Comments on: My Fears Come Back To Me As A Surprise. http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html Life in the Country Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:54:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wayfarer Scientista http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9691 Wayfarer Scientista Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:34:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9691 You should be able to get bear spray over the internet...but I don't know what the customs laws would be. Another idea I was thinking of is to buy yourself a slingshot and train yourself to use it (a piece of cardboard propped on a stump in the yard would work). When you feel you have good aim put a blown up picture of a dog on a wagon and have a friend run towards you with it so you can practice aiming at a moving target that looks a little like your fears. A good slingshot should be easy to carry and be effective in keeping a scary dog at bay (& if that owner doesn't put their dog on leash tell them you will spray/slingshoot their dog if they don't!).<br/><br/>Oh - and yes, being charged by bears & moose is very scary but I tell you the bear spray does wonders (but your heart is still thudding in your mouth later).<br/><br/>http://wayfarerscientista.blogspot.com You should be able to get bear spray over the internet…but I don’t know what the customs laws would be. Another idea I was thinking of is to buy yourself a slingshot and train yourself to use it (a piece of cardboard propped on a stump in the yard would work). When you feel you have good aim put a blown up picture of a dog on a wagon and have a friend run towards you with it so you can practice aiming at a moving target that looks a little like your fears. A good slingshot should be easy to carry and be effective in keeping a scary dog at bay (& if that owner doesn’t put their dog on leash tell them you will spray/slingshoot their dog if they don’t!).

Oh – and yes, being charged by bears & moose is very scary but I tell you the bear spray does wonders (but your heart is still thudding in your mouth later).

http://wayfarerscientista.blogspot.com

]]> By: Snoskred http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9678 Snoskred Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:03:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9678 Ian - The trouble is, some dogs become savage out of nowhere. They do it to protect themselves, it is the fight or flight thing. If you back them into a corner with no way out, they'll sometimes attack. :(<br/><br/>Kin - There's a couple of dog owners here who have trained their dogs really well. I've been on the beach and what looked like a scary dog walking off the leash won't even go near me - they look back at their owner and keep walking. They are curious and probably would like to approach me but have been trained not to.<br/><br/>I think owning a big dog is ok if the owners are prepared to do the hard training work. It is hard work. <br/><br/>Hari - I would be absolutely terrified in that situation. I was at the old house waiting for the landlord and two pit bulls were wandering the neighbourhood together, if I had a phone I would have called the RSPCA to pick them up. <br/><br/>Is it possible to maybe get an electronic gate? They're not nearly as expensive as they once were here, but I don't know how much they would be there. <br/><br/>River - That is one hard decision to make. You truly have some guts for doing that. Most people would have just given up on the training and allowed the dog to live.<br/><br/>You know what though? The RSPCA often have excellent dogs available. It might be worth keeping an eye on their website. When I go there I just want to adopt everything I see.. especially greyhounds. I love a greyhound. He would not love my cats, though.<br/><br/>Alynda - I know that you can safely be around a Cheetah as long as you don't try to run. They have a chase, trip, bite reflex. I certainly don't want to have to run at all.. I'm not fit enough yet!<br/><br/>Ali - my cats are both indoor only cats because I do not want the wildlife harming them or them harming the wildlife. I once lost a cat to a snake bite. I love a blue tongue lizard, we had one in Tamworth which used to live in the backyard. <br/><br/>Gerry - I agree with you, it is horrible how people want to allow their vicious dogs who have seriously maimed or even killed someone to live. <br/><br/>I am thinking maybe a taser of some sort might be the best option however I would have no idea how to use it. I'm going to have to do some research into this, I think. <br/><br/>Sephy - I like it when a dog approaches me tail wagging on a leash. I can handle that. I really would love to trust dogs more. I also would love to have one to walk. I just don't see it in my future given the past. ;( Plus The Other Half is not keen on picking up the droppings.<br/><br/>Meno - she was pure evil. And she left a LOT of messages before the police told her to quit. I wish I could see dogs as friendly but I just don't know them well enough. <br/><br/>I guess if dog owners took a moment think about it, if this were a stranger approaching them on the street, that would be pretty scary for a lot of people! ;)<br/><br/>Daisy - that is outrageous! I hope the owner was dealt with by the proper authorities. :( A fractured vertebrae? Ouch, poor kid and that could have resulted in a much worse outcome. ;(<br/><br/>Wayfarer Scientista - I think Hari was agreeing with me.. :) I live in Australia and we don't have bears, so I don't know how I could get the bear spray. Maybe it can be ordered over the internet? But customs might not allow it in, I'd have to check with them first I guess.. Thanks for the wonderful comment - you took some time to write that and I appreciate it. You have seen Bears and Moose live and close enough to spray with that stuff? And I thought dogs were scary! Bears just plain terrify me.<br/><br/>Sudipta Chatterjee - Thanks for dropping over! ;) It was really difficult to stand up to the friend and his mother, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I think that was the first real time in my life that I stuck to my guns because it was right. I have been doing it ever since. ;)<br/><br/>Christine - There are retractable leashes the owners can get which allow the dogs to run off a bit, say when you're walking on a beach. I don't know why people don't make use of those, unless there are issues with dogs tangling things up around trees etc. Good on you for training your dog properly ;) That is not an easy thing to do.<br/><br/>Pearl - I am going to add the local RSPCA number into my mobile phone, and call it when I see a dog wandering alone. Sometimes dogs do get out of yards and I understand that, but it is really scary to me. ;(<br/><br/>Thanks for the comments everyone, I appreciate it! ;)<br/>Snoskred Ian – The trouble is, some dogs become savage out of nowhere. They do it to protect themselves, it is the fight or flight thing. If you back them into a corner with no way out, they’ll sometimes attack. :(

