Reply to What's the deal with entitled, jerky dog owners*

Forum Index » Pets

Reply to "What's the deal with entitled, jerky dog owners*"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A LEASHED dog recently growled and lunged at me walking on the sidewalk. The owner ignored me like I was invisible while they TALKED to the dog. Just because it is on a leash doesn’t mean the owner is in control of the animal. [/quote]

First, it sounds like this particular dog was under control.  Second, what do to think the owner should have done?  [/quote]

DP but a dog who is lunging at people who walk by on the sidewalk is not under control. I mean, better for that dog to be on a leash than not, but dogs who consistently pull at leashes and respond to bystanders by lunging, growling, or barking are not properly socialized.

And in a civilized society, if your dog lunges at and growls at someone, you should at least acknowledge that person and mumble an apology or something. It's fine to attend to your dog, but your dog is threatening a person. Imagine if a large child behaved in this way, lunging at or growling at a stranger on the street, and their parent just ignored that persona and just chatted with their kid like it had not happened. Would you feel reassured? Safe?

Pretend we live in a society and our well-being is interconnected and we all owe each other a basic duty of care.[/quote]

So you advocate while the dog is being trained, it . . . not go on walks?

It sounds like the owner had control of the dog, and after it lunged at the PP, he or she attended to the dog (in other words, spoke to it).  If you're really getting twisted up about this, you are just looking to be mad. [/quote]

Actually, if the dog in question was in the process of being trained, [b]it is even more important that the person walking him communicate that to the other person.[/b] You say "sorry, he's still being socialized, you may want to keep your distance." This is what a responsible dog owner who is in the process of leash training/socializing a new dog would do.

But more likely, it was someone who has no idea how to train or socialize the dog, is used to the dog pulling on the leash and behaving aggressively towards others, and therefore it didn't even occur to them to say anything. [/quote]

dp  If you truly have a dog that lunges and barks at another person what you said is way too much. If my dog did that I would need ALL of my attention on my dog to get him away from you.  Why don't you get that?  The majority of dog owners who have reactive dogs already feel shame and blamed for their dogs' behavior.  We honestly don't need to worry about stranger's opinions.  Just kindly move out of the way and go about your day. Let me talk to my dog and not you.[/quote]

Someone who is afraid of being attacked by your dog who is lunging and growling at them is not "shaming and blaming" you. They are afraid. Of the animal with bared teeth who is behaving towards them with hostility in a public space. Yes, you do need to worry about them.

The way you describe this is so emblematic of the problem with the bad dog owners. [b]You want us all to treat your "reactive dog" like they are a child with special needs,[/b] instead of what they actually are, which is an untrained animal who poses a threat to other people's health and well-being. You feel shame and blame? Go see a therapist, it's not relevant to me.

Better hope your dog doesn't successfully attack someone while you are out walking it, because then you'll have to worry about your dog (who will be put down) as well as the innocent bystander who was harmed by YOUR negligence and irresponsibility.

Feel shame! Feel blame! It is your fault. If you cannot properly train and control your dog, DON'T GET A DOG.[/quote]

You are confused.  You can be trained and still be reactive.  Being reactive is a result of their feelings and it can be biological.  I get that you don't care but, sometimes you get the dog you get and they have problems.  And by the way I am not expecting you to treat my dog. In fact, I would prefer you ignore.  Just kindly do not expect me to talk to you, do not walk super close to us  ( this is very dangerous for any dog) and cross the street when you see that there is a dog that is lunging at you. btw, if a dog is barking and lunging it is reactive, not "reactive"

About the shame and blame you sound very unhinged.   When you have a child or dog that misbehaves you can feel mildly shamed but, it isn't pathological that requires therapy.  And I am being very responsible with my dog[/quote]

Do you hear yourself? You want other people to give your dog a wide berth on sidewalks (despite them having no idea when approaching you that your dog has these problems), cross the street to escape your lunging, growling dog, and also have zero expectation of communication from you about what is obviously a dangerous animal in your care.

That is not a reasonable expectation from the people who live around you. No. If your dog is so reactive that they cannot walk down a sidewalk in your neighborhood without lunging, barking, or growling at people walking by, then the answer is: you should not be walking that dog not hat sidewalk. No person should ever have to cross a street to keep themselves safe from your dog. What if the person in question has mobility problems and can't move that quickly? What if it's an adult with a toddler for preschooler? What if the street is very busy and they need to be cautious of traffic?

The problem is that you view these issues as just inevitable, and just something everyone in the community has to deal with because you've decided your dog has an emotional predisposition for reactivity and there's nothing to be done. Who knows, maybe you are right. In that case, [b]you can move to a place where your dog can get most of their exercise away from people[/b], or [b]you can rehome the dog[/b]. It is not the duty of your neighbors and people in your community to accommodate your dog, who sounds dangerous, simply because you've decide his behavior is innate.

You are NOT a responsible dog owner. You are the problem.[/quote]

You have a very hostel way of answering and discussing this issue.  Perhaps you are a "reactive human" yourself. However I am going to answer you politely and honestly.

First of all, I would never rehome my dog.  My dog is a lifelong responsibility.  Something you clearly don't understand.  I also cannot move so that is a non starter.  My dog does not react to every dog and every person so my ability to walk him during non prime time is fine.  I am working with a trainer and I have him on anxiety medication so I am not throwing up my arms and saying nothing can be done.

What I am stating is just common sense.  If i see a dog that is lunging and barking I do not continue to walk towards it nor do I expect the owner to stop focusing on their dog and talk to me.     This is why I am a responsible dog owner.  No one in my neighborhood fears my dog as he has not harmed anyone. I do not put him in a situation where something could happen.  Again, the mark of a good dog owner.

My hope is more people would understand that dogs are not robots and sometimes owners are doing their very best.  So a little less judgement would be appreciated.  I do not expect this from the pp though!

[/quote]

I know you are convinced that you are a good dog owner but a lot of what you are describing is exactly what people are complaining about. You're asking other people to respond in a specific way to your dog lunging and growling, and also acting like lunging/growling are acceptable behaviors from dogs, or at least behaviors that everyone should be willing to tolerate. I really disagree.

I really don't think dogs who act like yours should be kept in dense areas where they are likely to meet a lot of people and other dogs on walks. Sorry, I just don't. If you live in a city, you should get a dog that can get very socialized and will not unexpectedly have strong negative reactions to people or dogs. This might mean adopting an adult dog with an established personality or, yes, being willing to move if it turns out your dog is not a city dog. I do think rehoming is harsh but if you are unwilling to move to a place that is more appropriate for the dog, and you can't train the dog to never react to people that way, I think you should consider it.

It's just not reasonable to assume that people should be okay with dogs lunging and growling at them on the sidewalk. If you can't train this out of a dog, something else has to give. And no, it is not the behavior of your neighbors. It's not their dog and they don't really owe you special dispensation for your dog's aggressive behavior.

If any of this sounds harsh to you, then yes, you are exactly the kind of "bad dog owner" people on the thread are talking about.[/quote]

You don't have the right to tell me how to manage my dog or where to live.  I've had this dog since he was 8 weeks old.  Way too long to rehome and I had no idea he would be reactive.  I don't need your stamp of approval either.  Who cares if you think I am a bad dog owner?  You simply do not matter.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics