"mean" dog stereotypes

[shais_mom]

To Carrie: All the little girl did was look at the dog?? What a nutcase!
Does anyone watch ER? Thursday night's epiosde was about little boy that came in with multiple dog bites. The mothers were arguing, the boy's mom said the dog needs put down, and the owner said something must have happened and so on and so forth.
Well, in the last 10 minutes it came out that the little boy had got a BB gun for his birthday and he shot the dog with it and that is why he was attacked.
I too was taught to be careful of dogs growing up even our own dog. Which is why it astounds me when childred toddle up to my dog as in my prev post. In today's SUE ME society I can't believe people do this!!

[carrie]

To be honest if I had not seen it all happen right in front of me I would not of believed it. The little girl was staring into the dog's eyes and the dog obviously took this as a threat. What I found the most disturbing was that the owner knew exacltly what was happening and did nothing to stop it. I have since spoken to the woman via a letter and have asked her to not stand with the dog in the line going into school. She now stands off to one side. I wrote to her as I couldn't trust myself to stay calm in person.

[bushwack]

I feel terrible that people would actually tell their children that your dog is mean just because of the breed. I have a doberman myself and he is the sweetest dog. Anyone who met him would love him. He is only mean if someone hurts our family then he becomes protective.

[JKRJG24]

I live next door to BoxerLover and I am one of her best friends!! Here is a picture of BoxerLovers Boxer Nikki!!!!!!!!!!

Is'nt she cute? how could anyone think she is mean? I think she is sooooooo cute and she is such a sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!

[BoxerLover]

Yes There is my sweet little baby girl! Thanx Jojo for posting it. I just wanted to say That I didn't want her ears clipped or her tail docked. For two years I wanted a boxer with natural ears and tail, but Nikki was a 10 month old rescue boxer and when I saw that sad face, I couldnt say no because of ears and a tail being cut off. I do agree that it makes her look a little meaner than if she had natural ears. Dont ya love her?

[BoxerLover]

I love my beautiful, happy, bouncy, hyper, loving, adorable, sweet, perfect, floppy-lipped, baby girl boxer!!!! Look at that face!!!!!!!!!!

[RachelJ]

OOOH, Nikki is BEAUTIFUL. You got yourself one fine animal. I can see why you love her to pieces. She is 10 months old so she still has a lot of puppy in her. Keep working with your dog and you will see setting aside a special time for play, exercise and "lessons" will pay off.

Thanks for posting the picture. When we talk about these dogs, it is so much fun to actually see them.

[BoxerLover]

Yes, thank you so much for the complements!
When I got Nikki from the rescue in June, she had kennel cough and infected lips and we didn't know it, but she was also pregnant! About two weeks after we got her, we took her to the Vet because we noticed movement in her belly and we knew she was pregnent. We took her to the Vet and they said the 6 pups could be due any minute. The thing was that Nikki was skinny when she was full fleged pregnant. That shows how undernourished she was from roaming the streets in Detroit.


Anyway, two nights later, 6 pups were born, from 8:13pm to 12:34am and my! was it a wonderful expirience! I had the best summer in my life watching those puppies grow! They were supposedly Lab/St.Bernard and Boxer Mix. Thats what they look like now. They all live in wonderful homes now and two live together, and one lives down the street from us and Nikki and her are best friends.


I am going to have a Birthday party/reunion on June 28 next year and no dout they will all be bigger than Nikki.


Nikki is doing wonderful now and she is not very skinny anymore and also has one of the softest and shiny coats I've ever felt or seen on a boxer, too. She knows how to sit,stay,down,stand,come,shake with each paw and both at a time, and she can sing and give hugs. I love her soooo much and I could go on forever writing about her, but I'll stop, thanx for reading about my beautiful baby girl, you can get back to your discusion.

[This message has been edited by BoxerLover (edited December 21, 2000).]

[Smilla]

Just a quick note: when I was younger my father taught me not to approach a dog who didn't look ready for play (tail wagging, licking, etc.--you know the look), and to offer up a closed fist, knuckles up, for the dog to sniff and lick first. That way, should the dog freak out and bite me, I wouldn't lose a finger. He also told me that dogs felt threatened when stared at.

[This message has been edited by Smilla (edited December 21, 2000).]

