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Post by RealPitBull on Jul 15, 2008 10:59:56 GMT -5
While I was out eating with a friend at outdoor tables, we got to chat with a person walking a beautiful little Pit Bull girl. The dog was super friendly, super well-behaved, and.....off leash!!! ::grits teeth:: I learned that the dog was spayed (yay!); a rescue (double yay!) and had gone through a positive obedience course (I just love these sort of encounters!). The one downer for me was the off-leash thing. The owner went about her business, actually leaving the dog in front of a store while she went inside for a moment. The dog happily waited, "visiting" with people at the close-by outdoor restaurant tables, some whom seemed REALLY uneasy about a loose, approaching Pit Bull (can you blame the Average Joe? ) While everything I heard from this owner was responsible, the one glaring inconsistency was the loose dog!!! Argh! If that leash had been used, it would have been the Picture Perfect Pit Bull Encounter. Loose dogs - loose Pit Bulls - scare people. And we don't need people anymore scared of Pit Bulls than they already are. Besides, it looks downright irresponsible having a loose dog, and what sort of impression does that send to the public? Show responsibility, keep your dog leashed. You're not impressing anyone with your loose dog! (Anyone whose opinion matters, anyway! )
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Post by tracilg on Jul 15, 2008 12:06:27 GMT -5
I don't think any breed of dog should be off-leash in that kind of situation. And I'd never leave a dog untended outside while I went in a store. That's just wrong!
Glad she was well-behaved though.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jul 15, 2008 12:07:25 GMT -5
Totally. Leashes for ALL dogs please
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Post by windowdog on Jul 15, 2008 16:50:18 GMT -5
I was walking Devin the other day, she is still skittish about walks so this was a good day. This woman was walking two dogs, one a large lab, and the other a large breed I couldn't identify, both dogs were clearly over 70 lbs or more, and not fat.
I don't think people should have to be a certain size to own any dog, but this woman could not control them at all. They decided they wanted to come visit Devin and started in our direction while she was yelling no and trying to stop them with all her force. She looked like she was water ski-ing without the skis.
They reached Devin and didn't have the most friendly posture, high tails but no growling, lots of aggressive sniffing and body bumps. The woman said "soooorry, I just can't control them" as if this was really an excuse. I'm standing there temporarily dumbfounded, I didn't really say much other than giving commands to Devin and trying to separate us from the Dogs. Finally the lab tried to circle behind Devin while the other dog was in front, I saw the hackles on Dev go up a little (no other reaction though) so I grabbed the lab by the collar one handed and just hauled him back. I pretty much stood him straight up in the process. (Luckily he didn't react to me, I was probably asking for a bite there.)
Then the woman disengaged her dogs ... looking back I now realize that as soon as I grabbed the lab she was able to get her dogs off and get them away. I don't know if I broke the mood somehow or if she just wasn't trying 100% to control them, but I think it was the latter and that pisses me off more than anything in retrospect.
So once she had the dogs a few yards down the road I hear "well fine go home then" and she drops the damn leashes. The dogs took off like rockets towards what I assume was their house about 100 yards down the street. But what if they'd circled back?
Through the whole thing I was so alarmed and pissed that I really didn't chew the woman out. I should have but the thing on the tip of my tongue was "Lady, will you please get yours @#%!ing dogs off my pitbull before one of them dies!" or something to that effect. I knew that was pretty much the opposite of being an "ambassador for the breed" and it was really unfair to Devin who was really well behaved through the whole thing. So I kept my mouth shut. Wished I'd have said something more level headed and logically critical though.
Worst part about all of it is now Devin is completely off walks again, it took WEEKS to get her to want a walk most days. Now she's back to treating the house and backyard like the only safe places in our area.
