No Bad Dogs, Only Bad Owners California’s with PROP SB861
No Bad Dogs, Only Bad Owners
Warning Very Long
Okay this is hugely long, but I couldn’t help it, I have lots to say…grin…The title of this post
is from a book I believe, I used it because it fits…Behind the cut you will find not really a rant, but more of a lesson about dogs, and my point of view from years of experience with animals, and their humans, or humans and their animals how ever you prefer to put it…the recent crap in California’s with PROP SB861 has me ready to spit.
We do not need governement to control every darn aspect of our lives, telling us where to work, shop, how to live and pray, what breed dogs we can raise is simply not a future with hope.
So any how my rant/not rant is behind the cut..
There are no bad dogs, only bad owners, has been something I have believed in whole heartily since I was very small. My daddy raised hunting dogs. My mama showed dogs, and I have bottle feed so many puppies, kitties, pigs, calves, foals, lambs, and kids, to list them all would take all day.
I am a farm girl, always have been, always will be…soft smiles. I love all creatures, with the exception of certain crawly beasties, like fleas, ticks, and such. I also know animals very well. My life has been filled with all types of animals from farm stock, horses, and other animal companions, to motherless wild babies I have taken in & raised, and released back in the day when you didn’t need a license to care for such animals. Today when I see any animal in need of help I stop and help, and or take it to the appropriate care giver, or call someone that can do the same.
So when I hear a story about a dog attack, or political folks wanting to ban breeds I am always “completely shocked” when people blame the dogs, more so, when I hear this coming from people that have higher education backgrounds.
When domestic animals attack there is always a reason, and most of the time, that reason is not apparent to the humans surrounding them. When you hear of dog attacks, especially those of certain breeds, it is some what foolhardy to blame the dog, when it is the owner that is at fault.
My pride, my joy, and my best friend in the whole world, is my Rottie, Kodiac. He is a joy, and I have only raised one dog as smart in my entire time on this planet. She was a Sheppard, wolf hybrid that slept in the same bed as my then “very little” children in her elder years. A stranger would have never gotten near my children with her on duty.
Certain dogs breeds have certain needs, and HUMANS tend to forget about this when they fall in love with that cute puppy in the pictured in the classifieds, bulletin boards, and or live and panting in a pet store windows.
Pit Bulls were bred in the pits of the fighting arenas in ancient Rome. Hence the name Pit Bulls….they were bred to kill the rodents running rampant in the pits. If you have ever encountered some of the large rodents such as groundhogs, several types of rats, and such, you have to be pretty aggressive to challenge them and come out the winner. Most pits are by nature more aggressive than other dogs, but this is their breeding. Pits make good farm and rural area dogs, and happiest when they are working dogs. Enforced captivity in small apartments, and houses in cities with little or no room to run, is very bad for pits, and will make their aggressive natures go to extremes in some cases. Pits raised properly with children and other animals will be great family dogs, but, as the dog’s owner, you have to remember at all times, that these dogs are aggressive by nature, and need extra attention, care, exercise, and watching at all times, like a small child.
Rotties were bred to be herd dogs. There is nothing a rottie likes more than to chase something down and make it go where they want it to go. Something most people don’t know about Rotties is that they are very shy dogs. They socialize well with their pack/family, but are really shy around strangers, and will try to either get away or hide. It takes a lot of work to train this out of rotties. Rotties raised properly will never attack unless trained to or backed into a corner, they are truly very shy dogs by nature who prefer to bark at an intruder at a distance. Rotties make great family dogs when properly raised, and you couldn’t ask for a better guard dog for your home, but just as with pits, Rotties need extra attention, care, and exercise.
Both pits and Rotties have a tendency to develop hip problems also, so keeping them healthy and checked is important. A dog in pain is an unpredictable, unsafe dog, this goes for any size dog.
In Towns, and Cities Large Dogs Have Special Needs:
Large dogs can be good pets in the city, if you are willing to spend the time training them, and pack time with them. Large dogs, also need lots of exercise to stay healthy , and in good mental shape.
At least three to four hours a day you should be in the same area as your dog, I.e.; living area, bedroom area, lawn, etc. They have the need to pack, and since you are the one they have bonded to, you must also be their pack. At least forty minutes to one hour a day should be sent in play and exercise with your large dog. Long walks, and even jogging, and running is great for you to participate in exercising with your large dog. Play with your dog, and brush, groom, pet and touch them often. Praise should be quick in coming and don’t be afraid to over do it either. Correction for bad actions should also be quick in coming. Large dogs need toys suitable to them, and they need a variety of toys. Dogs get bored too! Vet checks are very important for large dogs too, a healthy dog is happy dog.
