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The story above rather illustrates how we have come to take the good nature of dogs for granted. The number of times I've heard people say that the dog has never shown any signs of biting before - just after it has bitten a child or chased and attacked livestock. It is a reminder that a dog is a dog and is still servant to the instincts and drives buried deep within it and this is so often overlooked. I'm as big an offender as the next person and have leant heavily on all my dogs good natures.
The working collie from the next door farm to us in Cornwall was a hard working and trustworthy dog. He worked the sheep and cattle on the farm, never strayed and would defend his territory. One day he savaged four of our sheep, three of which died and one had to be put to sleep. Three others lost their lambs. We heard the commotion and got there as the next door neighbour did. The dog went back to working on his own farm and was never a problem again. One of our own Greyhounds, who walked quietly past the chickens every day of her life for two and half years, was left out of sight for a couple of minutes. We ended up with five dead chickens. In both cases it was lack of respect on the part of the humans concerned that caused these incidents. We should of known better than to leave the Greyhound loose on her own and the farmer the same with the collie.
What is viscious and what is a dog acting naturally with no leader in sight?
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my dog Felice is a really nice dog but she hate small animals. Sje has killes 3 skunks at least 5 rats and the worst of them all She killes two puppies. We had a litter of mixed breed dogs. We almost got rid of her because of that. But the vet said that sometimes when A litter of pups is born to a female that is not the Alpha the Alpha female(felice) will kill the pups. Because they don't have the strong genes of the Alpha.She also hates small dogs.
I hate when people say "my dog would NEVER bite." I don't care how friendly your dog is if it is provoked or frightened their instinct is to bite.
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Shais Mom, thank you for the complements on Nikki and what an awful story! Again, it wasn't the breed that acted this way, it was the dog. And yes, I agree that people should'nt say that there dog is harmless because it may not be. Owner of three dogs, some bitches kill puppies in there litters if they have a lot and they know they won't have enough milk to feed them all. This is natural, dogs did it in the wild.
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I agree with you, BoxerLover, that certain breeds get wrongly judged. So breeds like boxers, dobermans etc are believed by some people to be big & rough & unpredictable.
One area of dog 'work' has proven that this is not necessarily so...& that's pet therapy. Pet therapy dogs work among very vulnerable people...sick children, frail elderly people, & patients with severe injuries. And big dogs do very well in this work & they're on a website to prove it.
Go to www.therapydogs.com On the home page are 2 magnificent dobermans. Click on News at the side. The news story tells how a doberman roused a serious burns patient to respond, for the first time after admission.
Click on other E-Mail Stories & chose 'Mindy'
Up will come a story about 2 boxer pet therapy dogs, Mindy & Brandy...with a lovely photo.
At the children's hospital where our little dog does pet therapy, there are 2 huge, gentle german shepherds co-workers. Child patients, well enough to play, tumble all over them.
Also friends who own a small tibetan spaniel tell us how he plays great games with the huge rottie next door. The game finishes with the small dog draped over the rottie's head gently chewing his ear...to both their delight.
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BoxerLover- you are right. It could have been any breed of dog, it just so happened that they were boxers. Our neighbor had a Great Pyrnees and several people tried to shoot him, b/c there was a dog in the sheep!!! It wasn't until he was caught eating an already dead sheep, that people worried. To my knowledge he did NOT kill the sheep.
Another neighbor of ours had a very mean dog and you couldn't get near the house when he was out. Then one day the owners came home and found their dog mutilated and torn all over their GARAGE, we started to wonder what would do that! Rumors were flying around that it was a bobcat, coydogs, even a cougar(and in our area of OH its highly unlikely), or possibly another neighbors boxers(?not sure)/pitbulls. We never did find out what killed that dog, unfortunatley.
I agree with Carrie, a dog will follow its natural instinct. I believe that is why when my greyhound gets loose, she just runs, she is following her primal instinct to run. And there is little I can do to stop her, even tho basic obedience training would help I am sure!!
happy new year!
