In spite of our very human desire to integrate our dogs into every facet of our lives, we may be creating more problems for our dogs than we can solve.
It’s not that easy being a dog these days. In fact, it’s not that easy being a dog owner these days either. There have never been more dogs living with humans than there are right now.
It wasn’t that long ago that the family dog was often a free-ranging rural or suburban dweller, happily spending his days exploring his fields or neighborhood. But as the times have changed, so has the role of the dog in our North American cultures. Attitudes about dogs have changed too, both among dog owners and those who don’t own dogs. As little as 50 years ago if a dog nipped a child in the neighborhood, it was likely that a parent would scold the child for teasing the dog. Today, it’s likely that doctors, animal control, and lawyers would be involved in such an incident and it’s even possible that the dog would be euthanized.
Changing With The Times
Author and animal behaviourist John Bradshaw makes a bold assertion in his new book Dog Sense. Bradshaw says that while we have selectively bred dogs for generations to be companion animals, genetics and breeding simply cannot keep pace with the changing roles we expect of dogs in modern society. He points out the sometimes unrealistic expectations we have of our dogs and the sometimes dire consequences for dogs that cannot cope with those expectations and act out.
While I agree with Bradshaw in the genetic sense, I think there is more we can do as dog owners to make our dogs more successful in today’s world. Leaving the problem of health issues from selective breeding aside, I think there is a great deal we can do to keep dogs the valued members of our communities they have always been.
Legal Beagles and Criminal Canines
Bradshaw’s warnings about dogs in our societies seem to be echoed in the literally thousands of laws and by-laws enacted by communities all over Canada and the US. You might be surprised by some of the definitions described in these laws. For example, the USLegal website offers an example for actual state law where a dog may be described as “vicious” if it has “bitten or clawed a person or persons on two separate occasions within a twelve-month period.” In most jurisdictions, so-called vicious dogs are put down.
As dog owners, we readily accept certain behavioural traits of our dogs as part of their “dog-ness” but not everyone shares our understanding. And that’s a large part of Bradshaw’s point. The law can be particularly unforgiving of our dogs behaviour and it can take remarkably little to convince a local court that your dog should be euthanized. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your dog as described in this great article I found on the Dog Bite Law website .
Responsible Rover
But it’s not just about breaking the laws of your local community. It is perhaps more important that we make sure our dogs are “good citizens” and that they don’t pose a danger to other dogs or children. That’s just plain good manners as a dog owner.
Yes, there is a lot we can do in training our dogs to prepare them to meet the world. I’ve written about some of those things in this column. Properly socializing our dogs and teaching basic manners can go a long way toward safeguarding our dogs from unwanted scuffles and incidents.
But we shouldn’t stop at training and assume our dog is ready for anything the world can throw at them. There are also steps we can take as handlers to insure that our dog is kept safe and not put in situations where they might behave inappropriately.
Proactive Means Protected
The first thing to recognize is that not everyone feels about dogs the way that we do. My two dogs, Tira and Rizzo, are the most adorable companions I could ask for and I love nothing more than rolling around on the bed with them cuddling and kissing. But to a 5 year old child, my two dogs can look like a nightmare out of a children’s fairy tale; large, black, and wolf-like with a mouth full of big white teeth that they display when they smile happily.
In spite of all my training, an unexpected scream or squeal of delight from a small child could startle or alarm my dogs into barking or charging defensively. And if I’m not prepared to manage that possibility, a casual meeting on a path at the park could end with an injured child and my dog being taken off to her death.
No one knows our dogs better than we do. We know what scares them and what interests them and what excites them. We also know the world much better than our dogs do. And we should know it well enough to know what is and is not acceptable in our own communities.
Many Ways To Manage
We’ve all slipped a leash off of our dog in a “leash only” area to let them have a little run. And we’ve likely all lost our dog for a few minutes as they ran off to play with a new dog who’s come into our area and no amount of calling can bring them back. These little episodes can be pleasant and even rewarding for both the dogs and the humans.
But we have to be responsible. Not all dogs are “friendly.” Dogs who are on leash feel particularly defensive and vulnerable because they cannot readily escape a dog running at them. It’s not just rude to let your dog run up to a strange dog who is on leash, it is potentially dangerous both for the dogs and the handler holding the leash.
