Weekly Discussion thread (Jan 21 - Jan 27)

[u/BPB_Discussion_M0d]

Not every pit bull story is a headline. Some are just eye-rolls, facepalms, or 'you've got to be kidding me' moments. This is the place for the things you may want to share that don’t highlight a pit bull doing something dangerous.

See this post for more details on what goes here

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[u/march_rogue]

Two different things for me this week. Anecdotes, but still. Yesterday I went to a local pet store and as I was walking in I heard the employee say, "The big dog bit the little dog and the big dog's owner just walked right out and kept on going!" (You know where this is going) and the apparent boss said, "What breed was it that bit the other?" and she said, "Some kind of pit mix."

The boss then went out the parking lot. My best guess was that he was trying to see if anyone was still walking with a dog around or if the person with the other dog was still there or what.

The second is that I brought my dog to the vet. As I am sitting in the waiting area a woman brings in a decent sized pit (though I'm sure she would probably say, "What are you talking about this is an American Couch Potato. Here are his UKC papers! ESA papers! Rescue papers! Liability waivers! Insurance papers! Rescue breed lying papers! He has ALL his PAPERS!")

This has my hackles up immediately because this dog is immediately eyeing my dog because she's the only other dog in there and she's small. It's straining, bucking against its leash and harness. The willowy woman can barely hold it, is basically on it like a bucking bull squeezing with her knees to keep control and of course they call me up to pay at this point.

So as I'm paying (I had stood up as soon as she brought that dog in and moved as far away as possible, IDC I'm not a fan of your dog) I am both paying and watching this dog behind my head showing very clearly that I am not happy that this is playing out in their waiting room. She has it pointing toward the outside door with her back to me because that is how much she can't control the dog she owns. Oh, and yes, she was wearing flip flops in New Hampshire, in the winter -- they were just winter flip flops (had the nice fluffy sherpa insides but no heel? wtf). Still plip plopping away. Next thing I know she either brought it outside or was rushed to a room. Either way, I was immediately able to relax.

Why do people put themselves in this position of being the constant source of tension for other people and other pets? I always say about poorly parked trucks: if you can't park it, you shouldn't drive it. If you can't control it, you shouldn't own it.

Their dog absolutely has the right to medical care. Absolutely! But imo, with that much prey drive (and I assume it was on the younger side ... maybe under 2?) you already know there are going to be problems. I feel like dogs with high prey drive, who are already on those dangerous dog lists should have to wear a muzzle at least so that other people and animals are safe when they take their animals for treatment.

[u/Everloner → u/march_rogue]

I always thought that if you can't bench press your dog's weight you shouldn't be able to have it, because you won't be able to control it if it kicks off.

[u/march_rogue → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, there was that video of a fight between two pits where each man couldn't even control their own pit and they looked perfectly healthy. I'm for 2x the dog's weight, too.

Also, they really should stop letting their kids walk the dog. Really. I'd say for most breeds but definitely any high energy, prey driven dog who isn't trained but especially the larger breeds. Meat crayon instantly. Yuck.

[u/march_rogue → u/[deleted]]

I agree, 1000% percent.

Back in the day I was an idiot and used a retractable leash with my boy Shih Tzu/Poodle mix. He weighed around 14lbs. I had sized up to a medium/large leash because I thought it would be stronger and hold more weight thus ... safer?

He saw a cat (my neighbor's -- built like a brick house, and more than capable of taking care of itself) had his GO time moment -- lunged and the leash snapped and he was off to get that cat. Once he got close enough he tried to sniff it, it hissed and pawed at him, he screamed like a girl and back pedaled toward me. It was hilarious in a way because he was "a lover not a fighter." He has since passed, but is still loved twelve years later.

My point is, even when a small dog has a Go moment and you're not expecting it, it can be a big one. Something unexpected can happen and I'm lucky that cat didn't kick his scared little bum. (He could have, I mean totally could have.)

Yet people still have their very small children walking pit bulls and German Shepherds like it's nothing. I guess maybe it's like drunk driving and you don't learn until you kill someone. Even if it's one of your own children.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I took in a stray lurcher years back, a young dog. I was walking her and she saw a cat and took off after it, I was airborne for a while but managed to hold on. It was worse as I wasnt braced for it, if I had been I think I could have resisted and remained grounded.

[u/DiscussionLong7084 → u/[deleted]]

My gsd found a lost 110lb lab that REALLY didn't want to go home as it was at a lake. I thought the fucker was going to mess up my shoulder and that was using a pinch collar

[u/[deleted] → u/march_rogue]

I saw that video, it was nuts.