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Sorry to post 2 in a row but had to add my 2 cents worth about what happened once again at the vet today. Shaianne and I are sitting there minding our own business when this lady came in with 2 children and a pet carrier with a poodle and her puppies. The kids were oohing and ahhhing over Shaianne and then what do you know here they come the little girl practically fell across her. To say I was irritated was an understatement. My first thought (well ok second thought!!!!) I have to post this!!! Shai doesn't really mind kids, I have cousins and a nephew that climb all over her. But a strange child lurching across the room at my dog, gets me worked up!!! Thanks!!
[This message has been edited by shais_mom (edited January 05, 2001).]
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Some dogs can be trusted with children throwing themselves all over that dog, but parents should ALWAYS ask if it's ok to pet the dog, and should always talk with the owner to make sure the dog does not bite. Not all dog owners will admit to the fact that their dog may bite, tho, and it's a shame. Parents should not only ask if the dog bites, but they should be able to read the dog's body language before sending the kids to pet it. Some parents are WAY too trusting, and I pray that they don't pay for it with a not-so-friendly dog.
Sometimes kids (of questionable upbringing) will come up to Graham and throw their arms around him without asking if it's ok, or if he bites. I adore kids, and so does Graham, in fact I have always believed Graham would be happier in a household with kids because he loves them so much, but the parents should ALWAYS ask before they come up to ANY strange dog. I was at the park a few weeks ago and a family with a couple little kids came running up to Graham. They were just about to walk up to him and cuddle with him and the parents, instead of yelling out, "ask if the dog bites before you pet it" they yelled out, "be careful, you two". I felt it was giving the kids false hope that all dogs are friendly. I stopped them before they approched Graham and made them aware that they should always ask before they pet ANY dog. After I talked to them, of course they asked if he bit, but it was only because I had to tell them first.
It sure would be nice if parents taught their kids to always ask before they pet a strange dog. It's easy for kids when they live with a dog that is normally untrustworthy, but most kids (at least where I live) have friendly family pets, and therefor, believe all dogs are friendly because of that.
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I think you are right, Adore, about most kids who run up to a dog, having family pets that are friendly and they mistakenly believe that all dogs are friendly. Parents must warn their kids about unfriendly dogs. I don't have too much of this problem because I walk two German Shepherds at a time and when the kids run up to them, the kids usually stop in their tracks when they look at my Killian (he's 110lbs. and looks mean). THEN they ask if they can pet them. Luckily my two are kid-friendly. However, kids MUST be warned by their parents of the danger of strange dogs.
I must admit, though, even I ALMOST made the mistake of petting a strange GSD at our first obedience class. (I am not afraid of GSDs because I've never met a mean one personally.) It turns out that she was a fear-biter and I MIGHT have gotten bitten. (It turned out that she did like me and did not feel threatened by me.) If she did bite me, though, it would have been my own stupid fault.!!
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***Save a life, ADOPT***
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Okay, I have to admit it - I was always one of those kids who wanted to pet any dog, despite my parents' warnings. The only scar I have on my face is from a neighbor dog, Reggie, a terrier mix who was usually confined to his own yard. I must have been about 3 or 4, and was playing in the front yard when in walked Reggie - so I threw my arms around him and hugged him like I did my own doggie. Well, Reggie chomped, and I was as shocked as I was hurt. I have a small (1/2 inch) scar right below my left lip, to remind me, as my Mom and Dad said then, "Not all dogs are hugging dogs, Wren-wren."
I will stress that my parents knew about dogs, and taught us often to be cautious around strange dogs, and how to approach them, etc., but I was too interested in the new doggie to remember their instructions. This extended to other species as well, only my Grandfather's hand firmly on my shoulder prevented me from trying to pick up the lovely blue-grey very feral kitten in his yard. The kitten's mama was hiding, crouched a few feet away, and Grandpa KNEW what would have happened had I tried, but still endured several minutes of "But, Grandpa! ..."
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SAME HEAR BOXERLOVER!!!:MAD:
I HAVE A ST.BERNARD AND WHEN I WALK HER PEOPLE YELL KUJO!AND RUN AWAY:ROLLEYES:
I GETS ME SO MAD!!!!!!
SHE IS SO GENTLE!!!!!
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MUD PUPPY
