Dog and owner called bad names?!

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Popcorn,

Just as Aspen and Misty said, not all dogs are mean. I was terrified of dogs my whole life. I was attacked by a GSD when I was only 5 years old!

I grew up in the city and when my father was in town (he travelled alot) he used to take us on picnics out in the woods. One day, my brother and I were "exploring" and saw a broken up lil hut. We didn't like it one bit, so we decided to turn around. At that moment, an old crusty man came out and had about 5 huge GSDs! Bigger than I am now! And he told them to get us! My brother and I ran as fast as we could, but one of the dogs got my by the leg. Fortunate for me I was wearing jeans, or that dogs would have ripped my calf off! Heck, he would have torn throw me like lamb chops! I screamed and my father had to shot the dog in the leg to get him of me. I was rushed to the hospital to get my leg stitched and the dog was rush to the vet. My father says that the bullet barely grazed the dogs leg, and that the dog was given to family that lived up in the mountains.

For 15 years, I had been terrified of dogs. If I heard one bark down the street, I wouldn't go down it! If I knew someone had a dog, I wouldn't visit. I hated going to my Grandparents coz they had dogs. I would steer clear of them!

Then 2 years ago, Andrew wanted a doggy so badly, that I decided it was time to get over my fear. We got Drake and the first few months were very tough on me. If Drake barked at me, I wuld freak out. I wouldn't even feed him treats out of my hand. I would throw them to him!

Now look at me!

[Cincy'sMom]

I guess I am just too much of a dog person...I see a dog running up, tail waggin and I can't wait to pet it! I was bit as a child by my aunt's dog and it never stopped me from loving every dog I see. I may be a hesitant if a dog is barking and growling, it just isn't something i have encounter with a strange dog, and I can totally understand having a fear of dogs. And maybe I am biased, but to see may Sadie girl, it would be hard to stay afraid of her. She would make you love her!

[wolf_Q]

Lol, Cincy'sMom, I'm a doggy magnet too. If I see any dog, I have to go see them, unless they come to see me first! Of course as you said, you can tail if a dog is not friendly...I'd obviously stay away from them. I would love to see Sadie running up to me with her tail wagging! Just as long as Reggie isn't with me lol. Reggie's not a dog hater, he loves Smokey, and he's good with McKinney, Lady, and my aunts dog, Heidi....just strange dogs when he's on a leash...not a good thing.

[yorkster]

Originally posted by ramanth

Once, while I was walking Kia, I had someone start going on about how Kia was the Spawn of the Devil (no joke) and I was a Devil Worshipper for even owning such an animal and that we were destined for hell.

What???!! Why?!
People can be so ignorant...........it's a DOG for heavens sake. how could it be evil?

[Cincy'sMom]

That is a tough question. I do not think any one has the right to tell you what to do with your dogs. People who come over to our house know we have dogs, know they are friendly, and know they are probally going to get licked. I am not going to lock my dogs up, esp. for a long period of time to accomodated guests. I will do my best to control my dogs, but like children, they don't always listen

At the same time, while I personally, would not be intimidated by dogs, if I knew the owner and knew they had well trained dogs, I can see where some people might be. I think I would have be upset by the way things were handled. If instead of demanding that the dogs were not to come near her, I think I would have explained that so many dogs made me uneasy and could some of them be kept separated and rotatedina nd out the garage, kennels, whatever. That way none would have to be locked up for a long period of time and 4-5 at a time would be easier to handle then 15.

Bottom line for me is, ask me to do something and I wil try my best to help you. Demand it, or tell me how to do something, and just to be stubborn I'll do the exact opposite. I am obstinate like that though. I guess in this case, i wouldn't end the frienship, I'd just say thanks for the offer tohelp, but we are fine. Then limit your dealings with this person to places outside your home.

[yorkster]

well said Cincey!

[ramanth]

Yorkster, I think Kia's eye's just freaked the lady out. It happens.

Mike, I do not think you are over reacting at all. If someone said that about my furbabies, I wouldn't want them in the house at all!

Were you offering to pay her for her help? If so, she probably just wants money and cares less about your friendship. Why else would she offer?

But if you had not planned on paying her, and she offered, I have no clue what's up.

Best of luck to you and Molly.

Andy and I plan on visiting soon.

[mugsy]

I talked to the friend that's in the middle of all this mess and she agreed with us that it was pretty much out of line, however, she wasn't going to take sides. I don't blame her, she has to live with the person!! lol The "friend" that made the statement did TRY (and failed miserably) to make it sound like a request to do something with the dogs. When I told her that it wasn't going to happen, the subject was dropped with her shrugging her shoulders. I am not so upset about losing the other person as a friend because we did have a long talk about it and she is NOT going to let this affect our friendship in any way shape or form. (She's the friend that when she comes over she always says she's going to knit herself another dog with all the dog hair...jokingly of course).

[xoxjoaniexox]

I have a Yorkie that weighs 5-1/2 lbs. (considered small). I've had people say:

1. Boy she looks like we could mop the floor with her!
2. People with big dogs have said "Boy my dog could heat her for
a snack."

I just don't think anyone should make fun of someones pet. Obviously we love them. Tiffany might be small but oh what a personality. Not to mention that she's gorgeous! lol

[toughCookie]

I don't have any dogs, but once, I mentioned that I think pug dogs are cute, and someone said they are ugly and look like they are walking backwards, meaning their faces look like their butts!
I thought that was awful to say!

[Fett]

Slave of 15 dogs, nobody SHOULD tell you what to do in your own house. It is your house afterall. You know how your dogs react to people better than anyone. They're your dogs. If the person feared your dogs, and you reminded them that they are friendly and won't get in your way, then they should be fine with that.

[mugsy]

Well Andy, you would think so wouldn't you. You met 2 of our dogs last weekend, were they scary?? Btw...I thought Kia was absolutely stunning and VERY well behaved...no devil spawn there!

[Rottie]

I generally get 3 kinds of comments.

1. I get a lot of comments that Carl is "ugly" because he is not "big". Or that he is too "skinny". These kind of comments usually come from big macho guys who think the only purpose of dogs is to impress their friends with.

2. And then there are the people that cross to the other side of the street if they see Carl coming in their direction. Some people are so dumb sometimes. But, in a way it's kind of nice, because when you're in a crowded area, you never have to push your way to get through, because everyone sort of moves out of your way!

3. The last group of people say what a cute "puppy" you have. When I tell them he is 5, they can't believe it. I think it's because, most Rotts are FAT, and Carl isn't. So when they see a normal weight Rott, it must be a puppy.