For those who are not familiar with the terms I'll give a brief run-down.
BSL= Breed Specific Legislation. BSL is aimed at dogs who fit a certain type considered dangerous. The problem is that there is almost no way to tell a dog's definite breed without a large pedigree listing it's lineage. Rottweilers, 'pit bulls', boxers, Dobermans and such are all under attack. These dogs are judged by the actions of animals owned by uncaring/irresponsible owners which in turn ruins it for the rest of us.
MSN= Mandatory Spay/Neuter. MSN was recently passed in L.A. (I believe, I'll correct it if I'm wrong). It requires early spay/neuter and breeders need to buy a permit in order to have their animals intact. It also requires written documentation of medical reasons if a pet cannot be spayed. This was originally thought of as a solution to BYBs and Puppy mills. Since the people responsible for puppy mills and BYB facilities don't follow laws, MSN only punishes the responsible.
There is a way to correct the dog bite problem and reduce the pet overpopulation problem. It doesn't require laws punishing the responsible and it does work.
http://www.windsorhumane.org/pdfs/Bill%20Bruce.pdf
http://caveat.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/1/29/2694938.html
Essentially, Calgary has reduced their dog bite stats, increased licensing and increased owner responsibility. How you ask? Like this:
In grade school, their children are taught the 'Four Pillars of Owner Responsibility'. Their children learn from an early age (which is how it should be) that companion animals are not just throw away toys.
The Four Pillars of Owner Responsibility:
1) Companion Animals need to be licensed and Permanently Identified. This is fairly simple and inexpensive if only people in the US would do it.
2) Companion Animals should be spayed and neutered for their health and to prevent accidental litters.
3) Always provide the necessary food, training, exercise and care for companion animals.
4) Never allow your pet to become a nuisance or danger to the community.
Are these things really that hard?? It seems to me that it's cheaper and less time consuming just to do the above list than to face criminal charges, fines and steep medical bills. Experience should have taught us that criminals do NOT follow the laws. By adding more laws to what we have, only the law-abiding citizens suffer. Please take this to heart and pass it on! Teach your children the Four Pillars and volunteer to do an Assembly at your local schools. By preventing the creation of right removing laws we protect the future of our country.
6/25/08
Owner Responsibility..PT 2
I promise I'll get off my podium regarding this subject after this post.
This is more geared towards those who own large breed (over 50 lbs) or dogs who are typically seen as 'vicious', 'dangerous' or overly strong breeds. More specifically, the owners of bully breeds, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Hounds etc need to pay attention.
I firmly believe that we who choose to own these beautiful, working dogs have added responsibility. It is part of our duty to provide everything in the previous post AND go the extra mile to ensure our dogs project a positive image for their breed. Liwanu is a mix. I know what breeds he consists of because of physical attributes, temperament characteristics and behavior traits. Since I know what he is, I know how he looks it is my job to ensure that no one gets hurt by him. Behaviors that other dogs can get away with are unacceptable. A growling Chihuahua would make everyone laugh, a growling 90lb mutt isn't as humorous.
As hard as it is, we need to have higher standards for our dog's behavior. Anything that could hurt or scare another is unacceptable. It's not fair that our dogs have to go above and beyond but in order to fight the misconception the Media blatantly throws to the public it is on our shoulders to prove them wrong.
This doesn't mean you hurt or get rid of a chow mix who has some behavior issues...it simply means that you need to take time and money out of your shoe or restoration car project to put into a behaviorist or R+ trainer. Pick up a book and read. Do what you can and if all fails at least you tried.
This is more geared towards those who own large breed (over 50 lbs) or dogs who are typically seen as 'vicious', 'dangerous' or overly strong breeds. More specifically, the owners of bully breeds, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Hounds etc need to pay attention.
I firmly believe that we who choose to own these beautiful, working dogs have added responsibility. It is part of our duty to provide everything in the previous post AND go the extra mile to ensure our dogs project a positive image for their breed. Liwanu is a mix. I know what breeds he consists of because of physical attributes, temperament characteristics and behavior traits. Since I know what he is, I know how he looks it is my job to ensure that no one gets hurt by him. Behaviors that other dogs can get away with are unacceptable. A growling Chihuahua would make everyone laugh, a growling 90lb mutt isn't as humorous.
