 Barked: Fri Feb 22, '13 10:20am PST |
 | |  | | Let me share things from another perspective and that being as an owner of an intact male who was attacked completely unprovoked by a neutered male. My 10 month old golden retriever was still intact because he was being shown in conformation at dog shows.
I took him swimming at a private lake one afternoon where another family was already on property with a few kids and two goldens of their own. Before letting my goldens out of the vehicle to swim, I asked the family if they were okay with us frequenting the lake. I didn't want to impose on them. They said they were fine with our being there. I asked the mother if here dogs were friendly with other dogs before I let my three goldens out of my SUV. My two older goldens were fixed and all three of them got along terrific with any other dogs they've encountered.
As soon as my dogs were let out of my vehicle, the other family's youngest golden who was 15 mths old wouldn't let up on the heels of my intact puppy. Their other male golden was liked older fixed male and female as well as my pup ... just happy go lucky and content to be around all the folks and swimming. The younger male who wouldn't give my pup a moment's break was becoming such a pest that I suggest to my husband we leave. Looking back, I so wish I followed through with my gut.
The wife offered to tie up her younger male golden but then let her teenage daughter take him out in a rowboat after 10 min but did instruct the kid to keep the dog's lead on. A few minutes out in the boat, I could tell the dog was about to jump in the water. He did. He swam to shore but while mine and my pup's back was turned to the water as I was about to pick up a ball for him, next thing I know the menacing dog came up behind us and went for my boy's neck. Hubby and I got the dogs apart and I was just fuming. There's no frigging way the wife of the other dog didn't know what her boy was arable of. She proved my suspicions when she made the comment, "Sometimes he just doesn't know when enough is enough." Are you kidding me?!? I wanted to attack her to see how she liked it. Ugh!
When someone's dog has the tendency to go after other dogs, even if it's just some and not all, and when they do, saying sorry doesn't cut it!!! If you are a true dog lover, you would take every ounce of precaution to insure your dog NEVER can or will attack another dog. it's going after another dog regardless of circumstance be it small dogs, it's territorial or possessive is NOT acceptable. until your dog is 100% proofed against triggers, your dog NEEDS to remain on lead at ALL times and/or muzzled. Period!! Stop being selfish and justifying reasons why your dog should be allowed to roam off lead.
In all of a 2 min attack, my dog has been traumatized and his trust towards other dogs permanently ruined. I had to work hard with my dog for 2 yrs following his attack and re-establishing his trust with my other two dogs. Following the unprovoked attack on him, any quick or sudden movement with his siblings caused him to act out in the same manner as was done to him. He was so frightful that he adopted the attitude the best defence is a good offence and would try to lash out at other dogs before they had the chance to do to him what another strange dog already did.
He eventually began to trust my other two dogs again but, I can no longer trust him around other dogs. He does not even trust his ability to read another dog's body language even when another dog is posturing to play. He's nervous around bouncy or jumpy dogs and won't allow another dog outside the home to get close enough to him to offer a greeting. I've worked with a couple of fantastic behaviourists and they both agreed, the effects of the attack on him are so deep rooted and traumatizing that he just can't be rehabilitated.
I can at least now walk down the street and walk or put him in a sit while another dog passes without being reactive but off lead play with another outside dog is not possible.
My boy had to give up therapy dog work because there was the chance of him encountering other dogs while on duty and my dream of competing with him competitively went down the drain. He was the smartest and most eager dog I've ever owned too.
So while you think once your dog attacks and the situation is resolved, and even being fortunate to not have to deal with any physical injuries resulting from your dog, you have absolutely no idea how long lasting the psychological effects has impacted the dog who's been on the receiving end of both your dog's actions and your carelessness! If your dog, who you KNOW and are aware of, has the ability to go after another dog and is out in a position to do so even once after your realizing the issue is both ignorance and careless on your behalf. You have the responsibility to keep your dog and other dogs from harm. End of story.
My golden was attacked at 10 months of age and is now 10 with residual issues from a 2 min isolated incident. We've now been dealing with these issues for 9 yrs. Can you be big enough to see why a sorry does cut it in my eyes?! A true dog lover would NEVER ALLOW their dog to be put in a position to harm another dog.
No when I walk my dog, it is on a Halti, that is secured so he can't slip out of it, so I have control of him at all times. The Halti closes his mouth so he can't bite when I tighten up on it. How unfair for my boy to now be unable to defend himself when another dog who is not supposed to be off-lead wanders up to him and gets in his face. It's bad enough people still insist on letting their dogs off-lead in areas where they're not allowed that I don't dare walk him on trails because many people tend to ignore rules. Even though I'm the responsible one with control over my dog, it's the ignorant dog owners who claim their dog just wanted to say hi by running full steam ahead, face first with front paws jumping up around the neck of my dog. It's my fault my dog doesn't like that why? How would that same human like it if I jumped his back for no reason??
This is a very sore topic for me. Muzzle your dog and don't even for a minute give it a chance to ruin a dog for life like mine was. You can't deal with the training on your own. Stop worrying about other people's perception of you just because your dog is muzzled. Care more about that friendly, happy-go-lucky dog who's trust my be ruined for a lifetime because of the actions of your dog. If your dog has issues, don't create issues in another dog because you don't "want" to do what is absolutely necessary. Stop living in denial. |  |  | |  |
|
| my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become pals | [notify] |
1