The Media Effect:
Movies, television etc…the scene is set, the hero is traveling through the darkness of the dank tunnel towards the hidden lair of the evil bad guy. His breath is hot in the cool air, and his gun is heavy in his hand. He turns a corner, and freezes in his tracks upon hearing a low, rumbling, drawn out snarl. Our hero comes face to face with a…..POODLE…..ROTFLMAO……now come on who would believe that a poodle is going to stop our hero…so the casters use big dogs, dogs that will appear vicious and menacing because of their size, and because they have that certain look. After all a solid black poodle isn’t really going to be much of a hindrance to our hero!
Now for another story, one that is true. My mother has raised dogs her entire life, and now is elderly, and has a teacup sized Taco Bell Dog named Chico. He is meaner than mean, and bites everyone. She knows he is spoiled, but she won’t lift a finger to correct this behavior because he is so tiny, she says. I can not even give her a goodbye kiss unless she puts him in a cage, because he will bite me if I get near her. This dog loves me, and I watch him when they go on vacation, but if I get near mom, he turns into a snarling ball of meanness. He is a vicious and can’t be around small children, which makes it hard at times, for my mom to have her grandchildren over. Yet even though she knows he is mean, she won’t correct it, so his meanness is in the most part her fault. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people he has bitten but the number is way up there.
Which brings me to this interesting bit…87% or so of all dog bites from small dogs are never reported or recorded. First most small dog bites, require little more than a good cleaning, and a band aid. In the cases of small dogs really biting a person up, usually a doctor visit will suffice, and very rarely are stitches involved. Second most people are quite embarrassed to admit that a little dog attacked them and gave them a good one. Little dogs when cornered, threatened, or frightened, are just a vicious as big dogs, they just do less damage! They also can be more aggressive because they are so little, they make up for lack of size, by being more forward with their aggressions if they feel the need arises.
Animals are animals, and will behave as their nature inclines them to. It is up to the HUMAN owners to know as much about their breed as possible, and to learn the proper way of caring for and training the animal they have brought into their life. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners!
Warning Very Long
Okay this is hugely long, but I couldn’t help it, I have lots to say…grin…The title of this post
is from a book I believe, I used it because it fits…Behind the cut you will find not really a rant, but more of a lesson about dogs, and my point of view from years of experience with animals, and their humans, or humans and their animals how ever you prefer to put it…the recent crap in California’s with PROP SB861 has me ready to spit.
We do not need governement to control every darn aspect of our lives, telling us where to work, shop, how to live and pray, what breed dogs we can raise is simply not a future with hope.
So any how my rant/not rant is behind the cut..
There are no bad dogs, only bad owners, has been something I have believed in whole heartily since I was very small. My daddy raised hunting dogs. My mama showed dogs, and I have bottle feed so many puppies, kitties, pigs, calves, foals, lambs, and kids, to list them all would take all day.
I am a farm girl, always have been, always will be…soft smiles. I love all creatures, with the exception of certain crawly beasties, like fleas, ticks, and such. I also know animals very well. My life has been filled with all types of animals from farm stock, horses, and other animal companions, to motherless wild babies I have taken in & raised, and released back in the day when you didn’t need a license to care for such animals. Today when I see any animal in need of help I stop and help, and or take it to the appropriate care giver, or call someone that can do the same.
So when I hear a story about a dog attack, or political folks wanting to ban breeds I am always “completely shocked” when people blame the dogs, more so, when I hear this coming from people that have higher education backgrounds.
When domestic animals attack there is always a reason, and most of the time, that reason is not apparent to the humans surrounding them. When you hear of dog attacks, especially those of certain breeds, it is some what foolhardy to blame the dog, when it is the owner that is at fault.
My pride, my joy, and my best friend in the whole world, is my Rottie, Kodiac. He is a joy, and I have only raised one dog as smart in my entire time on this planet. She was a Sheppard, wolf hybrid that slept in the same bed as my then “very little” children in her elder years. A stranger would have never gotten near my children with her on duty.
Certain dogs breeds have certain needs, and HUMANS tend to forget about this when they fall in love with that cute puppy in the pictured in the classifieds, bulletin boards, and or live and panting in a pet store windows.
