Kevin's Watch

I'm confused and pissed. I woke up at 5:30 and couldn't get back to sleep because I can't stop obsessing about an encounter I had at 6:15 last night. I have a new dog named Thor he's a big lovable bear who's actually a very gentle soul. Yes he's somewhat intimidating looking-kind of a cross between a lab, Irish setter and a bit of pit bull tossed in. We adopted him from a placed called Second Chance Rescue that tries to find home for extremely abused dogs. I have tried to work very hard with him, but he continues to growl at other dogs. Even if he's running lose he'll run up to another dog growling, but then he touches noses and runs back to me. I know he, probably, scares owners so I keep him on a leash.

I do respect owners so I take him way out to the desert, away for city parks. The desert is open space, there are no signs or ordinances about how one should control one's dog. So there I was, with Thor on a leash, sitting, being very good as we waited for two ladies and their three unleashed dogs to pass by. I was 170 fricking yards away from them and one of their dogs runs all the way to Thor and gets in his personal space and he growls. Then one lady has the nerve to tell me that I should take my aggressive dog elsewhere. And I think to myself, "where: to the moon?" I just don't know what to do-I just want to hit something. Grrrrr...

Down, boy.

Mean people are everywhere. Ignore it and get on with your life.

I just wanted to say to her, "Who are you the fricking Mayor? The head of animal control? And go f yourself." Arr I'm still pissed!

Think of clever ripostes for these unavoidable situations. like, Go leash yourself. Spay you. Or do like Vraith did-- die your dogs hair and your own with a bright red streak, and get respect.

That encounter says more about the other dog owner than it does about you, danlo. I agree that there's not much more you could have done, other than hang a sign around your dog's neck that says, "Approach me at your peril!"

Just smile and nod. Smile and nod.

deer of the dawn wrote:Think of clever ripostes for these unavoidable situations. like, Go leash yourself. Spay you. Or do like Vraith did-- die your dogs hair and your own with a bright red streak, and get respect.

Hah! I didn't think hardly anyone actually read that thread through. [hows that for grammar from an MA-enlish?]

I'm just jealous that you get to walk your dog in the desert. Me and my dog both miss that...fishy smelly lake Erie and way too much snow just don't do it. I also applaud you for taking on a dog like that. You're lucky he only growls. The only way I know of to solve that problem is constant work with other dogs, using the same training methods you used for other things...even that doesn't always work, especially with males, especially with adult dogs, especially with abused ones.

Using the ripostes will at least get you some relief and satisfaction.

Tell her to go piss up a rope.

Thanks for the advice guys-having an outlet has helped me get over this. Tam was concerned when she left for work saying, "Watch out. One more heavy sigh like that and you'll give yourself a stroke."

danlo wrote:I just wanted to say to her, "Who are you the fricking Mayor? The head of animal control? And go f yourself." Arr I'm still pissed!

never hold back....let it OUT...... as an ex joysee boy you should know that!

i have an "assertive " dog too.........just got to roll with the punches (dirty looks, actually)

I just wanna sing "Giant steps are what you take, walking your dog on the moon"...

...which is neither funny nor clever but it does it for me!

Sounds to me like the other dog owner has an attitude problem. Lots of quite tranquil dogs still growl at other dogs. It's dog nature. Sounds like this woman was one of those self-important types who likes to place blame on people who don't deserve it, in situations where there isn't really any blame anyway.

If you can, just mutter "asshole" to yourself, imagine letting your dog drop a log on her pillow, then forget about it. And maybe arm yourself for future encounters, with a couple of choice lines. My selections would be something like (in my most polite voice), "I'm so very sorry for any suffering my dog has caused, and I will of course have it quarantined and then eliminated, the moment you become right."

did he just say... "drop a log on her pillow" ????

lucimay wrote:did he just say... "drop a log on her pillow" ????

obviously, he's spent way too much time around you.

Dam my friends make me happy, not only on the comp, but in real life!!!-I'm so blessed.

There's actually a photo around here, in "how do you feel", I think, of Thor taken by Jenn when she was here helping Tam and I...

enjoy the rest of the walk!

danlo wrote:I keep him on a leash.

So there I was, with Thor on a leash, sitting, being very good as we waited for two ladies and their three unleashed dogs to pass by.

F#ck them!
Next time threaten to shoot their damn dogs.
Stupid bitches.

our dog is difficult round other people. we warn them and they still intrude on his personal space. many people are stupid.

Somehow, this reminds me of a great dog we had when I was a teenager, a white german shepherd named Sham. He was great with people and dogs, altho there would always be some growling and hackle-raising when he met a new dog, until the other dog surrendered (for some reason, this is what almost always happened although Sham was not particularly large or intimidating). I used to take him for walks at the beach in the winter, running loose. When another dog appeared I would call him to me and hold him until the other dog and people were on their way, just to ease things.

I moved to California for a couple of years and when I came back I took Sham down to the beach for old times sake. He got tired quickly and we were almost back to the car when another dog appeared. The other dog immediately challenged Sham and I found myself holding Sham while ordering the other dog off. Sham actually stayed behind me, his eyes to the ground and licking his lips (signs of submission).

I felt so sad because I knew that he knew he was old.

Tell the b!tch (as in old bat owner) "We were here first - f**k off & find some other place to exercise YOUR pansy pooch!"

Or be really evil...tell your your dog isn't really a dog but a Hound from Hell, you're Satan and that you got a nice place by the furnace all ready for her! COW.

My bro's kelpie was once attacked by some other prawn who let his PIT BULL off the leash in a park...lucky Rick wears steelcap boots and kicked the otehr dog so hard int he ribs they broke & it finally let the kelpie go . The stupid owner comes up to rail at Rick for booting the dog & Rick just raised the golf club he carries with him while walking and said "Wanna make it two for one?" - my bro is 6 foot three & a BIG lad, so the other wimp backed down. I got mad at Rick afterwards cos he shoulda got the other prawn's name & number & sent Sisko's vet bill for HIM to pay! As it was, he was out nearly a grand getting his poor unassuming mutt repaired!

Some people are just too STUPID to have pets. Some people are actually too stupid to have LIFE... Pity that there isn't a virus around that attacks the terminally stupid. Imagine what a nice world we'd live in.