Dog Lovers I am Fuming !
Hi WA friends,
As you know I have 2 girl Rottie dogs, both are rescues from a Rottweiler rescue centre. Both are soft as brushes, they cuddle up really close. A few members now has asked me to write a blog on them, but perhaps next time.
I walk my dogs most days rain, sleet, snow or sunshine they get their walk. I meet loads of regular dog walkers and always acknowledge each other, BUT we have one woman who is trying to get my dogs put to sleep. She complained a while back to our local council that my dogs were out of control, I had a visit from the council following up on the complaint. The guy was invited into the living room and sat on the sofa, my dogs went over and sat with him on the sofa wanting him to pet them.
Tongue in cheek, I said these are my out of control Rottweilers, one of them was vying for more attention now and sat across his lap lol !!! The council guy basically apologised, and I had to instruct the dogs to get off him he needs to go.
On Monday morning just passed, took my rotties out of the car, who did I meet just coming back from her dog walk ?? Yes, you guessed it that same woman. Standing by her car shouts to me, "get those dogs on a lead". One of my dogs just ignored her, the younger one walked towards her and stopped about 10 yards away sniffing the grass for doggie smells I suppose. She stood by her car with the drivers door open, shouting "get that dog away from me".
I said she won't hurt you and within a minute, my dog ran back over to me, more interested in her walk with her buddy. Guess what ?? I had another visit from the council following up on another complaint. It was the same council guy, when pulling up outside my house he remembered his last visit. He told me the same woman had put another complaint in saying, my rotties charged towards her barking.
I said that is total fabrication, my dogs do not bark when they are on their walk. I told him one went towards her sniffing and ran back. Two of my neighbours were outside talking, so I took the council guy over to them and he was told that my rotties are lovely and my nearest neighbour gives them treats through the fence.
To be fair, when the council guy arrived he remembered ofcourse how my dogs made a fuss of him on the sofa. I invited him in a few times to see my rotties again, but he refused each time saying there is no need to, they are lovely dogs. I said I meet loads of dog walkers and we all know each other, yet the complaint is from the same woman each time. The council guy said they will write to her telling her to walk her dog elsewhere.
To the next time, then next time again, he knew what I meant and said he would put notes in the file about this woman. By the way she has a small yappie Scottie dog and does not like big dogs.
Why would someone try to get your dogs put down for no reason at all ???
Thank you,
Joh
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John, my border Indy is now older and no longer barks at other dogs as such. He's always had a grumpy streak in him - a bit like his masters!! You'll find all about Indy on my website http://livingwithaborderterrier.com
The point is that there is a neat difference between a bark and a growl between dogs and an attack to humans.
It is amazing what trick bad reputation of a specific breed plays in people's mind. But, if you ask me, I don't understand why, particularly with rotties.
As soon as I started reading your blog to my husband, he said 'you always say, don't you, that rotties have the sweetest eyes ever', which is true - I keep saying that as I believe it firmly.
I am no dog behaviour expert, but I do believe there isn't a bad breed over a good one, just a less socialised dog and more socialised ones.
What I would do if I were you, and to avoid further confrontations with this particularly 'sensitive' lady, is keep your girls on the lead when she is in sight. Then I suppose she'll have nothing to go by!!
Love, from me and Indy, to you and to your lovely girls :) :) :)
Hi GiuliaB, and your husband thanks for your kind words. I put my dogs on the lead when I meet all dog walkers. This was just a coinsedence, where I had arrived and let the girls out and she came back from her walk. On this occasion I didn't notice her at all.
Members have asked me to do a blog on my rotties, how lovely they are etc. I maybe write it today, watch this space !!! Also I decided to mention what this woman had done to some of the dog walkers I meet most days, I will pass on their comments in my next blog.
Love your website, the mix of treatments, sling etc and adoption balances out beautifully. With our Rottweiler breed, bone cancer is all to common, one of our poor dogs had internal eye lids which our vet at the time didn't accomplish with one of the eyes. So he kept blinking, bless him and was always getting a sore eye. Trying to put cream in his eye, very difficult he hated it.
Thank you,
John
Oh poor thing, with eye problem. They are a commitment, but I couldn't imagine my life without my little boy. And I'm sure it's the same for you with your big girls - the last thing you want is to see them suffer.
I'm looking forward to your blog on the girls and on rotties in general. We have a lovely rottie boy living not far from us, and if it wasn't for grumpy Indy, I'd looooove to be able to give him cuddles.
