Brie ... Micki is absolutely right. You DON'T know me at all. And I find it incredibly rude and presumptious of you to act as if you do. But, I'll attempt to let you get to know me a little better in this post. Be careful what you wish for ...
Originally posted by Brie
twisterdog... the difference between you and me when we go to dog parks is....
False assumption number one: Where did I ever say I went to dog parks? I said specifically that I do NOT go to dog parks. So, you have no idea what I do when I go to a dog park ... since I don't even go, and you've certainly never personally seen me at one, have you?
I go and talk to all the other owners in the park. By the time I leave not only have my dog interacted with every dog there. I have interacted with ALL the dogs AND the people.
You claim to have interacted with ALL the dogs and ALL the people at your dog park. Small dog park? Or do you stay there for twelve hours? Because some of the large dog parks cover miles and miles of trails, and hundreds of people and dogs may be using them at the same time. Don't assume every dog park is like your dog park.
If you automatically crawl up into a little hole and put up a wall, how's ANYONE going to ever get in? you'll never get a chance to know if anyone is ever trust worthy if you don't take that risk and extend your hand for that first shake.
False assumption number two: You obviously haven't read too many of my posts, have you? If you had, you would see that my personality is ANYthing but a hole-crawling, wall-building, risk-avoiding wall-flower. I take PLENTY of risks, dear. You have no idea what my life is like. The fact that you would even attempt to analyze me, and be sooooo far off the mark to boot, is very amusing to me. I said I won't go to dog parks. That hardly means that I am a sniveling basket case of terror, now does it?
Nothing in this world is guaranteed to be safe. Have you ever heard of harm reduction? It's a term most commonly used in drug education. Basically applying it to this situation... by taking my dogs to the dog park I am teaching them how to behave with other dogs of a variety of sizes and personalities in a variety of different situations, therefore reducing the risk of future problems..
False assumption number three ... that my dogs do not know how to behave with other dogs of a variety of sizes. If you would have read my posts more carefully, you would have seen that I mentioned that instead of going to dog parks, a group of people have organized, and private, sessions with our dogs. My dogs are VERY well socialized, and have never been the cause of a fight. They are used to dogs from 5 pounds to 200 pounds. One of their best friends is a mastiff. Since you've never met me or my dogs, and apparently you don't read too carefully, you should not assume anything.
I have a a 17lb Boston terrier, so I too am a small dog owner. Yes he goes to the dog park and he loves it! Yes he does go over into the big dog area and into parks that don't have that seperation between big and small dogs....
False assumption number four ... that everyone has access to a dog park that has a "big dog" and a "small dog" area. You said yourself that you don't take your dog "into parks that don't have that seperation between big and small dogs." You are assuming everyone lives somewhere where they have that luxury. To the best of my knowledge, which is fairly extensive since I own a grooming shop, boarding kennel, do breed rescue and direct a no-kill shelter, there is no "seperated" dog park for over 200 miles from here. That'd be a bit of a drive. I also mentioned this fact in one of my posts.
I think you're putting you're dogs at a greater risk by not socializing them with dogs of ALL sizes. Cause now, they don't know how to play with big dogs...
How incredibly rude - and false - to say that I've put my dogs at risk by not socializing them, and assuming they don't know how to play with big dogs. Where, pray tell, did you EVER see me say or imply anything of the sort? I normally have between two and four foster dogs at all times, for one thing. (Although I've taken a bit of a break lately.) That is in addition to all the other dogs they meet between my work, my volunteering, my friends, my family, and the groups of us that get together with our dogs. You, frankly, have no clue what you are talking about. You think just because I don't go to public dog parks that my dogs get no socialization at all? My, what a giant leap of logic that is.
And I think it's sad that to protect you and yours you're not open to new experiences that require a little bit of risk.
I have to ask... do you enjoy roller coasters? How about cooking? Do you take asprin or any medication.... have you read the warning labels on these? Do you operate a motor vehicle? -- All of these things are a risk every time you do them.
I can't decide if this is funny or just pathetic. You have NO idea about me, or my life. What a lot of melodramatic hogwash.
And Ms. Wolf_Q .....
I needed to go take a shower and actually accomplish something!
Where are your priorities?? 
Edit: I just realized that you said you DO take your dog into the "big dog" side. When I first read it, I thought you said you did NOT. Sorry, my mistake.
Last edited by Twisterdog; 01-19-2004 at 11:28 PM.
"We give dogs the time we can spare, the space we can spare and the love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made" - M. Facklam
"We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams."- P.S. Beagle
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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