why are some dog owners retarded

[Kristy_07]

I'm not saying people shouldn't control their dogs, Allies, or that it isn't terrible when those sorts of things happen. And I don't disagree with those dogs being put down. But uncontrolled aggression is not a naturally occurring, common canine behaviour. It has no benefit at all to an animal in the wild. It is something that is, consciously or subconsciously, encouraged and allowed by its owners. Hence, the owners = stupid, but not the dog.

My 60kg mastiff could easily do someone damage. But, even when in the situation where it was appropriate (while we were approached by some suspicious men when walking at night) he displayed normal, controlled, threatening behaviours like stepping in between me and the men and growling (which worked! thank god!), not at uncontrolled attack. Because we've down heaps of training together, and I'm not a stupid owner, he's not a stupid dog.

I hate irresponsible owners as much as any body (especially if they own malteses!). All I'm saying is blame the owners, it's their responsibility.

 

[Kitah]

I'm not saying people shouldn't control their dogs, Allies, or that it isn't terrible when those sorts of things happen. And I don't disagree with those dogs being put down. But uncontrolled aggression is not a naturally occurring, common canine behaviour. It has no benefit at all to an animal in the wild. It is something that is, consciously or subconsciously, encouraged and allowed by its owners. Hence, the owners = stupid, but not the dog.

My 60kg mastiff could easily do someone damage. But, even when in the situation where it was appropriate (while we were approached by some suspicious men when walking at night) he displayed normal, controlled, threatening behaviours like stepping in between me and the men and growling (which worked! thank god!), not at uncontrolled attack. Because we've down heaps of training together, and I'm not a stupid owner, he's not a stupid dog.

I hate irresponsible owners as much as any body (especially if they own malteses!). All I'm saying is blame the owners, it's their responsibility.

I agree with this. Its the owners, not the dogs that have caused this. True, you get some breeds that may be more inclined to be 'aggressive', but it is still the OWNER that influences the dog. If taught correctly, socialised etc. they shouldn't bite, chase, etc. Biting should always be a dogs last resort- its not in their interest to attack, bite etc. because it risks injury to themselves, wastes valuable energy etc. It tends to be a case where owners unknowingly reward bad behaviours, or punish dogs for growling in situations where its actually 'appropriate' (e.g. displaying annoyance at a playful puppy, or a child, as a warning but NOT biting). If you do this,then later the dog has been taught not to growl/not allowed, so it will have to resort to biting instead.

 

[brava]

My 60kg mastiff could easily do someone damage. But, even when in the situation where it was appropriate (while we were approached by some suspicious men when walking at night) he displayed normal, controlled, threatening behaviours like stepping in between me and the men and growling (which worked! thank god!), not at uncontrolled attack. Because we've down heaps of training together, and I'm not a stupid owner, he's not a stupid dog.

All dog breeds were bred for a purpose. If a mastiff didn't display this behaviour in this circumstance then I would serverly question the breeding of the dog.

 

[Kristy_07]

His breeding is already severely in question, brava He's a mastiff mix (maybe malamute?), and we really have no clue what's in him, or what he was bred for, other than pigging but he still does the job when the going gets tough! Good boy..

 

[brava]

LOL. Got to love a well trained pigger.

If a stranger approches me they are in danger of my staffy licking them to death. Had her 3 years. She has growled twice.

 

[Kristy_07]

hey, I thought kaiser was the biggest dope there was. He looks so dumb when he "smiles", which is most of the time. But he's 3 and a bit now, and one day he just grew up. And when these guys approached us on the road one night, he just seemed to know before they were even close to us that they were trouble, and sure enough, they came over asking the time and where I lived and stuff. I don't think they must have seen the dog beside me in the dark (he's black), and boy did they change their minds when they were looking at the pointy end of a 60kg snarling dog protecting mum, and off lead to boot sometimes, they just know, I reckon.