As hard as it is, we need to have higher standards for our dog's behavior. Anything that could hurt or scare another is unacceptable. It's not fair that our dogs have to go above and beyond but in order to fight the misconception the Media blatantly throws to the public it is on our shoulders to prove them wrong.
This doesn't mean you hurt or get rid of a chow mix who has some behavior issues...it simply means that you need to take time and money out of your shoe or restoration car project to put into a behaviorist or R+ trainer. Pick up a book and read. Do what you can and if all fails at least you tried.
6/19/08
Owner-Responsiblity
SURELY THESE DOGS DESERVE DEATH!
When they came for the pit bulls,
I remained silent;
Surely these dogs deserved death!
When they banned the rottweilers,
I remained silent;
Who needs these dogs?
When they came for the guardian breeds,
I did not speak out;
My dog was not one of these.
When they came for the large dogs,
I remained silent;
My dog was small.
When they came for all dogs,
there was no one left to fight with me.
There was a time when Americans stood united to protect our way of life as well as our property. Our society has deteriorated into a self-absorbed mess. No longer do we offer kindness to each other, no longer do we see the government as working for us. We blindly accept the decrees they make and are content with our rights being washed away in a tide of idiocy. We allow the media to brain-wash us into following the agendas of ARA (animal-rights activists) and other non-political organizations. I support animal welfare and animal rights, I do not support the mass extinction of a species based on it's body type.
Dogs cannot be held responsible for their actions (legally) because they are considered 'dumb' by law. The responsibility is completely on the owner. I have a 'dangerous' dog. He truly is dangerous because of his fear-aggression, unpredictable tendencies and the fact that he's 90lbs and knows how to use his weight. These things combine to make him a serious threat to the general public. I know that my dog can and will hurt someone if I am not constantly alert to the surroundings. I have set a protocol down for our daily routines and I always have a back up plan. Because I know this, I step up and go the extra mile to ensure his safety and the safety of others.
As dog owners it's OUR DUTY to keep our animals safe from other people while simultaneously keeping other people safe from our animals. BSL (breed-specific legislation) is BULLSHIT because it does nothing to address the true problem behind fatal and non-fatal dog attacks. No dog has ever or will ever attack a person for no reason. We may not be able to see the reason (most commonly we cannot because we are not directly involved) but there is one. Simple reasons for dog attacks are; fear, stress, being trapped, pain and illness. A few safety tips for EVERY dog owner out there are:
1) Know your dog. What were they bred for? How did they do their job? How much energy do they have (this dictates how much time/exercise they'll need)? How do they handle new situations/people? How are their obedience commands?
2) Train your dog. If there are any behavioral issues which can be potential signs of things to come (such as food-aggression, growling/lunging/charging at people, hackling etc) seek a professional who uses positive reinforcement or pick up a book from my recommended reading list. ALL dogs should know basic obedience commands and respond to them well. Training is very important regardless of breed/size or how cute the dog is.
3) Know your area. Know the dogs/people around your home, along your walking route and anywhere that you leave your dog for periods of time. You don't need to know a name or their life story, just familiarize yourself with the faces so you can recognize characters that are out of place. Know which areas have children so that you can protect them and your dog from bombardment or it's effects.
4) Never take for granted that your dog is harmless. EVERY dog can and will bite if it's pushed too far. Make a plan for emergency and keep your dog secured inside the house, inside a REAL fence or on leash at all times. Invisible fencing is only moderately effective at keeping dogs in an area and it doesn't keep anyone out. Chained dogs are more likely to be aggressive and hurt people/animals because of their frustrations.
TO BE CONTINUED...........
When they came for the pit bulls,
I remained silent;
Surely these dogs deserved death!
When they banned the rottweilers,
I remained silent;
Who needs these dogs?
When they came for the guardian breeds,
I did not speak out;
My dog was not one of these.
When they came for the large dogs,
I remained silent;
My dog was small.
When they came for all dogs,
there was no one left to fight with me.
