Posts: 1136
From: UK
Registered: Jan 2004

posted June 26, 2004 12:27 PM         

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My husband and I arrived at someone's garden to do some work yesterday. The house was unoccupied but we could get into the back garden anyway. Hubby had just started mowing the lawn, when, from the bottom of the garden, appeared our customer's bull terrier. This dog has a reputation for being highly aggressive and especially for attacking men. So my husband left the mower where it was and shot out of the gate. We hadn't realized the door of the conservatory had been left open - or unlocked, and either this dog had simply wandered out or let himself out.
"Can't you see if you can grab his collar?" asked my husband. I'd grabbed this dog before, with no ill effect - and was mindful of Hightower's line from "Police Academy": "If you show any fear, the dog will not respect you", but even I couldn't hide my nervousness when I came nearer and this damned mutt started growling at me. There was absolutely no response to verbal encouragement, since the dog had not been trained, so I decided to try something of a more "physical" nature. I grabbed a football and started kicking it around the lawn, thinking he'd run after it. Funny thing, he didn't run after it, more like away from it. This is interesting, I thought, so I continued to kick the ball towards him, wondering if he'd still grab the carrot. The dog turned tail and fled back into the house. Turned out he was scared of the football.
I found it quite laughable that such an aggressive dog could be scared of a football, but - I guess - it's akin to cats being scared of vacuum cleaners, or Puff Daddy being scared of clowns. No more, nor less, irrational.

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Posts: 7314
From: Schweinfurt to Grafenwoehr all within 6 months LOL
Registered: May 2002

posted June 26, 2004 01:24 PM         

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Unless the owner or owner kids throw the football at the dog when they are angry with him. Like people do with shoes. My cat, a rescue from one of the ER Vet hospitals I worked at as a vet tech, HATES boots. He was most likely beaten with shoes because he has a mortal fear of men in boots - or even boots just sitting there all alone.

Most of the time, when I am going to put on my hiking boots or tall boots, I bring them out, lay them on the side and let him sniff them. If he can rub them and know they are okay, when I put them on he doesn't freak out. He is a sad story. We got him after someone threw him out of a moving vehicle and hit was hit by another car. The hospital rehabbed him and I adopted him from the Vet that took him in. He has been the apple of my eye for about 8 years now. I call him Mr. Woobie even though his name is Fletcher.

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Posts: 94
From: Rennes-le-Chateau
Registered: May 2004

posted June 26, 2004 03:44 PM         

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I had a black lab we resuced that was also afraid of boots.She had been kicked so badly it broke a few ribs when we found her so we were always very careful when anyone new came around.
Here is my humble opinion..after being a vet tech for years and years and after being attacked myself I really do feel as if aggressive dogs should be put down.I am not talking about the dogs people normally assume are aggressive (pits,dobies,rotties...I have had all of those and they were total angels).I am talking about the dogs that just attack out of nowhere.As a kid I was attacked by a neighbors dog for just walking in my yard.I also got attacked by a black lab when I was a vet tech which about killed me..I HAVE GROWN UP WITH LABS MY WHOLE LIFE!!!!Last month at the beach my son was walking by a dog..didn't try to reach for it or anything and the dog ran after him and bit him in the butt,for no reason whatsoever.Dog's like that are dangerous and sadly if the owner's were more aware of their dog's behavior...less people would be attacked.So glad no one got hurt in your situation.Many Blessings....maven

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"I am an enigma,wrapped up in a mystery,shrouded by lies"

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Posts: 1136
From: UK
Registered: Jan 2004

posted June 26, 2004 05:27 PM         

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Actually, I think aggressive behaviour has nothing to do with breed and everything to do with not training a dog. I can't believe how many people don't train their dogs. I have no patience with them. How do they ever expect to have any peace? And then they wonder why the dog goes and bites somebody, or acts up when visitors come round. It's not the dog's fault. It's the fault of the owners who often select inappropriate breeds for their lifestyle and don't give them enough to do.
I was bitten by a dog once too - in the leg. Luckily I was wearing tough jeans at the time...and my leg muscles are also pretty knotty...so all I was left with was a large bruise. Nowadays, if a dog bounds up to me while I'm out for a walk, I stop, stand still for a split second so it will gradually stop moving too (pack animal), look it in the eye, then yell and wave it away, or throw a stick. Usually works: - "You've got to show him who's boss!"

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