Kin – There’s a couple of dog owners here who have trained their dogs really well. I’ve been on the beach and what looked like a scary dog walking off the leash won’t even go near me – they look back at their owner and keep walking. They are curious and probably would like to approach me but have been trained not to.

I think owning a big dog is ok if the owners are prepared to do the hard training work. It is hard work.

Hari – I would be absolutely terrified in that situation. I was at the old house waiting for the landlord and two pit bulls were wandering the neighbourhood together, if I had a phone I would have called the RSPCA to pick them up.

Is it possible to maybe get an electronic gate? They’re not nearly as expensive as they once were here, but I don’t know how much they would be there.

River – That is one hard decision to make. You truly have some guts for doing that. Most people would have just given up on the training and allowed the dog to live.

You know what though? The RSPCA often have excellent dogs available. It might be worth keeping an eye on their website. When I go there I just want to adopt everything I see.. especially greyhounds. I love a greyhound. He would not love my cats, though.

Alynda – I know that you can safely be around a Cheetah as long as you don’t try to run. They have a chase, trip, bite reflex. I certainly don’t want to have to run at all.. I’m not fit enough yet!

Ali – my cats are both indoor only cats because I do not want the wildlife harming them or them harming the wildlife. I once lost a cat to a snake bite. I love a blue tongue lizard, we had one in Tamworth which used to live in the backyard.

Gerry – I agree with you, it is horrible how people want to allow their vicious dogs who have seriously maimed or even killed someone to live.

I am thinking maybe a taser of some sort might be the best option however I would have no idea how to use it. I’m going to have to do some research into this, I think.

Sephy – I like it when a dog approaches me tail wagging on a leash. I can handle that. I really would love to trust dogs more. I also would love to have one to walk. I just don’t see it in my future given the past. ;( Plus The Other Half is not keen on picking up the droppings.

Meno – she was pure evil. And she left a LOT of messages before the police told her to quit. I wish I could see dogs as friendly but I just don’t know them well enough.

I guess if dog owners took a moment think about it, if this were a stranger approaching them on the street, that would be pretty scary for a lot of people! ;)

Daisy – that is outrageous! I hope the owner was dealt with by the proper authorities. :( A fractured vertebrae? Ouch, poor kid and that could have resulted in a much worse outcome. ;(

Wayfarer Scientista – I think Hari was agreeing with me.. :) I live in Australia and we don’t have bears, so I don’t know how I could get the bear spray. Maybe it can be ordered over the internet? But customs might not allow it in, I’d have to check with them first I guess.. Thanks for the wonderful comment – you took some time to write that and I appreciate it. You have seen Bears and Moose live and close enough to spray with that stuff? And I thought dogs were scary! Bears just plain terrify me.

