Dogs

[CardsofSTL]

It's been about 15 months since our beagle, Duncan, passed away. Our family has talked for a long while now about getting a new pet, once we were ready and some travel we had planned was past. Well, we went and did it this week. Meet Paprika, our new puppy. She's a beagle/pomeranian mix.

Don't be fooled by this angelic picture. She's also a puppy terror. We have to figure out how to control her biting/nipping because it's getting pretty intense. But also, she's adorable, and for a 9 week old pup just separated from her mom and litter mates, she's actually sleeping well at night (one wakeup to go potty).

Welcome to the family Paprika!!!

[GeddyWrox]

So adorable!!!

[thrill]

Have a perfect boy named Beans now. Chocolate lab, 14 months old. Happy, sweet, and without an aggressive instinct in his body.

There is a house on the corner near me that we pass on walks a lot. Two pitbulls live there. A couple weeks ago, the big male pushed through his fence gate with ease and came over to front on beans (we were across the street). We kept moving and there was no problem, other than the [expletive] gate. About an hour ago, we were walking directly in front of the fence, the male came out of the house’s dog door, blew through the gate, and latched onto beans cheek and wouldn’t let go. Aged owner came out, grabbed his dog, but it wouldn’t let go. Beans is screaming this entire time. Dog finally lets go and I hold the gate shut against the still charging pit until it’s owner could catch his breath enough to get the dog inside. While he’s doing that, he apologizes, and I tell him, it’s ok, dogs will be dogs, but he needs to fix the gate because if it happens again, I’m literally going to slit his dog’s throat in the [expletive] street (I live in a slightly sketchy neighborhood and by habit carry a pocket knife big enough to do the job). He didn’t respond to that. Fine with me, the only response I require is a reinforced gate. Next time I’m chatting with the cop who likes to stop and pet beans on our walks, I’m going to ask her what they can do to make him fix the gate, if anything.

Beans is ok. His lip is torn but he’s ok. I’m way more shook than he is. Thinking about moving to a more safely walkable neighborhood but would have to break my lease early.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Have a perfect boy named Beans now. Chocolate lab, 14 months old. Happy, sweet, and without an aggressive instinct in his body.

There is a house on the corner near me that we pass on walks a lot. Two pitbulls live there. A couple weeks ago, the big male pushed through his fence gate with ease and came over to front on beans (we were across the street). We kept moving and there was no problem, other than the [expletive] gate. About an hour ago, we were walking directly in front of the fence, the male came out of the house’s dog door, blew through the gate, and latched onto beans cheek and wouldn’t let go. Aged owner came out, grabbed his dog, but it wouldn’t let go. Beans is screaming this entire time. Dog finally lets go and I hold the gate shut against the still charging pit until it’s owner could catch his breath enough to get the dog inside. While he’s doing that, he apologizes, and I tell him, it’s ok, dogs will be dogs, but he needs to fix the gate because if it happens again, I’m literally going to slit his dog’s throat in the [expletive] street (I live in a slightly sketchy neighborhood and by habit carry a pocket knife big enough to do the job). He didn’t respond to that. Fine with me, the only response I require is a reinforced gate. Next time I’m chatting with the cop who likes to stop and pet beans on our walks, I’m going to ask her what they can do to make him fix the gate, if anything.

Beans is ok. His lip is torn but he’s ok. I’m way more shook than he is. Thinking about moving to a more safely walkable neighborhood but would have to break my lease early.

Damn it, man. That's terrible. Glad to hear Beans is okay.

We walk in some sketch with our dogs frequently and carry an extra skinny leash. The best way to get those types of dogs to let loose is to choke them out. Wrap the leash around their neck and pull upwards like hell.

It's not the dogs fault so much as the owners. I mean, come on. Especially with bigger dogs like that, you've got a responsibility to train/socialize and if nothing else keep them contained. Take that knife to the owner if anything. JMO.

[WAR God]

I’ll be that guy. Pitbulls are a menace to society and should be phased out of existence. I’ve been to dozens of dog parks. The only dogs latching on to necks of other dogs are the pitbulls. 90% of the time, if there’s a serious problem, it involves a pit or a dog with obvious pit mix. I’ve seen truly horrific things pits have done to human beings. Including children.

A pit grabbed my dog and nearly skinned my hand when I (stupidly) tried to separate them. I’ve always carried at dog parks now. Sad state of affairs, because I’m not that guy. But I can’t let a pitbull kill a member of my family.

[GeddyWrox]

Define pitbull please

[GeddyWrox]

I'm glad Bean is ok, Thrill. I am not sure I would have been as restrained as you.

[thrill]

The gate has been reinforced.

I think I reacted well specifically because of my dog park experience. I’ve witnessed enough scuffles to know that the owners freaking out makes it way worse.

On the subject of pits, I love them, they rule. Unfortunately all of the worst instances I’ve seen involve large mastiff breeds (tough to tell what’s what sometimes and most are rescue mixes typically). Of course it’s the owner’s fault for not knowing how to handle their dog safely, or maybe not having the dedication to do it, but as the former owner of a very aggressive dog, you have to realize what’s at stake in any social interaction. A split second of distraction at the wrong time when something does something to trigger your dog’s fight trigger and horrible things can happen very quickly.

Not everyone is cut out for dogs like that, but they still buy them.

[GeddyWrox]

Technically this is a pitbull. But she's basically an overgrown Boston terrier.

Is she a menace?

According to a lot of these anti pitbull ordinances, she is.

The only thing in danger around this dog are snacks and stuffed animals.

[thrill]

Smoochable schnozz alert