Dogs

[Slim Chance]

It seems like I have met a large number of dogs on various calls lately. Lots of Pit mixes and a few that appeared to be all Pit. One large Rotty and a few Mastiffs. One Mastiff was hell bent on eating me until it stopped and looked back at her owner. The owner told her I was a friend and the dog was a whole different animal. The Rotty let me pet her before trying to eat my backup officer. All of the Pits have been either very friendly or wary at first but warmed up quickly.
Anybody else considered friendly by most dogs?

 

[DeathGrip]

Yes, Most dogs know if you're good people. I make fast friends with most.

My name's DG and I'm a Dog Lover.

On the other hand, You can tell a lot about people by their dogs.

 

[bobelk99]

I met a vast number of dogs in my second job over the years. I learned the proper mannerisms, and generally was easily accepted.

Note: Worst encounter was with a Collie, not dreaded Roth or Pit. That one got me for 13 stitches!

 

[shouldazagged]

Dogs generally seem to like me, though there are exceptions. I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them. I'm a fairly dour-looking old guy, and a lot of humans look at me and shy away, missing seeing the laugh lines; but dogs seem to see through the look.

 

[sheepdawg]

I have a buddy that could not believe I was in his front yard playing with his 85 lb. killer pitbull. I usually get along well with most dogs, my one mistake was with a boxer and I probably asked for it.

 

[Fishslayer]

Dogs usually seem to like me. This was an asset in my single days. I heard a lot of "He usually doesn't like men!"

There are protocols in the dog world. Follow them and you'll probably be OK. Dogs ALWAYS have a reason for the things they do and to them they make perfect sense. Many things we do from affection is considered threatening by a strange dog.

Dogs have very readable body language if you pay attention. They never do anything "without warning." Our present foster is very subtle and only gives you about a half second to react though. We're working on it.

By nature big Rotties are usually teddy bears unless they've been taught to be otherwise.

I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them.

Dogs are VERY perceptive. They definitely pick up on things we humans don't. On occasion I've had a dog that for some reason just didn't like somebody. Turned out they were right.

Cesar Milan says that dogs can perceive nervousness and fear through a leash. I believe it.

 

[dmar]

Animals and kids love me. Everyone else, it's hit, or miss...

I had a Lab that absolutely picked up on 'bad guys.' Friendliest dog you ever met, except a couple of times when he encountered the wrong person. Not going to type out the instances, but I am convinced that they have a special sense about these things. Those lovable Labs can get pretty intense when they want to...

 

[mac2]

...probably the most awesomest creatures on the planet...

Many dogs I haven't met before seem to like me too - others have commented so; like others here, I think they can sense if you genuinely like them which I do.

 

[Wolf1775]

Most dogs seem to get along with me, or at least tolerate me. My wife says that I have a very "aggressive" presence, so that doesn't help me win favors with "softer" dogs. Then again, her version of "soft" are the ones that are a bit neurotic and easily spooked, so that's pretty much everyone they meet who doesn't know how to deal with a dog like that.

Currently have 4 German Shepherds, 2 males and 2 bitches. One of the bitches is owned by someone else but my wife is training her to be shown later. She's "soft", but has warmed up to me some lately. Now she follows me around the house and wags her tail when I rub the base of her ears. Our bitch, Wesson, is daddy's girl and damn near tackles me when I come home from work. Apparently I was just her favorite from the get go.

The two males are my wife's service dogs, so they're very much her boys. The old man, Strauss, is turning 10 and retiring from being a service dog soon. She's had him since he was 8 weeks old, and apparently he's only ever liked one other human male: my wife's brother. He's told off her ex on multiple occasion (rightfully so), and defended her at a rest stop from an angry trucker. He wagged his tail and let me curl up with her without showing teeth or raising his hackles, so apparently that's what convinced her that I'm a keeper.

Wesson and I playing with the F-bomb (frisbee)

Strauss aka "Mouse" and I doing some bite work when he was 8 years old.

The "new" boy, Loch, sitting after heeling.