Sudipta Chatterjee – Thanks for dropping over! ;) It was really difficult to stand up to the friend and his mother, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I think that was the first real time in my life that I stuck to my guns because it was right. I have been doing it ever since. ;)

Christine – There are retractable leashes the owners can get which allow the dogs to run off a bit, say when you’re walking on a beach. I don’t know why people don’t make use of those, unless there are issues with dogs tangling things up around trees etc. Good on you for training your dog properly ;) That is not an easy thing to do.

Pearl – I am going to add the local RSPCA number into my mobile phone, and call it when I see a dog wandering alone. Sometimes dogs do get out of yards and I understand that, but it is really scary to me. ;(

Thanks for the comments everyone, I appreciate it! ;)
Snoskred

]]> By: pearl http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9665 pearl Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:43:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9665 oh man, I am very scared of the dogs.. I hate it when dog owners pretend as if you are strange to be scared of their dog!! My next door neighbor has two dogs that start barking at me each darn day I pull in the drive way.. and neighbors been living there for quite sometime now, but dogs don't necessarily get that! and the neighbor keeps saying, they wont bite..they are good dogs! how does she know what the dogs mean when they bark at me? One day one of the dogs almost lunged at me and i jumped back in the car! its scary and I am thinking of calling the animal control officer and asking for suggestions.... I am the same way Snos, in my neigborhood, there are many people's dogs just hanging out in the front yard with no leash and no owner in sight and going for walks has become a real problem.. I sympathize with you, and I would suggest calling the authorities on it! and definitely keep bear spray with you.. oh man, I am very scared of the dogs.. I hate it when dog owners pretend as if you are strange to be scared of their dog!! My next door neighbor has two dogs that start barking at me each darn day I pull in the drive way.. and neighbors been living there for quite sometime now, but dogs don’t necessarily get that! and the neighbor keeps saying, they wont bite..they are good dogs! how does she know what the dogs mean when they bark at me? One day one of the dogs almost lunged at me and i jumped back in the car! its scary and I am thinking of calling the animal control officer and asking for suggestions…. I am the same way Snos, in my neigborhood, there are many people’s dogs just hanging out in the front yard with no leash and no owner in sight and going for walks has become a real problem.. I sympathize with you, and I would suggest calling the authorities on it! and definitely keep bear spray with you..

]]> By: Christine http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9658 Christine Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:11:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9658 i am am HUGE dog lover who seriously believes in leash laws. i NEVER let my dog (before she died)off leash in public. and she was properly trained(i hate it when people don't bother to train dogs not to jump)and when people came over who were nervous of her i put her away in another room.<br/><br/>i say get a can of pepper spray. i am am HUGE dog lover who seriously believes in leash laws. i NEVER let my dog (before she died)off leash in public. and she was properly trained(i hate it when people don’t bother to train dogs not to jump)and when people came over who were nervous of her i put her away in another room.

i say get a can of pepper spray.

]]> By: Sudipta Chatterjee http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9656 Sudipta Chatterjee Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:29:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9656 Came here from Hari's blog. You sure have had a hell of a time with dogs. And I support your decision to have had that dog put down. It must have needed a lot of determination to do so. I hope you lead a calmer and dog-free life in your future. Came here from Hari’s blog. You sure have had a hell of a time with dogs. And I support your decision to have had that dog put down. It must have needed a lot of determination to do so. I hope you lead a calmer and dog-free life in your future.