So anyways, leashes are good, but with big or multiple dogs training is just as important.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jul 16, 2008 7:20:34 GMT -5
WOW, what a mess! I have been in similar situations, or seen people 'act' like they cannot control their dogs when they really can - kind of like they let the dog drag them over to 'say hi'. I think this is a common naive dog owner tactic, actually, as I've seen it enough. Sort of a way to get to interact 'by accident'.
I got the whole 'wish I said THAT' thing, too, as in the moment sometimes I am so focused on getting myself and my dog OUTTA there that my verbal mind just goes into shut down. Afterwards I'm annoyed at myself for not having 'had a word' with the owner.
Poor Devin - I hope she bounces back quickly. Thankfully the situation didn't turn into a snarf fest or doG forbid, a fight.
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Post by angelpit on Jul 31, 2008 13:30:18 GMT -5
We went to Petco shortly after DJ got his stitches out to get him back in the public. Well when we came outside there was a beaiutful white and blue merle pit bull actually hanging him self because some idiot had tied him to the gear shifter. I handed my husband the dog and took off over there and he sliped his collar right before I got there. He was sweet as sugar and came righ to me. The people were in the resturant eating and they saw me carrying him up to the side walk they came running out side. No thank you or any thing. The guy called for him but i refused to put him down till he came over and got him. If I would have known I would have just took him home with me. People are idiots!
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Post by valliesong on Aug 1, 2008 14:15:25 GMT -5
We went to Petco shortly after DJ got his stitches out to get him back in the public. Well when we came outside there was a beaiutful white and blue merle pit bull actually hanging him self because some idiot had tied him to the gear shifter. I handed my husband the dog and took off over there and he sliped his collar right before I got there. He was sweet as sugar and came righ to me. The people were in the resturant eating and they saw me carrying him up to the side walk they came running out side. No thank you or any thing. The guy called for him but i refused to put him down till he came over and got him. If I would have known I would have just took him home with me. People are idiots! White and blue merle? The guy probably actually thinks he has a purebred dog, too. Probably wasn't neutered and the guy was looking to breed "rare" purebred blue merle pit bull (catahoula mix) puppies. Don't mind my cynicism.
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Post by OurPack on Aug 1, 2008 16:34:20 GMT -5
I certainly don't mind the cynicism! What kind of temperament could this dog potentially end up having? ??? or other "rare" dogs like him.
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Post by angelpit on Aug 1, 2008 17:16:25 GMT -5
I Have a UKC red female with a UKC blue male and they had a blue merle and I jept him untill I could get him neutred and the found him a home. I didn't notice weither he was intact or not I was just trying to keep something bad from happening.
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Post by tanker20012000 on Sept 6, 2008 17:31:32 GMT -5
back about 6 months ago i was walking burban in salem when i lived up north. she did realy good on walks and we walked into petsmart another pit owner and i was talking for a few seconds could see i didnt lik the guy at all dog wasnt behaved and owner needed a bath more then the dog. so with a small parting i walked off with burban got out side. i heard the guy call to me i turned around he dropped the leash the brindel pit darted for burban. he was about 20 lb heavier he came all teeth. i did a foolish thing and yanked burban in my arms from her harness and put her in the back of my truck. then i confronted the guy who said he wanted to see a real dog fight. so i showed him one. broke 3 knuckles on the ground when i had him pined. cops got there i was released with a warning. i know it wasnt good of me to hit him looks bad. but i lost my cool. i had to have the side of my truck painted were his pit had jumped all over the side trying to get in back. < he coudlnt get in back me burban jumps in the back with ease and my trucks lifted> the guy was let go with out a warning even thu he put his dog after mine. after 23 letters to the police dept. they said they track him down and have spca check on his dogs condision. never heard back i hope they took it from him. he makes the breed look bad. i was a fool for hitting him. i could have made things worse my pit stayed in the back of the truck with a freeze comand. i was lucky she didnt see me fighting and try to help. i went in petsmart many times sence never haveing a problem with people. or there dogs. the ladies that worked there loved burban even knew her name < we went there all msot everyday> joseph
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