There was a time when Americans stood united to protect our way of life as well as our property. Our society has deteriorated into a self-absorbed mess. No longer do we offer kindness to each other, no longer do we see the government as working for us. We blindly accept the decrees they make and are content with our rights being washed away in a tide of idiocy. We allow the media to brain-wash us into following the agendas of ARA (animal-rights activists) and other non-political organizations. I support animal welfare and animal rights, I do not support the mass extinction of a species based on it's body type.
Dogs cannot be held responsible for their actions (legally) because they are considered 'dumb' by law. The responsibility is completely on the owner. I have a 'dangerous' dog. He truly is dangerous because of his fear-aggression, unpredictable tendencies and the fact that he's 90lbs and knows how to use his weight. These things combine to make him a serious threat to the general public. I know that my dog can and will hurt someone if I am not constantly alert to the surroundings. I have set a protocol down for our daily routines and I always have a back up plan. Because I know this, I step up and go the extra mile to ensure his safety and the safety of others.
As dog owners it's OUR DUTY to keep our animals safe from other people while simultaneously keeping other people safe from our animals. BSL (breed-specific legislation) is BULLSHIT because it does nothing to address the true problem behind fatal and non-fatal dog attacks. No dog has ever or will ever attack a person for no reason. We may not be able to see the reason (most commonly we cannot because we are not directly involved) but there is one. Simple reasons for dog attacks are; fear, stress, being trapped, pain and illness. A few safety tips for EVERY dog owner out there are:
1) Know your dog. What were they bred for? How did they do their job? How much energy do they have (this dictates how much time/exercise they'll need)? How do they handle new situations/people? How are their obedience commands?
2) Train your dog. If there are any behavioral issues which can be potential signs of things to come (such as food-aggression, growling/lunging/charging at people, hackling etc) seek a professional who uses positive reinforcement or pick up a book from my recommended reading list. ALL dogs should know basic obedience commands and respond to them well. Training is very important regardless of breed/size or how cute the dog is.
3) Know your area. Know the dogs/people around your home, along your walking route and anywhere that you leave your dog for periods of time. You don't need to know a name or their life story, just familiarize yourself with the faces so you can recognize characters that are out of place. Know which areas have children so that you can protect them and your dog from bombardment or it's effects.
4) Never take for granted that your dog is harmless. EVERY dog can and will bite if it's pushed too far. Make a plan for emergency and keep your dog secured inside the house, inside a REAL fence or on leash at all times. Invisible fencing is only moderately effective at keeping dogs in an area and it doesn't keep anyone out. Chained dogs are more likely to be aggressive and hurt people/animals because of their frustrations.
TO BE CONTINUED...........
5/10/08
Yet Another Disappointment
So far things are not falling together all that well. So far the money I've been working on saving up hasn't been lasting because situations keep popping up and it doesn't help that my boss currently owes me 150$ in back pay. Aello is teething (still or again not sure) and I haven't been able to supply her with appropriate chew-toys. Liwanu is being a big red oaf still. His behavior has mellowed a bit although he's still highly reactive to the emotions of those around him. It has caused me some trouble in the past and I'm sure it will cause problems in the future but for right now I will take baby steps with him and in our daily lives.
Overall, they are both coming along nicely. I found a new method for teaching 'heel' which I'm trying with them both since Liwanu needs help with his and she doesn't know it at all. Daily training sessions do us all good because it gives them mental exercise, teaches them appropriate behavior and gives me time to not worry about all the small things that stress me out. For each of those short sessions the only things that matter are me and the dogs which is welcome relief.
I am starting to wonder if I'm just choosing the wrong path which is why it isn't working out. Past experience has told me that when I'm headed the wrong way everything falls apart and goes to hell for me which is what is currently happening. This seems like the right path though. I mean, choosing to settle down in one place (for awhile anyway) and get a steady job is something that is socially expected, but it's just not working so maybe I'm making a mistake in my attempt to be 'normal'.