Who knows, maybe one day we can meet up so I can get cuddles from your girls instead.
Giulia :)
Some people just have to be difficult. Maybe she had a bad experience with a Rottie or a big dog of some kind in her past. At least the council members know the truth. I would just avoid her as much as possible. I have a friend who has the same problem with her Doberman who is the sweetest, gentlest dog in the world. Too bad there are so many places with breed restrictions. This gets me upset too. Sounds like you are a good dog parent, so hang in there.
Hi John, i can think of only one reason, she is terrified of rotweilers. Maybe you can put them on a lease and when she is nowwhere in sight, let them loose? Problem is you know your dogs , the council guy likes them but if she keeps complaining they have to listen to her. I am sure she has had bad experience with big dogs, perhaps rotweilers. By the way, I love them and they can be pretty intimidating. Good luck, marion
Hi John, I can understand your anger about this inconvenient accuses which cost energies and time.
What about changing your way of seeing this? Maybe this woman is so alone and helpless that she sees dangers all over the place (and this is not your business), or she has connection problems or visibility problems, and that is her very weird way of getting attention and to feel herself POWERFUL, because if she succeeded, then would have dominated you and the dog guy.
Anyways, the best thing is to realize that it is HER problem, not yours, and to completely ignore people like that as far as your emotions are concerned. You could also try a paradoxical action: Be towards her in a way which she doesn't expect at all. So, as an example, when you see her, go directly to her with a smile and ask her super friendly if she needs some help with her dogs or other things. In that way you would step out of her game - while you are playing it by reacting with anger. (She is a clear expression of the distorted ways of being powerful used by distorted minds)
I love Rottweilers, I have a boy and girl. They are the most beautiful, attention seeking dogs if bought up well. My boy is just one and still will jump up if he gets excited, but will only lick you to death. We have had others as well, our male before this one died at five years last year from Lyph cancer, needless to say we were devastated. I feel for you with this woman who judges them just because they are big dogs.
Oh I feel for you John. I have two rescues - a female Mastiff x as soft inside as she is outside and a 'bitser' :-). They are the friendliest dogs and people remark on how friendly they are but I'm often worried that the same thing will happen with them. They're big and bouncy and still very young - 13 & 15 months and people can be very nasty. No wonder I prefer animals!
John, It is so worrying when you meet people like this, I must admit that I have been quite terrified of rottweilers before now due to being cornered in a house by one who had been treated badly by his owner all his life.I have since met some very lovely Rotty's so no longer have a problem with them.
Maybe this woman has had just such an experience but that is no excuse for trying to get your dogs put down. At least you have got the councilman on yours and your dogs' side, or should I say on the side of truth. Good luck with the silly woman.:-))Steph
Thank you for all your very kind and supportive comments. I didn't mention in my blog, but when speaking with my neighbours, she told me this lady is a trouble maker. Her family are similar, my neighbour Liz, knows them I don't.
I'm a dog lover myself, but some people have an inordinate fear of bigger dogs for whatever reason. Rotweillers in particular are maybe grouped along with a few others that people may have been told are mean by nature. If course this is not true, but people do develops a real mental block about it and can't react normally. If course there's got to be a bit of a self centered attitude with the individual too. Bear up under the prejudice and hope you don't run into her again.
Joh, I have never owned a dog and frankly there are some I am afraid of may be because I was bitten by a dog when I was six years old.
Having said that, as an adult, dogs do not bark at me or bother me. I could not imagine anyone wanting to hurt a dog or any other animal. From the headline of your post, I was scarred that something happened. I am relieved that it's only the action of somebody who has issues. Glad your dogs are OK.
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John I understand your frustration because I have 2 Pit Bulls. People either love them or hate them simply because of their appearance. They are amazing dogs, would never hurt a person, but some people just don't care. All they know is they are Pit Bulls and therefore "must" be vicious. I can tell your dogs are very well behaved and you take excellent care of them. This woman seems pretty miserable and has nothing better to do. Your dogs are none of her business. This ticks me off because I can understand what you are going through with her. I know I don't have to say this but stand your ground! She has NO right. Anyways, just had to get that off my chest. Beautiful dogs!!! :)
Thank you, Jennifer.
You and I are in the same boat, people have this stigma of your Pit Bulls and my Rottweilers. As you say they need to butt out, we as owners are responsible for their behaviour. All human beings are different, not all murderers, same as our dogs.
John
Exactly! Just keep doing what you're doing. :)