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There
was this thread over at glocktalk about kids, the joys of having or not
having them, and somehow we ended up talking about dogs and dog owners.
I mentioned the following story. A few days ago I was walking around a beautiful park here with my wife and kids. Several yards ahead of us I see this dog running towards us. The middle age lady that seemed to be the owner called out the dog´s name but the animal didn’t even register the command. Now I have my 3 year old walking next to me and this is a medium size dog more than capable of hurting him. As the dog charges I kick him in the face with a frontal kick. Nothing too hard just a solid kick to turn the dog away, and that’s what he does, he turns and runs back to this woman who walks away giving me this mean look. She can shove the look for all I care, you’re supposed to keep dogs on a leash there at all times. There’s signs telling people to do so all over the park. I’m not letting a strange animal charge my 3 year old and risk him get bitten. So that’s that and we continue to enjoy our day.
Now the strange thing is, when I mention this little incident some people seem to take offense, that you shouldn’t kick a dog, that dogs don’t bite and that there’s nothing wrong with strange dogs sniffing you and your kids as you walk by.
It seems that some people just aren’t aware of how dangerous a dog can actually be. In most cases its dogs that have owners with little or no experience (at least not the right one) in handling large animals and don’t know how to teach them properly. In others its people that simply let them run unleashed, not caring if they upset or even attack other people.
This is what happens when you let aggressive animals run wild unleashed or when you fail to teach them their proper place in the family “pack”.
“WARNING” These links, they are very graphic but clearly show what a dog can do to a person in just seconds:
http://www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/
http://northwalesandchestercwu.org/L…anch/Dogs1.htm
Now, the problem with dogs only gets worse during bad economic times, suddenly you see tons of pitts and rotties and other large or strong dogs running wild. No dog is bad on its own, but they can be dangerous and that’s the case of powerful animals that start running like a pack.
Again, its not the dog, it’s the people that mess things up. I have a dog, I like dogs and own a great one right now. My English Bull Terrier, he can chew on a cow bone, snapping it in half while my 3 year old pulls its ears and pokes his eyes. Heck, the other day I saw him put his hand in the dog´s mouth while eating, the dog just stood still until my son got tired of playing with its wet tongue. But its my dog, I educated it and know what to expect, and I’m always around when he’s playing with it. Its still an animal that may react the wrong way, you never know 100%. When I take my dog for a walk, I make sure to keep it on a leash, no one has to tolerate my dog sniffing anyone that doesn’t want to be sniffed or touched by it in any way, and besides, its not an inanimate object like a gun. A dog, no matter how good he is, is still a living individual and to a certain degree, unpredictable.
Dog attacks will continue to become more common as people beome less respectful of others and as more and more people keep turning them loose due to cost.
FerFAL
I mentioned the following story. A few days ago I was walking around a beautiful park here with my wife and kids. Several yards ahead of us I see this dog running towards us. The middle age lady that seemed to be the owner called out the dog´s name but the animal didn’t even register the command. Now I have my 3 year old walking next to me and this is a medium size dog more than capable of hurting him. As the dog charges I kick him in the face with a frontal kick. Nothing too hard just a solid kick to turn the dog away, and that’s what he does, he turns and runs back to this woman who walks away giving me this mean look. She can shove the look for all I care, you’re supposed to keep dogs on a leash there at all times. There’s signs telling people to do so all over the park. I’m not letting a strange animal charge my 3 year old and risk him get bitten. So that’s that and we continue to enjoy our day.
Now the strange thing is, when I mention this little incident some people seem to take offense, that you shouldn’t kick a dog, that dogs don’t bite and that there’s nothing wrong with strange dogs sniffing you and your kids as you walk by.
It seems that some people just aren’t aware of how dangerous a dog can actually be. In most cases its dogs that have owners with little or no experience (at least not the right one) in handling large animals and don’t know how to teach them properly. In others its people that simply let them run unleashed, not caring if they upset or even attack other people.
This is what happens when you let aggressive animals run wild unleashed or when you fail to teach them their proper place in the family “pack”.
“WARNING” These links, they are very graphic but clearly show what a dog can do to a person in just seconds:
http://www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/
http://northwalesandchestercwu.org/L…anch/Dogs1.htm
Now, the problem with dogs only gets worse during bad economic times, suddenly you see tons of pitts and rotties and other large or strong dogs running wild. No dog is bad on its own, but they can be dangerous and that’s the case of powerful animals that start running like a pack.
Again, its not the dog, it’s the people that mess things up. I have a dog, I like dogs and own a great one right now. My English Bull Terrier, he can chew on a cow bone, snapping it in half while my 3 year old pulls its ears and pokes his eyes. Heck, the other day I saw him put his hand in the dog´s mouth while eating, the dog just stood still until my son got tired of playing with its wet tongue. But its my dog, I educated it and know what to expect, and I’m always around when he’s playing with it. Its still an animal that may react the wrong way, you never know 100%. When I take my dog for a walk, I make sure to keep it on a leash, no one has to tolerate my dog sniffing anyone that doesn’t want to be sniffed or touched by it in any way, and besides, its not an inanimate object like a gun. A dog, no matter how good he is, is still a living individual and to a certain degree, unpredictable.
Dog attacks will continue to become more common as people beome less respectful of others and as more and more people keep turning them loose due to cost.
