Category: Animal House
Rottweilers? Staffordshire Terrier/Colly Crosses? yorkshire Terriers (yorkies)? What jumps out at you there? Are they really, all dangerous dogs? likely to tear you limb from limb soon as look at you?
My answer - no, not necessarily. Discipline, love, interaction and affection go a bloody long way from almost the word go if these dogs fall in to the hands of the right people at the right time.
I have just spent almost 4 weeks at new boyfriend/other half, Kris's parents house with probably the softest rottie on this planet you could ever wish to meet, by the name of Borris (code name Bozzle) almost 3, still almost totally puppified, laid back and gorgeous and has one hell of a lot of love to give you in return for the love and affection he gives you all the confidence in the world you could wish for, to show him. By the 5th day of my stay which was kind of split in to two stays as we had other engagements with family and friends, it had got to the point where Borris kept to Kris's room where Kris's parents decided I'd be based, just laid on the bed in various relaxed poses or on the floor just to be near me or to have my hands/his pacifiers, close by when he needed them. I'd stroke his head, play with his ears, talk to him, as you do, he'd either play with my hands in his teeth in cute/puppy mode or lick them for hours and hours on end. When it was nearing the time for me to come home again, he was litterally crying for my attention, let alone grumbling at me for attention. The two smaller staffy colly crosses on the other hand weren't so gentle with everybody. Poppy, the baby at just 14 inches to the shoulder, will litterally climb up you and wash all over your face. However, there's no discouraging her or pushing her away when she does this, for she'll just come back at you harder and a lot stronger than before. Toby has always been the most timid of the three but he can still give Borris, normally the gentle giant, hell and also cause to work himself in to one hell of a doggy temper tantrum should they fall out over toys and things. With Borris's tantrums, you just quieten him down as you would a child of the same age in human years. Sadly, I had to witness two, even three of these episodes/fallouts, but you just do the normal white noise, calming voice routine and it's usually all quiet again within a minute. I even managed to bring Borris out of a rage on Christmas day of all days, the two adversaries plus Poppy having been shut in the living room with me and Kris while a family friend came to call and Borris had almost gone for him when he showed his face unannouncecd before, hence the dogs' encarceration in the living room.
Toby, shyest of the three, well, takes attention if you give it him but will not force his attentions on you like the other two.
There you have it. Three very well controlled "dangerous" dogs.
Any more experiences with "dangerous" dogs anybody?
Jen.
*agrees with post 1. I've met loads of Rotwilers and pretty much all of them have been lovely. One of them was owned by someone who owned a car garage and we went with Mum and Dad to pick up a new car or something. Well anyway, while we were waiting, this rotwiler came walking round as he was free to go where he wanted. Mum opened the car door and he came over. First he just sat on the floor next to the car and I was just stroking his head and talking to him. I started stroking his paws and I thought he was just going to give me his paws like a lot of dogs do, but no, he got half way into the car! Hahahahaha! He was heavy but I didn't care much. Then his owner came and called him off and the dog decided to walk around into the shop!
I agree with these first two posts. Certain breeds get a bad reputation, when the ones responsible are the humans who raise them from puppies. I've known very sweet Rotwilers, like the one described in the previous post. Pit Bull Terriers also get a bad rap, when it's the humans who are to blame. I've met several Pit Bulls in my life, all of them sweet and friendly dogs. But that's because they were raised well, with love and discipline both, as Jen was saying. I think it's sad when communities ban Pitbulls and other breeds within the city limits. That's punishing the animals and the good owners, when what cities really need to do is crack down on the humans that own and have raised the dogs to be dangerous. i"m not denying there are dogs who are dangerous, because of how theyv'e been raised, and unfortunately, when that happens and the dog can't be rehabilitated, it should be put down, in my opinion. It's sad, but better to do that than have the dog hurt a child or something. but like I said, find and punish the people responsible in some way.
I agree with Jen. It all depends on who raises the dog. If the human trains them to be angry dogs, then yeah that's how they'll act, but i like Jen's boyfriends dogs, they trea them with love then they will pretty much be the same as any lab or retriever.
Aw'w'w wow, thanks guys! Some really positive posters out there. Cool cool. Keep them coming.
Jen.
I agree. So many animals, especially dogs, get such bad publicity, when, in fact, it's a human who is at fault. That's not to say there aren't dogs who are just plain dangerous and bad, though. That definitely happens, but a majority of the time, it's how the dog is treated and raised that give them a mean streak.
We used to have a rottweiler, and she was a good dog. My uncle also had a pittbull, and he was one of the sweetest dogs you could ever possibly meet. From his disposition and attitude, you would've thought he was a lab or some other similar breed! I also have a German Shepherd, and she is such a loving and wonderful dog. My guide dog also has a bit of Doberman mixed in with the chocolate lab, and he is one of the most amazing animals I have known. Now, some people might try to argue with me by saying that he's a guide dog, and therefore he is trained to not be dangerous, but that isn't true at all. I have heard of many cases where a supposed "trained" dog has turned against what he/she was taught.
So, as said before, it's my opinion that, yes, there are some animals who seem to be naturally mean and dangerous, but there are also many, many cases in which a human is to blame for the behavior.
One more thing before I end this post; a question. Yorkies, Dangerous? I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe it happens in other places, but I have never seen it. We have a Yorkie, and he is so playful and full of life, it's unreal.
Aw'w'w sweet! Well, here is a link to a webpage where the very same rottweiler with whom I was most honoured to spend nearly a month in his family's house, is featured. He was just 6 weeks old when the family actually brought him home, having seen him at 3 weeks. Just click on Puppy link when you get on the following page which I'll post below.
Jen.
http://www.blindcooltech.com/
Ah well, paste it in your address bar then. You used to be able to post links in these boards. No idea why you can't do it now.
Jen.
Because you have to write the link in HTML format.
click on puppy link
Ah! damn! That would explain it then, lol. Just go to www.blindcooltech.com, click on the Puppy poddy and enjoy.
Jen.
um, where the heck did you come up with yorkies being dangerous dogs? um, there little bitty dogs. lol i have never once heard of a mean and vicious dangerous yorky. hehehe our yorky is a big, well big little baby. hehehe and I'm cunfuzzled. didn't you say the rotty went after someone when he came to the door? and you had to stop him? How is that gentle? or am I missing something here? this is what you said..... I even managed to bring Borris out of a rage
on Christmas day of all days, the two adversaries plus Poppy having been shut in the living room with me and Kris while a family friend came to call and
Borris had almost gone for him when he showed his face unannouncecd before, hence the dogs' encarceration in the living room.
If you call that well behaved and gentle.... i'm a bit scared of what a dangerous dog would be to you.
Well, for the most part, Borris is exactly that. It's a real shame I couldn't take some video footage next time I'm up in Lincolnshire and put it on YouTube. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it Shay. He's a gentle giant oo, 99 percent of the time, but when he feels he needs to protect both his property and family and someone like this family friend thinks they'll try and be clever/stupid and sneak in to the house, well, that's different. it could've been an intruder couldn't it? It was only because this friend Jamie spoke up at the 11th hour and panicked that Borris didn't go for him. Just simple things like announcing your presence, letting the dog know who you are by word of mouth could save you some unwelcome attention from him, plus you'd stand more of a chance leaving the house, trousers, maybe even underpants/knickers intact, lol.
Jen.
When I was a home rehabilitation teacher, I had an elderly gentleman as a client. I was trying to teach him braille. This was way out in the country, and when I first came to his house, the family told me to go to the back door, otherwise, Gretchen, the Doberman, wouldn't let me in. Well after a few minutes of barking and sniffing, I sat down with my student. Everytime I would put my hands on the braille book, Gretchen would sit beside me, whine, and push her head under my hand. All that is to say that while the tendency in some breeds is to be protective and territorial, I agree with the posts that say so much depends on how the dog is raised.
Lou
Good on you Lou. Borris, our priceless baby boy will wander over to you and either grumble or whinge at you till he gets what he wants, your hands for example, either caressing his head and playing with his ears or rubbing his belly if he's sat or laid down beside you, he kind of goes back in to puppy mode and plays with your hand in his teeth though he means absolutely nothing by it when he plays with your hands like that. You need to deliberately, wind Borris up at least once every day if not more, for he doesn't get out of the house much, so that is an opportunity for him to play very rough indeed but in a controlled way in a controlled environment with someone like Kris, my boyfriend who knows how far they can push him. Usually playing with Borris's feet livens things up a bit, but he can be quietened down just as fast as he was wound up. I have two or three voice clips of Kris and these wind up sessions.
Jen.
yes Jen, it could have been an intruder, or it also could have been a kid coming to visit. You really expect everyone to yell when they are coming to the door so he won't attack them? like you said he may be a good dog most of the time. but it oly takes that once.
We know that, but so long as everyone knows what to do and how to announce their presence as friend of foe as it were, Bozzle is about as much trouble as a zonked-out newborn baby, bless him, so long as a member of the family he knows and he trusts with his life is around if and when somebody comes to call. He just has the ability to get nasty if and when he feels he has to, when he is on guard dog duty in the front hall or the dining room. That does not under any circumstances, make our baby boy a dangerous dog. He just looks after himself and the family he's grown up with since he was a tiny six-week-old scrap of a puppy, weighing probably under 7 lbs, measuring just 7 inches height by 8 inches in length. He's grown up to love, not to kill.
Jen.
your tag.......I also have access to a Rottweiler and I won't hesitate to use him, also helps your case as to him being a gentle dog. um, not
Yeah well, keeps idiots at arms or even streets length doesn't it? lol. Big, bad, rottie! Mind you, the worst Boz'd probably do if we tried to turn him from a totally gorgeous big baby to a dangerous dog, he'd just make one hell of a racket at the top of his lungs, lol like he does when he feels he needs to be a guard dog, lol.
Jen.
I've never heard of Yorkshire Terriers being dangerous at all! Mum and Dad's yorkshire terrier is so funny and runs round all over the place barking and playing! Hahahahaha!
Here's what I'd like for someone here to address:
How, if you're blind and not a dog owner, do you know the real difference between danger and not? There are the obvious situations when you're being circled and snarled at or when somebody's lap dog is just rubbing and wagging its tail. And I've dealt with both. However, far too often I find people get defensive when you move yourself and/or your child out of the way when a dog acts in what seems like an aggressive manner.
Yesterday, I was digging stumps out of my yard when one of the neighborhood dogs rushed my daughter. I drove it away, fortunately just pulling a Sergeant Hartman act did the trick, but got the usual response you seem to get from owners: "Oh, he's just scared ..." well, if that was a man rushed my daughter, nobody would have sympathy for the man, so ... fair is fair. All well in good for those who say it's up to the handler, but what about the rest of us who don't have dogs, but get charged at?
Am I the only blind guy that gets more than a bit nervous when walking along if a dog rushes the end of its driveway? I've heard it said that "you can tell" if they're serious or not. C'mon! Maybe it's that I'm a lifer, maybe it's that I've been chased by one when I was a kid (good thing I was a good climber!) but I doubt it.
A neighbor situation can generally be dealt with, but how do you all deal with it when you're travelling, without any form of protection? So those of you dog lovers / dog enthusiasts skip the PETA propaganda and give us the low-down: How can you *really* tell? Or can you?
That's your greatest help to those of us non-dog-owners. The propaganda about how allegedly cute they are does us no good in knowing the difference. We don't all have your kinesthetic sense. I've heard it said you can see if their hair rises, but naturally that's a test I wouldn't be interested in performing having no sight ...