]]> By: Wayfarer Scientista http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9655 Wayfarer Scientista Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:01:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9655 Came here from Chani's site....<br/>I am very sorry to hear about you experiences. I am a dog owner, and contrary to Hari's claim I can understand your fear of dogs. I always put my mutt on a lead when I see someone coming and I keep a good eye on other people's body behavior b/c I can usually tell if they are afraid or not. I will say that not all dogs will attack, truly and most that do attack are in areas they are familiar with (as seems to be the case with both of the ones who attacked you). Unfortunately however, we humans have bred dogs with attack genes for some time and people refuse to take the responsibilty and put down dangerous dogs. Your friend knew better and he acted completely wrong. He should have warned you about the dog and asked you to stay in the car and made sure his dog stayed in the house when he went to get that video. <br/><br/>Here's what I would reccommend:<br/><br/>1)If you see dogs with owners off leash, yell at them to please put their dogs on leash b/c you are scared. If they insist their dog is friendly insist again that they put it on leash. Some owners are oblivious, unfortunately, so you will have to educate them. Most owners will comply even if they are surprised - as you mentioned before some are just oblivious but if you ask they will react appropriately. <br/><br/>2)Purchase and carry a can of bear spray which should be available at any outdoor store. Buy two containers and use one to practice with so you can see how far it sprays. Then carry it and use it against any dog you feel threatened by. It will stop it in it's tracks and in a few hours it should be back to normal (by which time you are out of there). I've used this stuff on bears & moose and I think it would be useful here - the quanitites in a pepper spray bottle for humans is not generally enough for a dog. If you have to use it, empty the entire bottle. You should be able to clip it or otherwise attach it to your belt or bag. <br/><br/>And by the way, many kudos to you for standing up to your friend & his awful mother and making sure that dog got put down. Came here from Chani’s site….
I am very sorry to hear about you experiences. I am a dog owner, and contrary to Hari’s claim I can understand your fear of dogs. I always put my mutt on a lead when I see someone coming and I keep a good eye on other people’s body behavior b/c I can usually tell if they are afraid or not. I will say that not all dogs will attack, truly and most that do attack are in areas they are familiar with (as seems to be the case with both of the ones who attacked you). Unfortunately however, we humans have bred dogs with attack genes for some time and people refuse to take the responsibilty and put down dangerous dogs. Your friend knew better and he acted completely wrong. He should have warned you about the dog and asked you to stay in the car and made sure his dog stayed in the house when he went to get that video.

Here’s what I would reccommend:

1)If you see dogs with owners off leash, yell at them to please put their dogs on leash b/c you are scared. If they insist their dog is friendly insist again that they put it on leash. Some owners are oblivious, unfortunately, so you will have to educate them. Most owners will comply even if they are surprised – as you mentioned before some are just oblivious but if you ask they will react appropriately.

2)Purchase and carry a can of bear spray which should be available at any outdoor store. Buy two containers and use one to practice with so you can see how far it sprays. Then carry it and use it against any dog you feel threatened by. It will stop it in it’s tracks and in a few hours it should be back to normal (by which time you are out of there). I’ve used this stuff on bears & moose and I think it would be useful here – the quanitites in a pepper spray bottle for humans is not generally enough for a dog. If you have to use it, empty the entire bottle. You should be able to clip it or otherwise attach it to your belt or bag.

And by the way, many kudos to you for standing up to your friend & his awful mother and making sure that dog got put down.

]]> By: Daisy http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9654 Daisy Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:11:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9654 What a terrible and frightening story. Here is what happened to my little 5-year-old nephew a few months ago:<br/>He was with his two older brothers playing in a fenced-in elementary school on the weekend, his dad just inside with a boy scout meeting. A man lets his two pit-bulls off-leash to run around IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! One of the dogs charges at my nephew, who turns and runs away. The dog jumps on his back, and grabs him by the neck, and shakes him. My little nephew was taken to the ER to have his neck lacerations sewn up, and an x-ray showed a fractured vertebrae in his neck. I shudder to think how close to a true tragedy that was.<br/><br/>The dog owner does not think he did anything wrong, because it was a fenced-in area he let the dogs run around in. Of course, it was a school yard with kids in it... What a terrible and frightening story. Here is what happened to my little 5-year-old nephew a few months ago:
He was with his two older brothers playing in a fenced-in elementary school on the weekend, his dad just inside with a boy scout meeting. A man lets his two pit-bulls off-leash to run around IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! One of the dogs charges at my nephew, who turns and runs away. The dog jumps on his back, and grabs him by the neck, and shakes him. My little nephew was taken to the ER to have his neck lacerations sewn up, and an x-ray showed a fractured vertebrae in his neck. I shudder to think how close to a true tragedy that was.