 

[AMY22]

I don't know if I'd call a dog stupid for attacking, but I would call an owner stupid (as you will soon see when I start my own rant thread) for not being responsible. These behaviours are natural for a dog, but a responsible owner will correct these behaviours, show the dog that it is NOT the top dog, and these behaviours are NOT okay. ANY dog not properly trained by a responsible owner has the capabililty of doing what it does best- acting like a dog. Dogs do not have the same communications skills we have, and they way they interact is different. Aggression comes in many forms- dominance, fear, maternal, food related, idiopathic- when the causes of this behaviour are not eliminated and the aggression is allowed to continue then the dog is going to get in it's head that it's fine to act that way and keep doing it. Dogs do not understand, unless taught by people, that aggression is not an okay behaviour.

 

[shellfisch]

Advice to anyone that is in someway harrassed by dogs...invest in a spray bottle, you can get mini ones from $2 shop, handy for joggers or walkers..soak dried xxxhot chillies in warm water over night or for 24hrs, strain and fill spray bottle. Give the dog a good dose of that when it tries to have ago at you next time. Its like mace for dogs ...it wears off and have never seen a dog badly injured or die from it yet. Its great to watch them change their focus from biting to burning.

Hmmm. Even more fun, would be to spray THE OWNERS of said dogs with the chilli spray :evil: Would it have the same effect on them?

 

[JasonL]

I thought dogs weren't allowed in the park?

They're not. It is quite common to see locals walk their dogs in the park though... some people think they have the right to do what they want with their dogs.

 

[-Peter]

Dogs off leashes is god's way of making sure that we are not over run by joggers. It is the law of the jungle. Just as dogs off leashes have their own predators.

 

[FAY]

I hear you Nick, unlike you I really like dogs....BUT have come across ridiculous owners that think the dog has more rights than a human!!!!
How any decent person can just sit and watch their dog terrorise someone is just beyond belief, bit like some with their kids.....

 

[redbellybite]

Run with a bit of black poly pipe ...a good wack to the dog should slow it down and if the owner has a go, nothing like a good wack to shut them up too ....

People are rude no doubt ,cant blame the dogs, its their stupid owners that need the wake up call ....

 

[waruikazi]

I have to walk through packs of dogs to get to work and i find a boot in the face works better than a stick. They seem to realize that you aren't scared of them when you use ur foot but if you use a stick they some how know ur scared.

The only problem with booting them is that you end up with a foot covered in lice... not fleas but dodgy itchy lice...

 

[amy5189]

i love this thread. i have so many things to rant about with dog owners!!!
Firstly the dogs out of the yard. i can't take my 2 kelpies for a walk without being attacked too, and my two will fight back if another dog starts it.
Secondly is people taking their dogs in the sheepstation creek where NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED when i'm trying to ride my horse. fair enough my horse isn't scared of dogs, but some horses are, and when you have your MASSIVE DOG OFF LEASH it is an incredibly dangerous situation for someone sitting on a 500kg+ animal that is scared poopless.
Thirdly is people encouraging bad behaviour in dogs, but especially little dogs. i went to my friends house the other day and their little maltese shihtzu thing was fully growling and trying to attack me. so my friends mum picks it up and goes 'oh wittle molly, its ok wittle baby' blah blah blah. i just turned around and said 'that is why your dog is aggressive and dangerous. and thats why i hate little spoilt dogs.' and she was like 'oh but she's little and cute and wouldn't hurt anyone'
YOUR DOG IS AGGRESSIVE and if my bigger dog did that you would be saying its a dangerous killer. I HATE YOU PEOPLE!!!!!
ok i think i've had enough now. oh no wait...
i hate it when people walk up to me with their dog on a leash to let our two dogs 'play'. my dog wants nothing to do with your dog. she hates people coming up to me, as she is incredibly protective. i was sitting on the ground with her the other day, and a dog came up to me. Binka came and stood across the front of my body, trying to get this dog to go away.
KEEP YOUR DOGS TO YOURSELF YOU BUNCH OF TOOLS!!!!!!!

ok done...

 

[chondrogreen]

I am scared badly of loose dogs.
If I see a dog off leash or a stray roaming the street I have panic attacks (fear after several attacks) and as they can sense fear I am pretty prone to attack.

Can't really add much more to the topic without earning myself an infraction lol but I am sure you get the gist of what I would LOVE to do to all strays & the irresponsible owners

 

[JoceyFisch]

LOL. Got to love a well trained pigger.

