, it was still a dog - and to some extent - unpredictable. Now I tend to be pretty cool to most little dogs - and cats. They have plenty of folks to pet them. Don’t need me for that.
Jeff - at rest stops, if there are any other dogs present, my dog is either on leash or I take her as far from the other dog as possible. Yes, some dogs run into traffic. No, my dogs never have.
The most common road trip we go on with my dog is to my father-in-law’s place in Michigan. He has 300 acres, including a private lake. Talk about doggie heaven! It is a riot to tell, by every fiber of my dog’s being, how happy she is to be up there - chasing geese, swimming in the lake, running around, etc.
It is my earliest memory, and I remember it very vividly.
I know what you mean about seeing a dog so very happy. We go up to New Hampshire every year and Sparky is in heaven. My family has a summer cottage on a lake.
here are some very cute pictures
Great pix of a beautiful dog, Opal!
Looks quite similar to Daisy, tho Daisy is a little smaller and darker.
No one can look at those shots and deny that dogs can smile!
Loved the one of Sparky climbing up the ladder.
Our lake has a raft with a boat ladder. The first summer, Daisy would swim out to the raft to be with us or the kids, but needed help being pushed/pulled up the ladder. Son, however, she apparently taught herself to climb the ladder. We will let her out the door in the morning, and look out and see her on the raft all by herself. Like she just felt like going for a swim!
Sparky seems to like sticks the way Daisy likes tennis balls. Does Sparky ever do that thing while swimming, when he(she?) can’t find the stick, and kind of “stands up” in the water to look around? Cracks me up.
Man, this is getting way too sweet for a Pit thread!
I have a huge dog and have no problem controlling her on a retractable leash. The real problem is that people buy too much dog for themselves. A 90 pound individual cannot control a 90 pound dog even if the leash is 4 feet long. Meanwhile, I can control my big dog (German Shepherd) with one arm and the two beagles with the other. Of course, most (and both my) beagles only lick you to death and love children.
I have developed some tough arm tendons from those rare occasions when the GSD goes a little sketchy. It’s a little like doing seated rows at the gym, or fishing for sharks. Pull, hold button, pull, release button, snap leash forward, hold button, pull, release button, snap leash forward, hold button, etc. Reel the bitch* in like a fish. This takes some arm strength. My wife has no chance. She physically cannot safely walk a really big dog.
The oft-heard argument, “it’s the owners fault,” ignores some basic genetic facts. Dog breeds were bred for specific purposes. For example: GSDs herd and guard while beagles sniff and chase small animals. Yes, you can work against these tendencies. But, like people, some dogs just don’t follow the rules. No amount of “alpha dog” psychocaninebabble can bring some dogs into line. You must be able to physically control your dog.
*She really is a “bitch.” Not to be confused with “ho” or “biznitch.” That would be sick.