Tuck
CHIC CH. Tuck- CDX TDX RN VNEX- TDI SAR-W3
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 | | Barked: Fri Apr 26, '13 10:04am PST |  | |  | | I'm afraid of loose dogs. I train Search and Rescue dogs. This means we must train in public areas. You simply cannot get the variety of training needed to proof your dog at home. Because every situation is different, training must be done in every situation and condition that you can imagine. That means putting yourself out there.
My breed of dog has erect ears. He has a stiff erect tail, He naturally has a short compact body type, with long legs and an up on the toes appearance. He has a naturally erect high head carriage, and the rough on his neck gives it an arched appearance.
To those of you who read dog body language, everything about his natural appearance . He has a brisley coat that stands up (as if he has his hackles up.. but he doesn't) (he's like this in a relaxed happy state) would trigger flags that this dog is sending signals to challenge other dogs.
As soon as other dogs look at him, they tend to pick him out of a crowd of dogs and want to adjust his attitude.
He doesn't have an attitude. He does not want fights, he NEVER fights back. But he's a fight magnet. First thing any so- prone dog wants to do is rip his face off.
When out training, off leash dogs always rush him. I see a loose dog... and I know there is trouble. I'm going to be meeting this loose dog, hopefully on my terms, but probably not.
He's the single dog ever dog in any crowd will pick out to have a fight with .
My boy has been ripped up 5 times from loose dogs. Of all the many breeds out there.......... they have all been pit bulls. Smaller dogs have attacked him, and one time there was search, and the problem dog was a westie/shihtzu mix that hung from his face while he continued to work the search. We'd remove the little dog dangling from his face, and as soon as we put the dog down, the little dog rushed back and re-attached himself. Finally the officer accompanying me, carried the dog for the remainder of the search. It turned out this dog was the missing little girl's dog, and the reason she ran off. She wanted to capture her dog that ran away. (We knew nothing about this dog being related to the search until after the little girl was found)
The nice thing about LITTLE attacking dogs is they do no damage.
I really don't care if I "offend" someone, so feel free to delete - tired of "I am offended" people. It would be nice if the safety of our dogs were all that we need to be concerned about - but violence has become a way of life in all too many parts of the country. This week a SEARCH dog was killed by two pit bulls that got into this search dogs fenced yard, and dug under the kennel attacking the dog. After a week of nursing they finally put the search dog down and ended it's suffering. You need only look at any news report to see that people are attacking people even more often than dogs attacking dogs. It is pretty easy to recognize that if a social misfit wants a big tough dog, he isn't going to have a sheltie, and his weapon of choice isn't going to be a pea shooter.
YES, I'm terrified of pitbulls. Not because they are pit bulls, but because they attract really terrible owners in numbers enough that of all the breed encounters out there, it's the pitbull that has repeatedly hospitalized mine, and many other search dogs.
Owners who let their dogs run in packs, owners that let their dogs run loose unattended, owners who know their dogs can be dangerous. Is it the breed? NO.. It's just the breed that seems to attract the worst of the worst owners.
Of the dogs that attack my dog while training, it's the breed that is most likely to hurt my dog. I'm not concerned about the chihuahas that are probably even more likely to attack. At least they are unlikely to do any harm.
But when I see ANY off leash dog, I have the pepper spray in my hand (knowing that my boy is also likely to get caught up in the pepper spray and will also need medical attention, but at least it's not stitches) and I check the position of my gun, in case the pepper spray doesnt work.
My boy does NOT fight back, which allowed other dog removal in as safe manner as possible for HIM. And frankly.. if YOUR offleash (on on leash for that matter) dog is attacking MY on-leash/non-combatant dog.... I really don't care what happens to the attacking dog. If you assault me for the results of what happens, I'm prepared to handle you too.
YES, I'm terrified of off leash dogs. Experience has taught me this. I'm most terrified of a breed most prone to breed profiling, simply because experience has proven these fears are justified. Politically correct.. or not.
Your on leash well mannered dogs regardless of the breed does not bother me either. But I ask, please dont allow them too close to my dog.
I feel anyone who needs space from a dog on leash or even a service dog, should be given that space. Although service dogs are permitted access into public restaurants and communal areas, there is a clause that if they cause a disturbance, they can be asked to leave. and a panicking client is a good reason. Your dog didn't have to do anything. But if the dog's presence is causing a panic.. this does not give your service dog immunity. This is why certifications also cover insurance. Even if a dog does nothing, if your dog causes mental duress and panic and fear of another, you CAN be sued. This is why there is insurance coverage that comes with your certifications.
If my dog were evoking a panic, I would move out of the area (even though I had the right to be there) or in my case, if involved with a search, I would send my accompanying officer over to put space, guarantee protection for them, and offer comfort until my dog moves out of the area.
In the case of service dogs, you do not have the right to be there at the expense of inducing a panic.
/end rant |  |  | |  |
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