I don't care how fucking friendly your dog is...

[MonkeyFunk]

keep him on a leash on public streets.

I was walking my guy (male, unneutered) today, and up ahead of me, about a block, is a woman and her 3-year old kid, and their unleashed, unneutered male.

Now my dog's pretty friendly. I'm sure her dog was, too. But I don't want to even get into the possible scenario of a conflict when there's a toddler right nearby.

So I hold back, walk real slow. She stops with the kid to draw with chalk on the sidewalk. This is not a quiet residential street - it's a busy street that cuts across town.

So I put my guy in a sit for a few minutes and wait. She sees me, finally, and gets up. I figure she'll pull a leash out of her pocket and move on. No.

She takes the kid and keeps walking. Her dog stays there, staring at my dog. Again, I'm sure he's a fine dog, but I know two unneutered males often have some fussing to do before they figure out who's who.

She comes back, grabs her dog by the collar and walks ahead. I'm done seething and start moving.

After about 20 feet, she stops again to draw on the sidewalk, dog totally ignored.

GRRRR!!!

So I keep my guy on the far side and get into a trot and run right past them, saying "C'mon guy, let's get past these fucking idiots" loud enough for her to hear.

I hope her kid asked her later "Mommy - what's a fucking idiot?"

[marzipanni]

1. I have a feisty girl dog who growls at other dogs when they get too close

I keep her on a leash, and apologize to people whose dogs want to play. I appreciate it when other dog walkers don't assume the dogs will get along.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. As long as the dog's on leash

I don't get stressed at all. I know I can move my dog away, and they can do the same, if a situation occurred.

Having said that, I've never had a situation where something DID occur. There have been a few times where the other dog bared his teeth and I just move on. My guy is big and goofy and good-natured, but he's also unneutered and "impolite" (by which I mean, he jams his nose into the genitals of every dog he meets - and just like gym locker-rooms, that's met with a huge variety of responses).

But there was a toddler right there, and I didn't want to take even a 1% chance that something would happen.

[gr8dane_daddy]

3. Hmmmm, don't mean to sound pontificative (sp?)

but why are the boys unneutered? Beside the aggression issue, there are health implications.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Because he's a purebred

who I might like to breed some day.

It would be a real shame if every dog were neutered. I'd miss them in 20 years.

[gr8dane_daddy]

8. My Dane is a purebreed as well,

but I got her as a pet. I decided to spay her for health reasons mostly. She's a healthy 9 year old Dane, most don't act like her at her age. Besides that, unneutered dogs can become very aggressive...I've seen the most sweetest dogs go ballistic at the doggie park every week.

[tavalon]

5. The only time our young lady is allowed off leash

is in the off leash parks designated for the puppies to go and play together. I love Seattle for having such places. She does too!

[MonkeyFunk]

6. Yep!

I have no problem with such places - I think they're great. And I'm willing to accept the responsibility for going there.

But when I'm just out for a quick walk, I keep my dog on-leash and well-behaved (as much as I can) at all times, and I expect the same from others.

I have taken my guy out late at night off-leash to do his business - around the block. He's never more than 5 feet away from me. But mid-day, on a busy street, with a toddler nearby... nah. Use a leash.

[tavalon]

7. Alas, that kind of responsibility is lacking in many

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Damn right! And I don't want your goddamn dog touching me, either.

I don't care how friendly you think it is, or how fucking cute and wonderful you think it is, keep it on a fucking leash, and keep it the hell away from me.

I don't want your filthy dog rubbing its disgusting fur on my pants, sniffing my crotch, licking my hands, or running circles around me. Keep it on a fucking leash.

I'd love to just euthanize every unleashed dog I come across, except that it would be mean to the dog - it's not their fault. But if I euthanized the owner, they'd call me a murderer. Now THAT is a fucked up legal system.

[zanne]

10. Rabrrrrrr.....Do you oppose unleashed dogs on the streets?

Sorry; I couldn't resist.O8)

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. No, of course not. Why don't you read my post next time before responding

instead of putting words in my mouth.

:eyes:






















:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[warrior1]

11. Can I ask

you why you just didn't ask her to leash her dog? I'm sure if when we encounter folks who aren't thinking, it's just kinder to tell them to mind their dogs. I have and people are pretty understanding. After all they are dog people.

peace

[Cannikin]

15. I agree, the passive aggressive approach isn't going to teach her anything...

anymore than honking at a bad driver. And the profanity in front of the child? Yeah, next time just ask the lady to put the leash on (her dog).

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. reprehensor took Fargo out yesterday morning for his walk...

And a huge Rottie (we think he'd gotten out of the neighbor's yard) followed them right back up to our front door as soon as they walked out.

I mean, Pyrs are bred to guard and fight wolves and bears, but we really don't need a giant vet bill right now!

In addition to keeping your pets on leashes, make sure that your yard is secure so your aggressive dog does not get out and chase other dogs!

[matcom]

14. unneutered dogs

:grr:

:popcorn:

[realisticphish]

16. he might be a breeder

:shrug:

[havocmom]

17. My big boy IS neutered, not aggressive, but he is assertive & he WILL protect da momma

There are people in town who simply WILL NOT keep their dogs under control. I can't even take my boy for a walk in town anymore. He is a sitting duck on his leash and if confronted by a bad enough attack (it's happened) he WILL work his head out of his collar and halti to defend me and himself. Ended up heading for the highway with an oncoming semi. That was close. Kids in the area of such a confrontation DEFINITELY at risk and who would pay? The kid and the dog. Idiot owners live to get another dog to neglect. :grr:

When I got home after THAT one, I told Havocdad I wanted a wrist rocket for my birthday. I was tired of having to face off with these unsocialized, unrestrained dogs. He said 'Just take the .45'.

Taking my boy out of town to the fair grounds just to walk safely is an injustice. That is where we run him, but it is a bog to get into part of the year. Having to get there just to walk a dog makes me furious. He and I don't get to walk much for weeks at a time.

Hell, I can't walk without him unless I carry a big stick or some rocks as big as my fist. Havocdad took to walking with a tire iron to teach manners to a couple of dogs. We both like to walk. It's a small town. You don't need to drive ANYWHERE unless you have a lot to carry. Most people are in trucks, with dogs in back, untethered dogs. The trucks get parked outside the bar for hours and the dogs get bored. Most people with dogs don't have fences. There are lots of elderly people who walk, and yes, some have been knocked around pretty bad. The dogs are still loose. There is no animal control in our county -too small to afford such a thing. (we don't even have a jail).

The .45 is too big for me to lug around. Thinking a nice little .38 revolver on a J-frame is about right. Hate to make a dog pay for stupid humans, but I am getting damned tired of me and my sweet boy being held prisoners in our own home.