Overall, they are both coming along nicely. I found a new method for teaching 'heel' which I'm trying with them both since Liwanu needs help with his and she doesn't know it at all. Daily training sessions do us all good because it gives them mental exercise, teaches them appropriate behavior and gives me time to not worry about all the small things that stress me out. For each of those short sessions the only things that matter are me and the dogs which is welcome relief.
I am starting to wonder if I'm just choosing the wrong path which is why it isn't working out. Past experience has told me that when I'm headed the wrong way everything falls apart and goes to hell for me which is what is currently happening. This seems like the right path though. I mean, choosing to settle down in one place (for awhile anyway) and get a steady job is something that is socially expected, but it's just not working so maybe I'm making a mistake in my attempt to be 'normal'.
4/27/08
Another pending change
The top is Liwanu as a very young puppy. The bottom is Liwanu posed to the right (viewer's right) of his father, Damien.Well, my boss/landlord "forgot" to pay the cable/internet bill for 3 MONTHS! so we lost the internet a week or two ago. Unable to get anything done I spent my days watching the fuzzy idiocy called TV and playing with the dogs.
Liwanu- Has begun showing less aggression towards strangers. Off-leash he's great but still needs people-work while on-leash. He's matured out a bit more and I'm actually thinking about finally getting his 'big-boy' collar and name tag. It really does seem like just the other day he was a tiny fluff ball. Now he's a huge cloddhopping beast.
Aello- Is still an energetic fluff ball although she's began to fill out into a more mature size. It's amazing how far she's come. When I got her she was an 8 lb little black thing with tiny little cut ears, now she's a 31lb black thing with cute bat ears. She's muscled and tall with a bit of brindling on her legs, face and chest.
It's amazing how fast they mature and grow. Their change from fluffy puppy to sleek adult truly brings home how quickly time goes by and that we should cherish them as long as we can. On a less sentimental note, I may be moving us out of here soon. I have to find out the rules and regulations for the two trailer parks and how much they'll work with me on rent/sec. deposit and then I'll know for sure. Hopefully I can pull this off. The good thing would be that the dogs and I would be safe and happier out there because I wouldn't have to deal with my boss other than for work related things. The downside is that I can't bring them on the bus with me so during the day they'd have to be crated for their safety.
I hate the idea of not being able to play with them all day every day but I've got to put their welfare ahead of my own selfish desires. If I can pull this off they will no longer be at the mercy of my boss's husband or broiling from my boss's unwillingness to get AC units. Liwanu is very sensitive to heat because he has a thick undercoat and Aello is black so heat is not a great thing for them to be exposed to.
4/4/08
A Note on Cats and Dogs
Growing up I heard a lot about cats and dogs fighting. It's a common misconception in America and the reference appears as a turn of phrase. The idea is that canines and felines don't get a long (fight like cats and dogs) are completely different (opposite as cats and dogs) and in general are incompatible with each other.
I can count on one hand the number of times that I've seen a cat and dog who were both well socialized at odds with each other. I currently reside in a house as a 'live-in nanny' where there are 4 dogs ranging from 7lbs (Hermes) to 25lbs (Aello) to 62lbs (Maxine) and ending with 85lbs (Liwanu). There are also two adult cats, mother and son, the female just had 5 kittens bringing the cat total to 7. There is mutual respect between both species and only the occasional dispute when one or the other gets too rough.
The adult male, Tiger, romps with the dogs and attends our walks. I often find myself saying 'he thinks he's a dog' even though that is a completely human concept. Tiger can rough-house with the best of them and displays many characteristics that would normally fall into the 'dog-realm' of life.
Maybe it's not their nature to be at odds with each other, maybe it's a role they fill because it's not in our nature to co-exist peacefully. Human beings do not have the inclination to develop benevolence. We are high-emotion, oppositional and apathetic as a species. It was our survival tool which led to us becoming the 'Apex Predator'. Because of our urge to humanize everything we often find ways to warp an animal's behavior so that we feel more of a companionship with them.
This tendency to displace our behaviors onto an animal is a HUGE disservice. By characterizing them we limit the possibilities within which they can live. It also leads to frustration, discomfort, fear, pain or death because we, the human, cannot understand why they, the humanized-animal, does something that they 'know' they aren't supposed to.
