Window Manager Comments
Nice conclusion. You sure you aren't hard at work on that novel?
Mitch,
I agree with everything you've written here. You might know I have dogs since mine are fairly large--i.e. it is hard not to notice them. But I obey all leash laws. I stop my dog from barking within a few minutes--no more than 10 and that is if I'm in bed asleep. I train my dogs, and when they screw up they are punished/corrected. Nothing nasty or harmful. It might simply be a quick short tug on the leash to get their attention or sending them to their crates or making them lie down. And you'd never mistake my dogs for rats. And my dogs are dogs and are treated as such. They don't eat with us, they don't food from the table, they don't get special clothes (although I might get a sweater for the one with no under-coat), and they eat after the rest of us eat.
In fact, I'd say your post dovetails nicely with mine. The above behaviors are one's I completely deplore since they tend to give the good owners a bad rap as well. I sneer at people who tote their tiny dogs around in a stroller or carry-all bag. I roll my eyes at people who talk to their dogs like their children. I want to kick the owners who let their chihuahuas run around off leash that inevitably charge either my Rottweiler or Americna Pit Bull Terrier barking like a psychotic with its hackles up.
Thanks for the comments. Like I said I don't have a problem with dogs, and the post is obviously meant to also be humerous as well as a gripe.
The vast majority of my neighbors who have dogs are fine, it is the one or two bad apples that give the rest a bad name.
Motherhood statement here but its all about responsibility. Its a big responsibility to have a dog. When we got ours it was many hours/days+$$$ of training, a time and money investment that many owners avoid. Couple that burden with the "no rules no discipline" meme of some owners and you have a recipe for a miserable life for the dog, the oweners, and the neighbors. The amazing thing is how much DOGS LIKE STRUCTURE. You can see their pride when they do well and follow the family rules. But you gotta train first.
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