If a stranger approches me they are in danger of my staffy licking them to death. Had her 3 years. She has growled twice.

My staffy used to be exactly the same.. but now she is VERY protective of me.. especially when I'm home alone. I almost had a heart attack the first time I heard her actually bark.. at 4 years old!

Back on subject though..

Every afternoon I walk around our local lake with my dog who I always have on a leash with a halti!

Most people are great with their dogs and we all walk around each other so our dogs don't get close but then there is always one douche that has his border collie running free.. It infuriates me and I don't care how "well trained" he thinks his dog is he should have it on a leash as all times.

If it comes near me (or my friend who pushes her 2 yo in a pram) it's going to cop my foot in it's side!

I am a dog lover but I get terrified when I am walking and an unleashed dog approaches me or even big dogs being walked by young children.. seriously common sense says that if that big dog pulls hard enough on that leash that kid is going to go face first into the ground and off runs the dog!

Ok.. I feel marginally better now! End of rant!

 

[Choco]

I am scared badly of loose dogs.
If I see a dog off leash or a stray roaming the street I have panic attacks (fear after several attacks) and as they can sense fear I am pretty prone to attack.

Can't really add much more to the topic without earning myself an infraction lol but I am sure you get the gist of what I would LOVE to do to all strays & the irresponsible owners

Very good point. I was going to ask how many joggers take each dog on a case by case basis. Or how many stereotype all dogs as vicious. I have 2 Bull Arab X Mastiffs and I walk them off leash in parks and occasionally off leash along the road (pending certain conditions). They won't go more than 10-15m ahead and will sit and wait if they reach a road to cross.
All mine ever want to do is play. They have no problems with joggers. If a jogger comes toward us the dogs will be all tail wags and if the jogger ignores them so do the dogs and the jogger goes straight past. However if the jogger puts their hands up or turns and runs the other way once close to the dog, the dog can see this this as a game that you've instigated because you've paid attention to them. My dogs are not vicious. They go to the beach every weekend we can and have never been in a fight or attacked anyone. Yet I still see people get all up tight when they get near my dogs, even though they are clearly excited and massive tail wags.
Yes there are irresponsible dog owners who haven't trained there dogs agression. It usually comes from people who haven't 100% made there dog aware of who's #1.
All I am saying is treat every dog individually and you may fine different results.

HELL YES on the Emo's. GUYS SHOULD NOT OWN, OR EVEN USE, A HAIR STRAIGHTENER.

Cheers,
Allan

 

[waruikazi]

I recon you should treat all dogs as a potentially bitey.

I have a bull terrier and people are so scared of him lol. I run him off lead in off lead parks, i usually try and gather him up if there are other people or dogs around but if i don't catch him in time and he runs off to play with another dog i always have to call out to the other owner that he's friendly lol. After doing that once i even had a lady say she never would have thought he was friendly cause they are vicious dogs and always attack.

HELL YES on the Emo's. GUYS SHOULD NOT OWN, OR EVEN USE, A HAIR STRAIGHTENER.

Cheers,
Allan

What if your hair is curly?

 

[FAY]

All mine ever want to do is play. They have no problems with joggers. If a jogger comes toward us the dogs will be all tail wags and if the jogger ignores them so do the dogs and the jogger goes straight past. However if the jogger puts their hands up or turns and runs the other way once close to the dog, the dog can see this this as a game that you've instigated because you've paid attention to them. My dogs are not vicious. .

Cheers,
Allan

Allan, I think the point is , it is not whether the dog is vicious or not, it is the fact it is off the leash and not controlled that can put fear into anyone that is walking along. No one would have any idea whether the dog is friendly or not until it is too late. Some people have huge phobias about dogs and do have panic attacks, just as we do not know what dog will be vicious or not, you would not have any idea what person has huge problems with dogs.

 

[amy5189]

agreed fay. the fact that your dog will think its a game and chase a person playing is not good. if the person is trying to run away, chances are they are scared, and your dog chasing them is going to make for a scary situation for them.
dogs wag their tails when they're being aggressive too, so don't expect people to go 'oh what a lovely dog'
my dogs are incredibly obedient and very friendly but if i'm around people i always have them on lead. it is a part of being a responsible pet owner.