Pit Bulls were bred in the pits of the fighting arenas in ancient Rome. Hence the name Pit Bulls….they were bred to kill the rodents running rampant in the pits. If you have ever encountered some of the large rodents such as groundhogs, several types of rats, and such, you have to be pretty aggressive to challenge them and come out the winner. Most pits are by nature more aggressive than other dogs, but this is their breeding. Pits make good farm and rural area dogs, and happiest when they are working dogs. Enforced captivity in small apartments, and houses in cities with little or no room to run, is very bad for pits, and will make their aggressive natures go to extremes in some cases. Pits raised properly with children and other animals will be great family dogs, but, as the dog’s owner, you have to remember at all times, that these dogs are aggressive by nature, and need extra attention, care, exercise, and watching at all times, like a small child.
Rotties were bred to be herd dogs. There is nothing a rottie likes more than to chase something down and make it go where they want it to go. Something most people don’t know about Rotties is that they are very shy dogs. They socialize well with their pack/family, but are really shy around strangers, and will try to either get away or hide. It takes a lot of work to train this out of rotties. Rotties raised properly will never attack unless trained to or backed into a corner, they are truly very shy dogs by nature who prefer to bark at an intruder at a distance. Rotties make great family dogs when properly raised, and you couldn’t ask for a better guard dog for your home, but just as with pits, Rotties need extra attention, care, and exercise.
Both pits and Rotties have a tendency to develop hip problems also, so keeping them healthy and checked is important. A dog in pain is an unpredictable, unsafe dog, this goes for any size dog.
In Towns, and Cities Large Dogs Have Special Needs:
Large dogs can be good pets in the city, if you are willing to spend the time training them, and pack time with them. Large dogs, also need lots of exercise to stay healthy , and in good mental shape.
At least three to four hours a day you should be in the same area as your dog, I.e.; living area, bedroom area, lawn, etc. They have the need to pack, and since you are the one they have bonded to, you must also be their pack. At least forty minutes to one hour a day should be sent in play and exercise with your large dog. Long walks, and even jogging, and running is great for you to participate in exercising with your large dog. Play with your dog, and brush, groom, pet and touch them often. Praise should be quick in coming and don’t be afraid to over do it either. Correction for bad actions should also be quick in coming. Large dogs need toys suitable to them, and they need a variety of toys. Dogs get bored too! Vet checks are very important for large dogs too, a healthy dog is happy dog.
The Media Effect:
Movies, television etc…the scene is set, the hero is traveling through the darkness of the dank tunnel towards the hidden lair of the evil bad guy. His breath is hot in the cool air, and his gun is heavy in his hand. He turns a corner, and freezes in his tracks upon hearing a low, rumbling, drawn out snarl. Our hero comes face to face with a…..POODLE…..ROTFLMAO……now come on who would believe that a poodle is going to stop our hero…so the casters use big dogs, dogs that will appear vicious and menacing because of their size, and because they have that certain look. After all a solid black poodle isn’t really going to be much of a hindrance to our hero!
Now for another story, one that is true. My mother has raised dogs her entire life, and now is elderly, and has a teacup sized Taco Bell Dog named Chico. He is meaner than mean, and bites everyone. She knows he is spoiled, but she won’t lift a finger to correct this behavior because he is so tiny, she says. I can not even give her a goodbye kiss unless she puts him in a cage, because he will bite me if I get near her. This dog loves me, and I watch him when they go on vacation, but if I get near mom, he turns into a snarling ball of meanness. He is a vicious and can’t be around small children, which makes it hard at times, for my mom to have her grandchildren over. Yet even though she knows he is mean, she won’t correct it, so his meanness is in the most part her fault. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people he has bitten but the number is way up there.
Which brings me to this interesting bit…87% or so of all dog bites from small dogs are never reported or recorded. First most small dog bites, require little more than a good cleaning, and a band aid. In the cases of small dogs really biting a person up, usually a doctor visit will suffice, and very rarely are stitches involved. Second most people are quite embarrassed to admit that a little dog attacked them and gave them a good one. Little dogs when cornered, threatened, or frightened, are just a vicious as big dogs, they just do less damage! They also can be more aggressive because they are so little, they make up for lack of size, by being more forward with their aggressions if they feel the need arises.
Animals are animals, and will behave as their nature inclines them to. It is up to the HUMAN owners to know as much about their breed as possible, and to learn the proper way of caring for and training the animal they have brought into their life. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners!