Guest Anonymous Posted November 19, 2003 Posted November 19, 2003 Do we have the right to expect the general public to have educated themselves about my or your breed or mix of dog. Rather it must be us that educates ourselves because the general public doesn't have to. We must be self-educated to avoid problems/situations with our dogs. It is not the responsibility of the public to know the personality of our dogs either. It's ours. Quote
kendalyn Posted November 19, 2003 Posted November 19, 2003 Generally I agree with you, but it is still helpful to pool resources and learn from others experince. Quote
Aonir Posted November 19, 2003 Posted November 19, 2003 The general public MUST educate themselves either way. Why? They need to know that they DONT know anything about our dog to assume anything. Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted November 19, 2003 Posted November 19, 2003 I have no problem with people who dont know... ITs the people that THINK they know that piss me off. telling me things about my dog or the breed in general that are completely off-base, moronic, and in most cases proven to be false. i dont expect people to o out and do a bunch of research on a breed of dog thay dont care for or are not interested in... But on the same token dont pass judgements when you dont know. I dont run around telling K about saints because i dont know. I dont speak about peis because i dont know sure i could spout off 100 different things that i heard but then when the fact come out who looks like an ass? "its better to be quiet and learn then to speak and be a fool." Quote
courtnek Posted November 20, 2003 Posted November 20, 2003 I agree with RNP - no, I dont expect the world to learn everything there is to know about specific breeds. I DO expect them to research their dog-to-be before they get it. And I DO expect them to not mouth off platitudes from things they have heard on the news, or from friends, when they have done nothing to see all sides of the story. Or the breed.... My dog is a good example of this. She is a Lab Mix. She looks like a black lab. She DOES NOT like small children, she DOES NOT like strangers, she DOES NOT like most other dogs....but wait..she's a Lab right? Likes everyone, good with children, perfect family dog...NOT..... yet I hear people all the time saying "OH LOOK! It's a LAB!! you can run over there and pet it...." A little education goes a long way, especially when you're dealing with an animal....with teeth... It is up to parents to teach their children, whether they know anything about dogs or not, that it is not safe to approach a strange dog without the owners permission....and it's up to dog owners to KNOW their dog and it's traits and characteristics and idiosyncracies.... "There is a vast difference between HEARING, and LISTENING..." Quote
Rosebud Posted November 20, 2003 Posted November 20, 2003 courtnek napisał(a):...........A little education goes a long way, especially when you're dealing with an animal....with teeth... It is up to parents to teach their children, whether they know anything about dogs or not, that it is not safe to approach a strange dog without the owners permission....and it's up to dog owners to KNOW their dog and it's traits and characteristics and idiosyncracies.... "There is a vast difference between HEARING, and LISTENING..." I agree with the others on this. Unfortunately this world has forgotten and lost "Personal accountability". Personally I hold myself accountable for ALL of my actions. When I am walking in the off-lead dog park, I re-call my dogs if we come up on strangers or new dogs, I am the one that is to be held accountable for my dogs actions and I certaintly can't trust that the other's will do the same and not blame/sue me if their dog attacks mine. I don't blame my parents for the way I turned out (I did come from a "dysfunctional home"), I recognized my faults and took the responsibility and accountability to change them. :angel: Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted November 20, 2003 Posted November 20, 2003 dogs of the same breed vary in temperment Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted November 20, 2003 Posted November 20, 2003 the last post was mine I GOT LOGGED OUT :( Quote
courtnek Posted November 21, 2003 Posted November 21, 2003 There is a story I can tell that deals directly with this. I have a friend at work who got a purebred GSD and brought her to work to show her off. She is 1 1/2 years old, but has not spent a lot of time with people other than her owner, her sister and the other dogs in the house. Her name is Maggie May (registered Princess Margaret) and Terri wanted to show her off. I came outside to find a flock of people standing AWAY from her, in fear. These same people had flocked her, trying to pet her, and since she felt closed in she had backed off and growled. She is not used to large groups of people paying attention to her, and Terri had said this repeatedly and asked that they approach her one at a time and greet her. They didnt listen, so Maggie warned them off. I walked out in the middle of this, approached Maggie and held out my hand, palm up, so she could sniff it (the proper way to greet a strange dog) Her tail started to wag so I petted her gently on the top of her head and stroked her ears. She became a different dog. She did the doggie smile, and wagged her tail and stood by my side while I petted her, then another friend who has dogs came out and did the same thing, and she liked her immediately as well. The other people were actually MIFFED....one of them said "she must only like people who own dogs..." and Sandy and I both said "No, she likes us because we didnt threaten her by getting in her face and wanting her attention in a huge group......" and they got PO'd and stomped inside....some people...so yes, I guess general education about dog behavior would be a good thing...in case it's ever necessary. Maggie was not hostile, just afraid, and growled as all dogs will to warn off the threat. Maybe a Golden or a Lab (other than MINE) could handle group attention like that, but some dogs cant and people just dont understand... Quote
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