[shais_mom]

I was always taught that even if the dog looked friendly, never try to pet it on the head, It may think you are striking it, Always offer your hand below the chin. Of course if they are going to bite, its easier to reach

[karen israel]

Here's another defense on behalf of Boxers. I barely remember my uncle's boxer, only that we met eye to eye and I got slimed. One of my best friends' rescue boxer, sadly had to be put down due to cancer a few weeks ago, but "Niecey" was the most outstanding dog. She instinctively had manners, was regal, friendly, playful. My friend entertains alot and when food was on a coffee table, Niecey never, ever touched it. She was so loving, I'd let her lick me forever. Guard dog? When his house was robbed, she told the burglars where everything was! We all miss her terribly, but he never let her suffer. He is in the process of being approved for adopting another boxer. He said he would never get another, it's too early..but he loves the breed so much, he can't wait! If accepted, her name is Molly. His house is not a home without a boxer!! So there!!!
And as I've mentioned before, my neighbor's pit bull is friendly and sweet. Another kisser, lays on my feet (he knows I'm a sucker and will rub bellies forever)Just like bratty, unruly kids, it's parental guidance, upbringing and care. Like Logan's remark, Cody, a YL/GR mix cannot be trusted. He's extremely protective and territorial. Of course, as I've stated, I did not socialize him enough due to ignorance, but that's the point -it isn't always the breed, but what you do with them!!!

[ownerof3dogs]

As we are on the subject of parents not teaching their kids how to approuch dogs. this past Holloween wasn't a very nice one. I always lock my dogs up in another room because the costumes drive them nuts. well it was about 9:00PM and we hadn't had and trick or treaters for over an hour. So I let my dogs out. well I was in the bathroom doing something and I heard I faint knockm at the door. So I turned to get the dogs so I could answer the door. when I little Girl who was a 5 dressed as Scoody Doo swung the front door open and screamed TRICK OR TREAT
well my dog Hercules isn't fond of kids as it is and this girl scared him and he grabbed her hand and startd to shake it. Luckly i was not down stairs or i another room i ran and grabbed his tail and pulled him back. I screamed at the girl to shut the door. I locked the dogs up and ran out side.
I was so scared thank god though that I was there. he didn't break the skin he got more of her costume.
I felt really bad but How could her father stand there and let her open someones door and walk in there house?. Not to mention I have a Beware of gaurd dog sign hanging right on the door!.
The next day the dog warden came and Herc had to be put in Quarintine. but the dog warden said it wasn't the dogs fault.
Parents need to start teaching there kids to respect other people and their animals.

[lhg0962]

Ownerof 3dogs...
What a horrible experience for you and your dog. I'm with you, what parent would let their child open someone's door and walk in their house at 9 o'clock at night, Halloween or not. I'm so glad that everything turned out alright.
Last night, after dark, one of my friends came by to bring a Christmas present, and she did the same thing (of course we know her). Honey loves her, but she brought three little boys right in the door too. Thank goodness, Honey just got scared and ran into the other room. I immediately warned all of the children to leave her alone and love on Lilly instead. With just Helen, things are usually real quiet around here and that unusual situation just set poor Honey off.
People have to be more careful!! This whole discussion serves to remind us about taking care with our children and everyone's dogs, including our own.
Happy Holidays to all of you. Hope Santa is good to all of our furry friends.

[Sophies Daddy]

Well, after seeing Nikki's picture, I can't imagine why anyone would think that she's a mean dog! She looks like such a sweetheart I just want to reach out and hug her.

I do also believe that kids should be trained better. In my training club we always say that it is easier to teach a child manners than it is to train a dog off of it's instincts. The following normal child behaviors mean different things in dog language:

Child Behavior: What it means to a dog:
Yelling Viscious barking
Screeching Hurt potential prey
Running around Hurt Potential prey
waving arms trying to escape
Quick, jerky Agression
movement
Riding the doggie Dominance mounting
Chasing the doggie Agression (or play)
Roughousing Dominance challenge
Staring Dominance challenge
Fear Potential prey

It shouldn't be too difficult to teach a child that these behaviors can make the doggie mad but that, if they learn not to do them, that the doggie will usually be nice.

My mother has a dog that will forever be fearful of children because a pack of evil ones (her former boss's neices and nephews) chased him, cornered him, and scared him so much that he pooped. I can't imagine what could have happened if he was a fear biter; after all, he is just eleven pounds and probably thought that they were going to eat him! Even so, it scarred his perceptions for a long time and it took several years to get him to willingly go near new people. He would probably be a much more social dog if that hadn't have happened.

[Genia]

Nikki is a lovely lady! With that face I don't think I could ever be afraid! I was at the vet's office the other day and an elderly man was there with his dog. It was obvious they had a close bond; the man would talk softly to him and the dog seemed to listen to every word he said. I was trying to figure out what breed he was when the vet assistant said, "What a beautiful doberman". I was surprised. He hadn't been cropped or docked and what a difference. Normally a dobie would have seemed a bit intimidating. Sad thing to say, but that's the perception. Docking or ear cropping is not what makes a dog mean, sometimes it's the owners