The dog owner does not think he did anything wrong, because it was a fenced-in area he let the dogs run around in. Of course, it was a school yard with kids in it…

]]> By: meno http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9653 meno Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:46:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9653 Wow. That's quite the story. I love dogs, but i hate it when people do not have their dogs under control.<br/><br/>I can't believe that woman left you threatening messages. I mean, i guess i can believe it, but what the hell was wrong with her?<br/><br/>It's good for me to be reminded that not everyone sees dogs as friendly. Wow. That’s quite the story. I love dogs, but i hate it when people do not have their dogs under control.

I can’t believe that woman left you threatening messages. I mean, i guess i can believe it, but what the hell was wrong with her?

It’s good for me to be reminded that not everyone sees dogs as friendly.

]]> By: Sephyroth http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9652 Sephyroth Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:00:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9652 It is one of the most unsettling things that happens when I'm out walking to hear a dog coming near me. While I love dogs heartily and have had one around me all my life (including the one who bit me in the ear when it was a pup, and someone else's dog who bit me in the leg when I was about 3 or 4 years old), I kinda freak out when it happens.<br/><br/>I should mention that if the dog is on a leash and is just curious about me, I'll go over towards the dog and try to interact with it; the same can be said if I can see that it's acting nicely and the owner is nearby. <br/><br/>However, in a case like happened last week, where the people had a few dogs who started barking and running towards me, that's when I get jumpy. Of course, they apologized; my only reaction was to say (under my breath) "don't f--kin' apologize, get a freaking leash for the dogs".<br/><br/>Sephyroth<br/><a HREF="http://www.sephyroth.net" REL="nofollow">http://www.sephyroth.net</a> It is one of the most unsettling things that happens when I’m out walking to hear a dog coming near me. While I love dogs heartily and have had one around me all my life (including the one who bit me in the ear when it was a pup, and someone else’s dog who bit me in the leg when I was about 3 or 4 years old), I kinda freak out when it happens.

I should mention that if the dog is on a leash and is just curious about me, I’ll go over towards the dog and try to interact with it; the same can be said if I can see that it’s acting nicely and the owner is nearby.

However, in a case like happened last week, where the people had a few dogs who started barking and running towards me, that’s when I get jumpy. Of course, they apologized; my only reaction was to say (under my breath) “don’t f–kin’ apologize, get a freaking leash for the dogs”.

Sephyroth
http://www.sephyroth.net

]]> By: gerry rosser http://www.snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-surprise.html/comment-page-1#comment-9651 gerry rosser Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:13:00 +0000 http://snoskred.org/2007/09/my-fears-come-back-to-me-as-a-surprise/#comment-9651 I'm not surprised the folks didn't want their dog put down, people tend to be ridiculous about dogs. I have seen stories where a pit bull kills or maims someone and numerous offers come in to adopt the ugly vicious beast!<br/>I have a mild-ish fear of dogs myself. I often carry a "weapon" if I think there's a risk of dog attack. This might be a golf putter, a telescoping baton (my Italian son-in-law calls this thing a "guinea stick" and he got it for me!), or some other such thing. I'm thinking of getting some repellent.<br/><br/>I am not a dog "lover." I also do not hate dogs. The kids' dog is lovely and I play with it, and so on. Stray dogs--I'd kill 'em all. Ditto dogs which are not "stray" but allowed to wander by their "loving" owners. I’m not surprised the folks didn’t want their dog put down, people tend to be ridiculous about dogs. I have seen stories where a pit bull kills or maims someone and numerous offers come in to adopt the ugly vicious beast!
I have a mild-ish fear of dogs myself. I often carry a “weapon” if I think there’s a risk of dog attack. This might be a golf putter, a telescoping baton (my Italian son-in-law calls this thing a “guinea stick” and he got it for me!), or some other such thing. I’m thinking of getting some repellent.

I am not a dog “lover.” I also do not hate dogs. The kids’ dog is lovely and I play with it, and so on. Stray dogs–I’d kill ‘em all. Ditto dogs which are not “stray” but allowed to wander by their “loving” owners.

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