FerFAL
15 comments:
As someone who was actually mauled by a dog as a child, thank you for protecting your kid. The dog you kicked wasn't hurt, so the lady should just buy a leash if she doesn't want to see her dog kicked.
The New York Times had an article re how pariah dog packs in India are becoming a menace in some urban areas --kind of an extreme example of the poverty decline that Ferfal noted. Although part of the problem is the associated spread of rabies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/world/asia/india-stray-dogs-are-a-menace.html?pagewanted=all
Customs differ -- people in rural areas of the USA are used to letting their dogs run free whereas the suburban and urban areas usually want the dog on a lease in the more crowded parks.
On the other hand, rural people have guns, know that they are top of the food chain and tend to have friendly sporting dogs instead of buying big vicious dogs as a penis substitute and/or protector.
Ireland seems to be a mix of rural and urban transiting to higher population.
You also have to remember that some scumbags deliberately make dogs vicious by tormenting them and throwing them into dog fights. If a dog is vicious, I blame his past or current owners.
I love dogs, but I'd never have one that was large enough to do serious damage to an adult. I prefer a 35 lb dog, +/- a few lbs.
Other people can do what they want with their own kids. If a dog's ancestors were bred to tear other animals apart (pits, rots, dogs bred to kill on the hunt, etc.), that's like having a loaded gun in the house with a mind of its own.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Ferfal, I think you did the right thing. You didn't hurt the dog anyway so no one should complain. I've been forced to defend myself from pit bull and doberman attacks in the past. All were owned by friends but they had no actual control over the dog when it just reacted badly. I had one family that wanted me to watch their home with an Akita that I was supposed to feed. He wouldn't let me in the house. It was ferocious.
I checked out the website you linked to. I wouldn't own any of these breeds for fear of a bad outcome some day. Not only are they a risk to the owner but they present a major liability if they attack someone else.
I'll stick with little dogs or more relaxed and less agressive breeds like labs.
Just two weeks ago I kicked a dog for the same reason. I caused a lot of troubles. But I would kick him again if it comes back and harrass my kid. I would kick it harder still (even if my feet still hurts from last time, have to get back to karate I think)
The trouble with animal lovers is that they treat people like animals.
I had a bad experience with a pack of dogs when I was a teenager outside of Wash DC.
I was doing an early morning run in a local park and spotted several dogs across the creek at a trash can. When they saw me, they took off in my direction and crossed two foot bridges to get across the creek. I could see that the pack consisted of 2 German Shepards and a large Collie- all young dogs.
Quickly these dogs surrounded me at close range with teeth bared and ears back. It was apparent that they were going to attack me. I picked up two large rocks and prepared to do battle.
Luckily, a car cam along and blew its horn. The dogs were confused by this and took off back across the creek. My two rocks would not have spared me from being torn apart. Lucky for that car.
FerFal,
You shouldn't let your dog chew on bones or hard plastic toys. Dogs are designed for it, perhaps. But whether in nature or in your living room, they can break their molars right in half down the center.
I look after a huge Akita for some friends from time to time and she is pretty amiable with me --thinks she is a lap dog, flops over and wants me to rub her tummy.
But I have to watch her when I take her for a walk (with a choke collar as well as lease.) Because if other dogs screw with her she will chomp them in an instant. Evidently thinks the way to settle dominance games is to kill the challenger instantly. Which I kinda understand but it upsets the neighbors.
This man concurs with Ferfal about what will happen with dogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8Is4qyLD6Zc#t=1490s
The whole video is worth watching, especially the minute from 3:29.
This man concurs with Ferfal about what will happen with dogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8Is4qyLD6Zc#t=1490s
The whole video is worth watching, especially the minute from 3:29.
Akita, especially those purebred from good Japanese stock were bred to hunt bears. They don't know how to pull punches.
I wish parents would teach their kids not to approach strange dogs, even on a leash. My dog is leashed and I keep it away from kids at the park because she gets scared by strange kids. She has never bit or growled, but I can't take chances.
having delivered newspapers door to door, on bycicle when I was a kid, I had to deal with biting dogs on a few occasion. Never big dogs, dacshunds, poodles etc. Good kick from a heavy boot always sufficed.
Fer Fal thank you for bringing this up. I own two dogs a 9 year old Jack Russel and a Seven month old Rhodisian Ridgeback who now weighs 100lbs. My wife and I have always been avid dog owners and been around a lot of different breads. We still hired a professional dog trainer to show us what we were doing wrong. Best money we ever spent. I believe that if you are going to get a dog you need to be trained on what is the right way to raise a Dog. There are no bad dogs just bad dog owners. Just like when you want to buy a firearm you need training to know how to use it the right way. A dog is a friend, companion, and a protector all in one. Be a smart dog owner and do a ton of research before deciding on a breed. In regards to you kicking an unrestrained dog charging you or your family. That is exactly what you should have done.
I live on 160 acres - my neighbors are over 1/2 a mile away. My dog doesnt leave our land. We dont have much of a problem with pack dogs, they usually get shot before they get to us. But we have taught our kids from the time they were young to come and tell us if there is a "wild" dog anywhere on the land. One usually isnt a prob, but if there is more than one, they will go after livestock and must be put down.
Most of the big dogs in my area tend to turn chicken if you turn to confront them and then make some offensive cat noises. I suspect that they must have had a bad encounter with cats that they would not like to repeat.
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