 

[RonJ]

I was at a family get together to see my new niece. My sister had one of the meanest most aggressive Chihuahuas I've ever seen. Trying to attack everyone but her owner. The dog was on a long leash in the back yard. Well it finally came my turn to carry the baby. She was about seven months old. I took her into the back yard and all the ladies, on the second floor deck, were yelling not to get the baby near the dog. When I walked by I noticed the dog was very calm, so I took a knee about a foot from the leash limits. Mary Kate (the baby) thought that dog was the most wonderful thing she'd ever seen, waving her arms and smiling and looking back and forth between me and the dog. The Chihuahua felt the same about her and seemed entranced by the baby. My sister said she'd never seen the dog act that way towards strangers.
One of my favorite memories.

 

[vito]

Dog temperament is a function of both breeding and how they are raised. Breeds that have been bred to be aggressive, where mild mannered ones were neutered or killed, are much more likely to be a problem than those bred for more sociability. Raising a dog in a positive way, with exposure to other people also contributes to a healthy demeanor.

I think that the choice of a dog tells me more about the owner than about the dog. Its clear to me that many people choose a breed to make up for their own negative self image, i.e., a person who wants to appear tough and aggressive but inwardly does not really feel confident in that demeanor may buy an aggressive looking or behaving dog breed. Its as if the person were saying "Look at my tough, scary dog and know that I am tough and scary even if I don't really look that way myself".

A person with a confident self image can buy almost any dog breed without the concern over what other people might think, like a former martial arts instructor that I knew that raised tiny Pekinese dogs.

Dogs do have the ability to sense intentions by a human's behavior and possible smell and may react accordingly.

 

[BearBio]

One thing I have noticed: As I've related before, I am a High-Functioning Autistic (aka Asperger's Syndrome). Many of us go into the sciences and computers, especially biology. I can recognize people with autistic tendencies right away. I have noticed that autistics tend to build an instant rapport with animals, not just dogs. I've too many examples of making friends with "attack dogs", "killer" dogs, pits, rotties, junk-yard dogs to list here.

When I retire in about 5 years, my wife has expressed a desire that I return to school to get my PhD in animal behavior (I'll only be 69 or 70). I am very seriously interested/thinking about doing a doctoral dissertation on this topic.

 

[Len]

I get along with most animals, especially dogs. The evil ones I've come across seem to settle for peaceful coexistence, they go their way, and I go mine.

I am, however cursed with a "cat whisperer" reputation. Let me be clear...I am a dog person through and through. I have no problems with cats, however, I had a pair when I lived in an apartment, and they were wonderful pets. But when visiting other people's houses my wife and I repeatedly hear that the owners are surprised that their cats are sitting on my lap, wanting to be petted. "He never goes near anyone, and when people get close, he scratches or bites." ...it's a gift?

One interesting dog interaction. At the local park, watching my grand nephews playing in the kid area. I was sitting on a park bench working on finishing an ice cream cone. I was surprised to look to my right, and there on the bench was a very large and dark GSD. He just sat there staring at the ice cream cone. Without thinking, I just handed him the end of the cone as I would've done with one of my own dogs.

Then he dropped to a down on the bench and started licking my hands. Next thing I knew a local deputy walked over and chided his dog...."Zeus! What are you doing?"

Turns out it was a retired K9 from the sheriff's office. The deputy told me that he'd been living at home since his canine retirement for five years, but loved to go to the park where he used to spend a lot of hours working.

He also said that at home, the dog knew the end of the ice cream cone belonged to him there, too.

Len

 

[Comrad]

For reasons unknown to me I seem to attract dogs, babies and old ladies.

 

[Doug M.]

Had a funny of this sort yesterday at the PO. I came out and an older guy was holding the leash on a young Beagle; turned out he was waiting for his wife. I stopped for a moment and just looked at the Beagle, and to the apparent surprise of his owner, started pulling toward me. He sniffed at me and sat for his petting. I don't think the Beagle's people were used to that reaction from the dog or other people - the dog was fascinated with me.

BearBio: What about an Aspy that becomes a lawyer? Not naming anyone, of course.

 

[carpriver]

I seem to attract dogs also. but I am one that will get down to their level and talk to them and pet them. My son took in a Pit Bull for a few days so the owner could find it a good home. That was 4 years ago, Joe is a sweet big baby that wants to lay on your lap. Joe is very protective of his family, and waits for the mail man, the mail man brings Joe a biscuit everyday.