And leashes themselves can be a problem. The convenience of the long flexi-leashes allows great freedom for the dog to roam but it also becomes a dangerous hazard should two dogs get tangled up in their leashes. If either dog panics in such a situation, injuries can happen more quickly than we can prevent. Proper leash choices and management when out with our dogs is important for their safety and the safety of the dogs we meet while we are out.
Important Tools
And there are a variety of other tools we can use when out with our dogs. Head-halters and no-pull harnesses are available from many pet stores as much more humane alternatives to the prong collar for dogs that like to pull. There are a variety of different types of humane muzzles for dogs that don’t look menacing but can still prevent the dog that is prone to nipping from inadvertently causing injury.
But perhaps the most important management tool we can use in protecting our dog from dangerous situations is one we always carry with us – the human brain. If we use our understanding of dogs and their needs, our understanding of our particular dogs’ quirks and tendencies, and a sensitivity to the prevailing attitudes towards dogs by our neighbors and community, we can make our dogs successful in our world. It’s the least we can do for the ones we love.
Until next time, keep safe and have fun with your dogs.
Photo credits –
Bus Dog – nonanet 2006 from Flickr
Tira and Rizzo – Petra Wingate 2011Dog Meeting – lilli2de 2009 from Flickr
Lydia Wingate says
I so agree with Sarah. My little guy is NOT friendly (with other dogs) when on leash or truthfully off leash for that matter and it drives me nuts when people come to the park and let their dogs run free, while telling me that their dogs are friendly. He is also very fearful of children (I guess that’s a small breed trait) so I am especially vigilant around children.
I consider it my duty to protect my dog so that he doesn’t get into any trouble wherever we may be!
Sarah the PitBull Hugger says
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I rescue pits and enjoy walking them around my neighbourhood and pathways. My four guys walk really well in a group but I had to stop cause at LEAST once a week some selfish moron would shout from blocks away…”its okay he’s suuuuuuper friendly” as their dog comes running down the ROAD or path full tilt towards me and my pooch posse. Now I have to only walk two at a time cause I have to be able to have a free hand to ward of a stupid persons dog, that is not welcome by me or my dogs who are stuck on leash where they legally and responsibly belong. Its soooo infuriating. That and there are TWO offleash areas in my hood, one is 6 blocks long and forested and lovely… do the freaking offleash thing there please. You and your dog are not the only ones in the neighbourhood or the world, shocking I know. I always end up looking like an ass, cause if my dogs were a “nice” breed apparantly it would be no big thing for their dog out of control on the road jumping on me and mine shouldn’t be a problem…. ya right!!!
AMANDA says
Hi, I had a dog for 15 years and I too was concerned when off lead dogs would run up to us. My dog had a muzzle on to avoid a situation that could have resulted in him reacting in a way that might have had repercussions. During this time I was fearful of dogs approaching us and probably transmitted my anxiety to my dog, therefore exacerbating the situation. I now have 4 dogs whom I walk individually when training them and together for a romp, letting 1 or 2 off at a time and being mindful of who is around. After months of relaxed very pleasant walking in an established off lead area in the countryside, enabling my dogs to meet and play with a variety of dogs without incident, I have started having a number of aggressive encounters (not on my side) with dog walkers who are too fearful to let their dogs off off the lead. The carefree walks have now turned into a minefield trying to preempt the attitude of approaching dog walkers. I fully appreciate my responsibility as an owner to have control and manage situations appropriately and the need for vigilance, but I’m wondering if training classes are fostering fears and unrealistic expectations in some people. The constant argument put forward is that the person with the fearful or fear aggressive dog on a lead is very responsible as they have total contol of their dog and I wouldn’t argue with this. I would question why owners of fearful dogs or indeed fearful owners walk on lead in off lead areas where other dogs are known to run and play together. Would it not be more responsible to avoid these locations rather than expecting other dog owners to put their dogs on a lead too which often triggers otherwise avoidable excitement and fear, leading to a potental confrontational incident that would otherwise not occur. I can’t help thinking that like my old dog, their dogs could have a more fulfilling dog life if they were allowed the freedom to do so without the fear of owners getting in the way. As dog owners it is our responsibility to give our dogs the best life we can, they deserve to be safe, cared for, socialised and trained, but they should also be allowed the freedom to play and just be dogs, at least in an off lead area.