http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=4
I hope the above is the correct link to the beginning of the story.
Mr. & Mrs. Neighbor have decided to keep their shelter dog, despite Mrs. Neighbor’s fear of the dog. Mr. Neighbor, for reasons I’m not quite sure of, phoned me to (1) dismiss my concerns about the dog; (2) state firmly that his dog wouldn’t hurt anyone; and (3) warn me to stay off his property. I don’t quite get that last as the problem is keeping his dog on his property.
The other day I was returning from a walk, just as Mr. Neighbor was walking across the road. I stopped to be pleasant and next thing I knew their dog was in front of me. Even Mr. Neighbor was surprised to see the dog, which Mrs. Neighbor for some unknown reason had outside without a leash.
Mr. Neighbor grabbed his dog’s collar and then all hell broke loose. The dog went wild, snarling, snapping, biting Mr. Neighbor’s wrist and arm whenever he could get purchase.
I don’t know if the problem is aggression, dominance, collar trauma, a glitch in its hard wiring, or the obvious – lack of consistent training. But I remain convinced that dog is really going to hurt someone someday.
someday? seems he just did the ‘other’ day.
And what did he say when you told him that?
Sorry, you’re link doesn’t work.
Perhaps you’re trying to link to this thread?
I’m afraid of a dog I’ve not even met from September 2?
So his own dog attacked him right in front of you and your dog? How badly was he injured? Do they still have the dog? How serious are the bites? How did he get the dog back under control?
**someday? seems he just did the ‘other’ day. ** Well, you’d think that, but since he only bit Daddy and didn’t draw blood, the decision is to wait and see if he does it again before making a decision about doggy’s future.
half-elf, don’tcha hate it when the perfect rejoinder comes to mind just after hanging up the phone? I was sound asleep when the phone rang so all’s Mr. Neighbor got was a mumbled “yeah, whatever”. One does not “tell” him anything except what he wants to hear.
Senegoid, thank you for fixing the link. It’s time I read the manual.
kittenblue, yes they still have the dog. They are waiting to see if he attacks again before making a decision about returning him to the shelter. Meanwhile, they are considering in-ground fencing. Yes, it happened about 3’ from me and my dog. It seemed to me that Mr. Neighbor just held up the dog so its front feet were off the ground until the dog gave in. Along with lots of yelling and some dragging of dog towards the house.
I feel for the dog, though. I can’t say if he is or isn’t salvageable, but he shouldn’t be penalized because his owners are idiots. He shouldn’t be, but likely he will.