 

[gm272gs]

I have never met a dog I didn't like or who didn't like me.

Cats I must admit, I don't understand. I don't wish anything bad upon them, but I don't get why they're not extinct.

 

[Fishslayer]

but I don't get why they're not extinct.

They are a VERY efficient predator and breed like, well... cats.

Also... they have 9 lives.

 

[Wolf1775]

My cat has picked up behaviors from our dogs and has figured out that sometimes giving behaviors on cue nets rewards. It's amusing having a cat the comes to you when you call him and sits for his food. I wish he wouldn't sit on my shoulders and try to groom my ears when I'm playing XBox or typing at my laptop though...

 

[427mach1]

Many years ago I went to Daytona with a friend and we were visiting a former professor of his, who happened to own a very large male Doberman named Rommel. I was laying on my back on the floor and Rommel laid down beside me, crossed his front feet across my chest, looked directly in my eyes, and gave out the most pathetic whine, begging for attention. The professor could not believe it as the dog had never taken to a stranger that way.

A friend of mine has a young German Shepherd. The other night, she could not figure out why her dog would nip at her whenever she turned her back. Then she spotted her 13 year old son, pointing a laser at her backside, at which time the dog would attack the laser point! Apparently cats aren't the only ones that chase laser dots around!

 

[SW_shooter]

Yep, dogs love me. A lot of people don't.

Years ago I was at a party of business associates of the ex. The home owner had a 110lb Rotty that was 1 yr old. The woman of the house kept warning people to be careful around 'Bear' because he could get mean if provoked. Well I was sitting on the patio on a lounger and Bear kept coming over to me and nudging my elbow with his sizeable nose. So I petted him carefully. Soon I got up and walked into the house and around to check it out. Bear followed me everywhere I went. I started to get paranoid and worried. I sat down and Bear started to nudge me some more. Soon I was petting and grabbing his ears and shaking his head about and he loved it. The woman of the house saw this and screamed at me to stop! She claimed I was making the dog mad and he would attack. She then took Bear away and locked him up. Poor pooch.

Anyway, there are other similar stories about dogs taking a liking to me, but some humans have a harder time with me. Maybe its because I don't obey very well.

 

[Slim Chance]

I got to thinking and I can recall twice that I was bitten in 24 years. Once I was fighting two drunks in their home in an arrest attempt and a mixed breed dog bit my calf. The other time a grouchy woman with a fuzzy type ankle biter was fussing at me on a call and the dog got my ankle. I once caught a killer Rottweiler by reaching out of my patrol car window and petting it till I got a hold on the collar. The owner was a block away screaming at me not to shoot him. The dog had broken a leash and thought they were playing chase.

 

[smokey04]

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible but it is a long story.1971 I came home from my last tour in Viet Nam. I reported in to Ft. Carson, CO. and was assigned to the Cavalry Squadron [then 4/12 Cav.]The C.O. wanted me to be the Squadron [Battalion] Staff Personnel Officer. The Captain vacating the position was leaving for Germany. He invited me to his quarters for supper with his family.[wife and 3-4 year old daughter]He met me at the door and had me wait until he could put his Doberman in a bedroom and close the door. He said the dog hated men, including him! During the course of the evening the Dobie got out and came into the living room. She came right up in front of me and looked me over. I talked to her and next thing you know, she was putting her head in my lap and licking my hands.Captain xxxx said he couldn't believe it ,she hated men!Long story shortened He asked me if I would take her since he didn't wan't to have her go through quarantine to get into Germany. I did take her. I kept her in an apartment that did not allow pets of any kind for 3+ years. I don't know if the manager knew or was afraid of her ,anyway no problems! My next assignment to Ft. Knox, KY ,pretty much the same and next assignment to Ft. Rucker, AL.where I owned the home and again, no problem. Then, the poor old gal contracted what amounted to bowel cancer.She was an AKC registered ,pedigreed Doberman. She was a little small for the breed[Runt of the liter?]and she had been spayed.But, folks let me tell you she was the most loyal, obedient,and loving animal on the face of MY world! Tessie had a name as long as my leg but, she was Comtessa de La ..... Hence "Tessie".Now I have "put down" beloved pets for friends that they couldn't do themselves but,when it came to Tessie.. I couldn't .I had a Vet put her "to sleep" to save her from more suffering.I held her, stroked her,and loved her until she expired. That was in 1977. Since then, I have not had another dog[ no one could replace her]and I cannot tell this tale without tearing up. Oh yeah, I'm a hard guy and have lost no sleep over killing enemy soldiers, but, that Tessie, well that's another story.God Bless that old gal, I loved her more than I loved myself.Let me go dry my eyes and blow my nose. NIck

 

[Iggy]

Smokey04,
I had 3 dobies over the years and they were the gentlest and most loving dogs I have owned.

