re: I was crying, the whole story.

[LorraineO]

Originally posted by Suki Wingy
I know, He has always been pretty wary of strangers though. Yesterday there was music and lots of bikes/ people at the park and so we went and stayed towards the outside and he did awsome.

Suki... you just dont seem awfully concerned about the safety of your dog... PLEASE dont ever leave him unattended again,,,, one day you will be sorry you did..... just because he is wary isnt safe guarding him from harm..... Wake up and smell the coffee before its too late!!!! We dont wanna see a post in rescue or worse even,,, pet memorial!!!!!

[KYS]

When I was 18, (many moons ago)
I use to tie up my dog outside of the store.
I took my dog everywhere with me.
One day a worker came up to me, and
told me, I should never leave my dog tied out because
someone might steal her.
I was very naive and extremely honest.
It never occured to me back than that anybody would do something like that.
I never left my dog unnattended again.

Possible reason's:
1:As for the roller blades/bike riders. Dogs also have
a prey drive and like moving objects.
2: Not all dogs like strangers.
Think of it. Why do people think that dogs love
everybody? Do you like every stranger you meet?
Or like you suggested something/someone from the past
could have scared your baby.

What ever the reason's.
Give yourself and your pup a big hug and
think about doing what is best for your best
furry friend.

[Shelteez2]

I was reading a semi annual pamphlet that is put out by our local spca and it was listing some new and some not so known by-laws for our city.
It brought up the fact that dogs tied up outside of stores and such are considered to be "at large" and are treated as such if they do anything....whether it be actually biting someone, or jumping up and scaring someone. Here it could mean up to a $1000 fine.

I agree with everyone and suggest not tying him up outside unattended anymore. You may trust your dog, but you cannot trust the strangers walking by your dog.

[luvofallhorses]

Ditto what everyone else said. I would never ever leave my dogs unattended like that.

[cyber-sibes]

Poor Nino! You've gotten some good advice here on some behavioral things. I personally worry about someone stealing my beautiful babies too - not so much now that we're in the country, but the kennel is still out of sight of anyone passing by. There really are people out there that WILL steal your dog - my friend lost his shephard that way and my other friends had BOTH their golden retrievers stolen.

[Suki Wingy]

Originally posted by Suki Wingy
I know, He has always been pretty wary of strangers though. Yesterday there was music and lots of bikes/ people at the park and so we went and stayed towards the outside and he did awsome.

Originally posted by LorraineO
Suki... you just dont seem awfully concerned about the safety of your dog... PLEASE dont ever leave him unattended again,,,, one day you will be sorry you did..... just because he is wary isnt safe guarding him from harm..... Wake up and smell the coffee before its too late!!!! We dont wanna see a post in rescue or worse even,,, pet memorial!!!!!

Thanks,,,,,,A LOT! Your post kind of upset me. If you couldn't tell from my post, I had him at a focused Fuss (heal, I use german commands when I really want him to listen because the language is different from normal talking, and it seems to work much better.) the whole time, and we stayed to the very outside of it, even though he loves these things. I think the very first post says that I am never going to do this again, I already realized it. I see now,I want to thank everyone who gave me advice about what could be causing his reactions. It became very clear with your help, I was just to upset that night.

[Suki Wingy]

Originally posted by Suki Wingy in the first post
I have been taking Niño around town and tying him up outside of stores for the past three or four years, but I think I will have to stop.

What I meant was I will stop. I thought I had said this, but this is a re-type of the original that I had lost, so I was going kind of quick. No matter how hard I try to explain the bond I have with this dog, people don't seem to get it, what more can I say but that he is my heart dog, my soul my reason for living, we share emotions and almost thoughts.

[LorraineO]

nice to hear youre gonna stop,,, .. consider yourself lucky nothing happened to him.

[K9soul]

It's obvious to me that Nino is your whole world and that you would never deliberately place him in a situation where you felt there was a chance he could come to harm. When I was young and first had my collie, Cody, I lived in a very small town and had him trained to down-stay perfectly. Sometimes I'd walk him with me to the dime store and have him down-stay outside and go in to get a candy bar. The whole front of the store was a big window so I could always see him. At the time, I perceived no danger and no one ever bothered him, but looking back it's scary to think what could have happened had something startled him and he ran out in the street or someone do him some harm before I could stop it. Of course I did come to realize and think of those possibilities, and stopped. I was young, trusting, and naive, and just wanted my boy to be with me all the time. Some might have concluded I didn't care enough about him because I placed him in a situation that could have been dangerous. Those people do not know my heart though. I would have been destroyed had anything happened to him. At the time, I simply did not perceive it to be a dangerous situation.

Suki was obviously very upset and alarmed by what happened and came here to pour out her heart and hope for some explanations and advice. I think it's wrong to pile scolding and judgment onto her when she already realizes the error in what she was doing, and VERY hurtful to suggest she doesn't care about her dog. We've all been judged and looked down on for our actions at some point, whether we were at fault or not, and know how bad that hurts. Please try to remember that before pointing fingers at someone obviously working to correct a mistake.