I can count on one hand the number of times that I've seen a cat and dog who were both well socialized at odds with each other. I currently reside in a house as a 'live-in nanny' where there are 4 dogs ranging from 7lbs (Hermes) to 25lbs (Aello) to 62lbs (Maxine) and ending with 85lbs (Liwanu). There are also two adult cats, mother and son, the female just had 5 kittens bringing the cat total to 7. There is mutual respect between both species and only the occasional dispute when one or the other gets too rough.
The adult male, Tiger, romps with the dogs and attends our walks. I often find myself saying 'he thinks he's a dog' even though that is a completely human concept. Tiger can rough-house with the best of them and displays many characteristics that would normally fall into the 'dog-realm' of life.
Maybe it's not their nature to be at odds with each other, maybe it's a role they fill because it's not in our nature to co-exist peacefully. Human beings do not have the inclination to develop benevolence. We are high-emotion, oppositional and apathetic as a species. It was our survival tool which led to us becoming the 'Apex Predator'. Because of our urge to humanize everything we often find ways to warp an animal's behavior so that we feel more of a companionship with them.
This tendency to displace our behaviors onto an animal is a HUGE disservice. By characterizing them we limit the possibilities within which they can live. It also leads to frustration, discomfort, fear, pain or death because we, the human, cannot understand why they, the humanized-animal, does something that they 'know' they aren't supposed to.
4/3/08
Puberty Strikes Again!
Liwanu's newest thing is humping. He's done it on and off for the past 7 months or so but never with as much single-mindedness as he is exhibiting right now. Furniture, people, animals and even random objects fall into his desire. It's odd. He's on Tardac (sp?) which is a chemical injection that acts much the same as neutering would. He shouldn't have this urge but for some odd reason, puberty has returned with a vengeance. His overall behavior is improving drastically.
He's madly in love with the kittens who were born to my boss's cat about 3 weeks ago. Is allowing people to walk past us at about 7 feet and even manages to remain sitting and focused when strangers appear to be walking towards us. I'm very proud of him. That, of course, leads me to another small tangent. Several of my friends train and compete in the area of Shutzhund. For those who don't know; Shutzhund is a sport which can be likened to the training a police dog receives in order to trail and apprehend a suspect. The main differences are: Shutzhund teaches the dog to target an obvious target such as a bite-suit or sleeve. They are temperament tested and should not display anti-social behaviors above what an ordinary dog might under stress. Police dogs are not well socialized and are taught to target the actual body of the suspect. That makes them a loaded gun in the wrong hands. While having a discussion on another forum yesterday I do believe, she brought up a very good point which applies to me and the way I tend to treat Liwanu.
"Many American breeding programs have bred out the natural tendencies of many breeds. Take a look at the German Dobies vs. there American counterparts. Two very different dogs....same thing with the GSD and soooo many other breeds. Americans think all dogs should be like labs so we breed for that temperament even if it's wrong. This is not all American programs but it is the majority. That is why on GSD's (and Dobies) we see a split between the working line and show line dogs. It is becoming harder and harder to find a dog that can do the work and place in the conformation ring."
----NATASHA Z CERNA KNEZA
While I don't compete in any field of dog sports nor do I have purebred dogs, I can see how that mindset is causing me to stress about and over-react to Liwanu's behavior. I had false expectations when I first got him. I had the typical 'lab' in mind. He was NOTHING like a lab! (Still isn't). His temperament is unique. Part of it is genetic and the other was learned in the environment he has grown up in. This combination has left me with a GREAT dog! He may never be dumb and overly-friendly (like a lab) but that is ok. He is great at being what and who he is.
He drives me nuts quite frequently however, I have learned more from him than any other dog I've ever met. Through him I've learned to control my temper, keep a tight rein on my emotions (he's what I say is a dog who runs high on emotion) and thoroughly research into things before implementing them. I've learned about training, diet and exercise as well as getting the wonderful opportunity to see my own reflection through him. He is my mirror, when I'm stressed he is cranky and when I'm excited he's hyperactive. This has become a valuable tool in self-realization as well as aiding me in my quest of self-improvement.
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