[nagdu] Lines in the sand?

Sun Jun 7 21:00:23 UTC 2009

Julie,

I guess I neglected to say that I think that pretty much the same applies in
home or in public with respect to the manner in which you treat others and
your responsibilities. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of patience for folks
who are not aware of, or do not seem to be particularly worried about their
dog's behavior in public. The only thing I would do at home that I do not do
in public is let me dog play in the back yard with other dogs. I only allow
this with dogs whose owners I know and whose judgment and handling I trust.
Mostly for the safety of my own dog, and because it is easier to prevent a
habit than to break one. Of course, I cannot tell someone to leave the
restaurant if they are not keeping their dog under the table next to them,
but I can request that they keep the dog away from me. I hope, that others
would do the same if one of my dogs, god forbid, snuck over and was
disturbing them. My point, was that we have a responsibility to handle our
dogs, as well as our temper. If the person you are facing is abusive, for
the most part, you need to avoid stooping to their level.   

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 4:21 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lines in the sand?

Joy,

I was specifically thinking of public access issues when I was writing out 
my thoughts. Certainly your home is subject to your rules.  I agree 
completely that guests should respect that.

By aggression I mean a dog who growls aggressively regularly, snaps, bites 
or tries to.

Growling isn't always a sign of aggression.  There are most definitely 
different types of growling.  My two dogs growl at each other on a daily 
basis.  It isn't aggression, just roughhousing.  If it were aggression the 
growl would be a more menacing, deeper throated sound.  There would also be 
blood.   *smile*

I have only ever heard Monty growl that terrifying, raise the hair on the 
back of your neck growl, once.  I had just gone to bed and was drifting off 
to sleep.  Monty was in his crate and Belle was on the bed by my feet.  Both

dogs started awake and began growling.  Belle got up and went into the 
living room, barked a couple of times and then came back.  I never did hear 
anything.  I have no idea what that was about.

The dog I had before Belle, Tia, used to growl at the loose dogs that 
harassed her.  Tia was the most solid dog I have ever known.  Nothing phased

her.  She wouldn't lunge, bark or make any aggressive moves.  She would just

tell the other dog that they were acting inappropriately, very similar to 
how a mother dog would communicate to her puppies that they were acting 
badly.

JMHO
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garry and Joy Relton" <relton30857 at cox.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lines in the sand?

> Hi Julie,
>
> I agree with much of what you said except. I dislike strongly when 
> guests
> at
> my house let their dogs off of leash and do not take responsibility for 
> any
> of the following: climbing on my furniture when I have asked them
> specifically not to allow their dogs on it, grabbing food off of plates or
> the table, emptying in my yard with the expectation that "your husband or
> son can see it and pick it up". Having said all of that, I don't mind if
> dogs are off leash in my home, especially since I have a back yard that is
> fenced in and the dogs like to play. Also, any dog will grab food if they
> think that they can get away with it, but doing nothing to prevent or curb
> it makes no sense to me. AS far as aggressive behavior, it needs to be 
> more
> than a growl or a moment of aggressive behavior which is quickly and 
> firmly
> stopped. I've never had a dog with the slightest aggressiveness in him or
> her but I know of some dogs whose nature is to growl a little to assert
> their importance. In my home, when they encounter one another I don't get
> too upset about that if it's just a singular warning growl and it is
> responded to appropriately by the owner. The lunging, biting and being
> outwardly aggressive and out of control will probably earn you an 
> invitation
> to leave immediately with your dog, if visiting in my home.
> I do not have patience for the aggressive and grabbing food behavior from
> pets or my own dog guide. The act itself is not usually as serious as not
> doing anything about it.
>
> Ok, I'm climbing down from my soap box now.. I'll take a deep breath 
> and shut up.
>
> Joy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Julie J
> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 2:43 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lines in the sand?
>
>
> This is an excellent question!
> Things I absolutely cannot tolerate are continuous barking, growling, 
> aggressively lunging, relieving inappropriately and total lack of 
> grooming.
>
> I think dogs are dogs and they are going to have an off day.  I don't 
> have
> a
>
> problem with a dog who lets out a woof on the rare occasion.   It happens
> and I don't see it as a huge deal if it is only one or two and the 
> handler is doing their best to manage the situation.
>
> Aggression, I'm talking about outright readiness to hurt someone is 
> not acceptable in a service dog.  I can't think of a situation when it 
> would be
> okay.   I think any dog that exhibits aggression should be immediately
> removed from working as a guide dog.
>
> Relieving inappropriately is another thing that absolutely drives me
> insane.
>
> I understand that dogs get sick and that is not what I'm talking 
> about.
> I'm
>
> meaning dogs that consistently relieve indoors or worse males who mark
> their
>
> territory while in harness.
>
> Gross neglect of the dogs grooming is totally preventable and in 
> complete control of the handler.  There is no reason that a dog with 
> fleas or other creepy crawlies should be taken into public.
>
> Oh and one more...I am not very impressed with handlers who let their dogs
> run amuck.   When you're eating at a really nice formal dinner and find an
> escaped  dog begging or helping themselves to food from tables, well, it's
> just not cool.   I think the dog should always be on leash or otherwise
> confined when in a public place.
>
> All JMHO of course
> Julie
>
>
>
>
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