I understand what you felt in putting your's to sleep. Been there and done that many times with dogs and horses.
I'm a big ol tuff guy, but losing a pet leaves me in tears and sobbing like a baby.

BUT, each of my dogs has found a spot in my heart and I thought I could never stand to have another. Each time another has found a new spot. The others haven't been replaced, it just that another one found some room in my heart and life and made it richer.

Meanwhile, there is another pooch out there that desperately needs a job worming it's way into your life and heart. Open your heart one more time. You won't regret it if you put another one to work.

 

[therevjay]

Dogs generally seem to like me, though there are exceptions. I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them. I'm a fairly dour-looking old guy, and a lot of humans look at me and shy away, missing seeing the laugh lines; but dogs seem to see through the look.

Dogs can most of the time tell who likes dogs and who don't. How I don't know, but they seem to be able to.

Before I retired I always carried a box of dog biscuts in the truck with me, just to help them make up their minds. It's a fact that by the time they finish chewing. Most of them have decided you're not really a threat after all.

 

[ralph7]

Smokey04,

BUT, each of my dogs has found a spot in my heart and I thought I could never stand to have another. Each time another has found a new spot. The others haven't been replaced, it just that another one found some room in my heart and life and made it richer.

Meanwhile, there is another pooch out there that desperately needs a job worming it's way into your life and heart. Open your heart one more time. You won't regret it if you put another one to work.

It took me 4 years, but I put my heart back out on loan for about another 12-15 years.
Harder to lose a pet than most humans I've known.

 

[Iggy]

Harder to lose a pet than most humans I've known.

I agree 100%.

 

[POPPER]

Hope I keep this as brief as possible, Except for bird dogs and cow dogs my favorites have always been and always will be Labs and Cur dogs. Curs tend to need a dominant hand at times but I love 'em. I'm hearing impaired from too many jet turbine engines way back when so I keep a dog at my side at all times when at home to listen for me at night especially. Interesting enough for you all I hope, I had a black Lab Nellie that stayed with me all the time and never would bark and make any noise. She would come over and bump me around till she got my attention then go to the door and stare at it and me till I checked it out. Loved that because she never made any noise. Got a black Mouth Old Yellar' cur dog now except she is the complete opposite. She'll take her paw and hit me wherever is handy and bark. Very posessive and guarding. Lastly I might ad there is nothing like a cur dog in my opinion except you need to be the dominant figure in that mix or you will have problems down the road. They are comfortable when you are the leader of the pack and dominant. If not you're going to have problems with a cur . Also might ad these dogs will hunt anything and everything and not a good selection for city or apartment living. They need to be able to run and hunt.

 

[cowboy45]

I've raised my abandoned Lab and Aussie/pit from pups. both are very sweet and I have raised them that way.
Lord forbid you become aggressive toward me or get on my property when I'm not home. They will let my neighbor come feed them if I'm gone overnite because they grew up around him.



Dogs are a pretty good judge of people. I like dogs more than most people.

 

[LVSteve]

Note: Worst encounter was with a Collie, not dreaded Roth or Pit. That one got me for 13 stitches!

Many years ago when I was a kid, my great uncle had a collie/spaniel mix who was fine with me but a bit iffy with certain other folk in the family, no names, no pack drill. However, when it came to attacking other dogs, I would guess that nothing short of a radioactive Cerberus gave him pause. Didn't see many of them in London's parks.

I am also a cat whisperer and have been since a child. I used to visit my aunt who had two cats and fights would break out as to who got my lap. My FFL swears I am the only person outside of his family to pet two of the cats in his house over the last few years. Funnier still, one of those is his daughter's cat and he claims he cannot get within six feet of it.