by Megumi-Oni » October 14th, 2009, 9:33 am
Wow. It's amazing how similar this set up is to the other one I was using. It seems like this is a really... um... secure thing to get into. Like, I'm not allowed to post because I haven't received enough XP in the form of posts to attain a high enough level to really get anywhere. But, oh well.
I'm looking for an advocacy group that gets it. And I mean really gets it. I don't want a group that buys into the media hype, or tells me to leave my dog out of the parks, etc. I don't want a group that pretends to be an advocate for animal rights and awareness, then turns around and chats up how dangerous they are, etc. I'm looking for someone who can say:
"yes, you own a dog. Regardless of breed, they can be dangerous. With proper care, and DAILY TRAINING, you can help ensure your experience is a positive one. But, never forget the potential for disaster, and be aware of your animal at all times."
See, that's the attitude I think represents a healthy, respectful advocate for any breed of dog, more especially the "bully breeds." I'm having a hard time finding that online, which I think is weird.
Let's analyze the words. Regardless of breed means ANY dog who has been abused, neglected, trained to be aggressive, given steroids, etc. most likely will end up tearing someone's kid's face off. It's a sad truth. But we shouldn't hold the entire BREED responsible for the mistreatment of one animal. It's the HUMAN ELEMENT which is the problem. Dogs are, by nature, social pack animals capable of interacting peacefully with one another. It took the HUMAN ELEMENT to ruin that. Thanks, Mike Vick and anyone like you.
DAILY TRAINING means don't just get a dog on impulse and decide you want to keep it in a crate, maybe show it off to friends from time to time. No, to bring a dog into your family is to essentially adopt a kid with Down's or something like that. You really do have to work with the dog daily, rigorously, and responsibly. And you have to recognize that you aren't training the dog, you're training yourself how to handle the dog. That is key.
Being aware of your animal at all times isn't just assuming they're gonna kill someone and therefore carrying a stick or tazer or pepper spray because you're going to need it. That's just plain paranoid ignorance. Know your dog and be aware of its temperament. And, when in doubt, don't pull it out. Training helps with this awareness, so don't forget that critical step. If you know your dog will behave a certain way, make sure to consider that before placing your dog in situation where they may be uncomfortable, etc.
/rant. Sorry. I'll stop now. I'm just amazed at that other forum and some of the comments.
So, here I am on your forums trying to test you out now. Let's see how it all works out!