[luvofallhorses]

Suki,

I am sorry if my reply offended you I don't think Nino's a bad dog at all. We do know that you love him. Again I am really sorry

[Buddy Blaze Lover]

Oh Eva, I know how you feel!!! I can't take Blaze out in public without his attempt to bite someone!! And don't consider yourself a bad person because you left Nino outside that store...I would have done the same thing, you're NOT a bad mom, really!!! I hope things work out.

[Suki Wingy]

Thanks, it has been going pretty well so far, I go onto the grass and have him sit and look at me when a bike passes, and he does nothing.

[LauraT7]

"he is my heart dog, my soul my reason for living, we share emotions and almost thoughts"

Suki - I DO understand - my Tristan was the same for us, and like you, we took him 'almost' everywhere with us. Stores, camping with scouts, picnics - heck, he even went to church with us sometimes! The only times wer left him behind was in places it was posted 'no dogs', or times it would not be safe or we would have to leave him - like the car would get too hot, or the errands too long to guaranty that he could stay WITH us. If i couldn't leave him in the car, or with a friend, even to go to the bathroom - he stayed home. ( and he didn't stay home much!LOL)

However, there were some big differences between my dog and Nino -

First, Tristan was the most self -confident, secure, assertive, but non- agressive dog I had ever met. NOTHING bothered him. Noises, machinery, people, other animals - he was totally unflappable. Alert and interested, yes - but he never 'reacted' in a nervous or agressive way to anything. We once took him to a crowded pet show at Chicago's Arlington Park Racetrack, to work a rescue booth for GRROW. Thousands of people, animals, strollers, etc. and he laid down in the aisle in front of our booth and dozed while kids rubbed his tummy and strange dogs all around. Gawking bystanders would walk by, and accidentally kick him - not looking where they were going, and he'd just raise his head and look at them with a puzzled look. He never barked, (except at home while playing) and only once did I see him put another dog in his place ( when the dog tried to mount him - we were visiting a friend who had a 'pack' of 8 dogs, and Tristan got ahead of Zeus in line for treats. Tristan did a quick growl and snap, warning Zeus to 'back off' and the pecking order was quickly re- established without even ruffling anyones fur! For the rest of the day, Tristan and Zeus played like long-lost siblings and even shared food and toys!)

Tristan was utterly trustworthy in every situation. I had total confidence that he would never, even accidentally, hurt or frighten anyone.

You have said that Nino shows nervousness in certain situations. Any time a dog feels insecure in any way, opens the possibility of unpredictable behavior in those situations.

While I trusted Tristan utterly and totally, I NEVER trust other people.

I have seen and heard so many stupid things people do around dogs - I would never leave my dog alone with even the most well- intentioned stranger! and by leaving Nino outside, alone - especially where you can't see him and where other people can get close to him, is asking for trouble.

I know how devasted you would be, if someone teased Nino into biting them - even if it was deserved - and he was impounded and destroyed. It IS possible!

when I first got Tristan - he had been neglected, though not intentionally abused. Tristan was a total love -bug, and he had been left alone too much. When we got him he was 'mouthy' - he would take your hands and gently chew them like toys, or grab and pull on them. he also jumped up on people, to get their attention and get petted. In the first weeks of having him - I was over at my mom's condo, on her porch, when her neighbor came over to pick up his kids that my mom was babysitting. the man is nice enough, and a good neighbor to my mom - but honestly, he's a real idiot when it comes to animals. He started playing with Tristan, kinda slapping him and cuffing him around the face, playing rough and teasing. Tristan was on a leash at my side, and I asked him to stop. Tristan was getting excited and biting at the guys hands. i got between them and explained that I was trying to train Tristan OUT of play biting and jumping. the guy's response? "Oh, he likes it, he's having fun!" as he kept trying to tease my dog. I got really angry with him, told him to keep his hands to himself and stay away from my dog, and I took Tristan and put him in the car away from the neighbor. A few weeks later, this same guy called the police on another neighbor, because their dog knocked over one of his kids. Not 'bit', not 'scratched', but 'knocked over' the 7 yr old kid by jumping up on him and trying to kiss the kid! ( and I had seen this man do the same rough play with that lab, that he tried on my Tristan.)

People can be really stupid!

As for Tristan, I didn't really have to 'train' him not to mouth and jump. The simple act of including him in all our activities made him secure enough, loved enough, that in a few short months the jumping and mouthing vanished. He got enough love without having to beg for it!

I think sometimes, that as true dog lovers - we sometimes think of our dogs as 4 footed, furry people. We LOVE them so much! But as much as you love Nino - and I know you do - I've seen it shine thru in so many of your posts - you can't expect him to act with the reason of a human - and refrain from acting like a dog. You also have to protect him from all those stupid idiots out there, who DON'T love him, and think nothing of his feelings.

He looks to you to keep him safe and loved, always. think of it this way - would you leave a toddler in his stroller in the same places you left Nino? Nino has no more ability to control those situations than a toddler does. so I'm glad you realize that it's not a good thing to do with him anymore!

Nino is such a sweetie! and lucky to have an owner who wants to be with him so much!

laura

[Suki Wingy]

Thank you for sharing Tristan's story with me