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SusanofO -> RE: for the Dog lovers (12/25/2006 4:02:57 AM)
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This has been an issue for me also when I walk my dogs. When I see another person walking a dog, when they are about a quarter of a block away (or close enough to hear me) I ask: "Is your dog friendly?" They usually know, and will say "yes" or "no", or "kinda".
If the answer is "no" or "kinda", I cross the street to avoid them, and explain that my dogs are very sociable and they also think all other dogs are friendly, too, even though that's not the case. My dogs have zero sense of discrimination when it comes to sniffing out (or even caring) whether other dogs are friendly. They seem to love and trust everyone, and are curious about all other dogs. It's endearing, but can also be dangerous for them.
Usually, the owners are glad I asked the question. Of course there are people who are idiots and don't know, or don't care. I have lived in my neighborhod long enough to know who these kinds of dog owners are (and which dogs they own).
These are the people who let their untrained PitBull, for instance, roam loose (not yours, I am talking about people who buy a dog and just leave it tied in the back-yard and treat it like some fixture. They don't train it, or appear to pay any attention to it. The dog is starved for attention and affection and training, and they basically ignore it and have vacated responsibility for the dog ). They let it run loose in the neghborhood, and when it bites some two-year old's nose,(or worse) they act "surprised", etc. I say sue them. They should know better. If they don't then I wonder how they've lived this long on the planet.
Anyway, I ask the owners (or whoever is walking the dog) about how friendly their dogs are.
If the dog is alone with no owner walking it (and this has happened to me, too), then I try to avoid the dog completely.
Sometimes this can be hard (even with an owner walking the dog) because if the dog is curious about your dog, and your dog just wants to say "hi", well - they'll try like heck to get to see eachother up close.
Just hang on to your dog's leash pretty tight, and try to keep a distance. If that doesn't work, they will end up sniffing eachother for a few seconds (or minutes)and hopefully that's all that will happen. Maybe take dog treats with you? You can toss it one if you need to distract it, for some reason. The Citronella spray is a good idea, too (should you need to use it).
On one occasion, when a Big Karelian Bear Dog (and they can be dangerous, if they are not trained - they were bred to attack Bears, for Christ-sake) acted like it was going to attack my dog, Oscar (the Beagle) I just screamed: "NO!", really loud - and it sort of backed off. It still followed us two blocks to our house, though.
If you get really scared of a certain dog, I hate to recommend this, but if you've got a baby to think about, too - I'd call Animal Control, and report the dog. The number is probably in your city's Yellow Pages or call Information and try to find out (maybe the Humane Society would know).
Chances are, if the dog has been running loose, nobody all that concerned for its welfare is taking care of it anyway. Of course, if questioned no doubt they will claim otherwise. Too bad. If it's gotten loose, or is lost, well - Animal Control will take it to the Humane Society where any responsible owner could track it down. I used to feel guilty about calling ( which I've only done twice in 8 years), but my bottom line has become: It's not my problem, and the safety of your baby is more important, no question.
How often to bathe a new dog? Depends on the breed, but twice a year, minimum. Buy a dog book or look it up in the intenet, maybe for breed specifics on this. Oh a Whippet-Pit Bull mix? Probably twice to four times a year would be fine, but ask the Humane Society or consult a dog book, or Vet, or the internet to find out for sure.
I have a Beagle and a Lab Mix, and I only bathe them about 3-4 times a year (and they only really need it twice a year). I take them to PetCo and they do that, and trim their nails for $20.
But you can bathe her in your shower, w/doggie shampoo, too. My dogs are too wound up and large for me to try that (to me). But my sister had a Newfoundland she bathed at home (brave lady).
Dogs nails need to be trimmed, too, but have the Humane Society show you how to do this, because their nails are connected to conective tissue and if done wrong, it can injure the dog and be painful. But, once you know how to do it, it's a piece of cake (or can be).
She sounds adorable. Good luck!
- Susan
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