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Location: East Midlands, UK
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,775
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Originally Posted by
Ben Mcfuzzylugs
I also hate anthromorphisation - but I see it a little different
For us to try and behaive as the Alpha (I mean the way Pidge described - trying to be top dog) is thinking dogs are daft enough to see us as dogs
To deal with every problem as the dog is Dom and trying to take over the world is anthramorphisiation, our pushing our beleif struction on the behaviour of the dog - and again wrong
Interested what everyone would do with a dog that bites??
One time when Mias blood was high, a GSD was facing her down and barking at her, so of course she went into a fit, I stupidly touched her back and of course she perceived it as a possible threat, she whiped round and bit my hand - as she was doing it she saw who I was an inhibited her bite and didnt even break the skin
I dont see how in that situation I should have told her off - it was my fault and she did good to stop herself hurting me
No way does she deserve to be PTS for biting, she deserves to be taught ways to cope with big strange dogs better
and of course she cannot be let alone with children, but for the record she is v loving with children
True we live in a socity that will sue for the least wee thing, but at the same time we should take some responsibility, we invited hunters and killers to our fireside, we should respect the fact that they are v kind and forgiving to us, but we shouldnt push them too far so they feel thet have to bite
As a child a dog gave me a warning nip because I had bugged it to play too much, I was told off NOT the dog because she had done nothing wrong
Ben : I absolutely agree with you about Mia and the inhibited bite. As you say, it was foolish to do what you did, but you did it out of concern for your dog. The inhibition showed by Mia is exemplary and you are absolutely correct in not punishing her. You touched her when she was in "the red zone" as it were, at that moment she was not your beloved Mia, she was a wild wolf protecting you from what she perceived to be a very dangerous situation for you, and possibly her too. Dogs are allowed to defend themselves as well as their human pack.
I don't agree though that the alpha principle is anthropomorphisation. The wolf pack is run in a similar way to human society ... head of the family is mummy and daddy. As we all know, in human society it is mummy that truly runs the "pack"
and it is just the same in a wolf pack. Mummy wolf dictates when and where they hunt, when to move on, Daddy wolf lazes around most of the time, just as in our society
only stirring his stumps to ward off any encroachment from a would-be alpha or to mate. To aim to be alpha to our dogs is anything but anthropomorphisation ... it is exactly the opposite, because it is acknowledging how to do best to your dog, to speak to him in his own language, for want of a better word.
I had half my face savaged by a boxer bitch when I was about 3. Totally my mother's fault, Suzi had a bone, and my mother told me not to touch Suzi whilst she had her bone, and then left me alone with Suzi in the garden whilst she went indoors to have her hair done. The inevitable happened of course, and this is one of my earliest memories ... me sitting on Mrs Groves' kichen table swinging my legs, screaming my head off with blood pouring down my face, Mrs Groves having hysterics, and my mother telling me off for not doing what I had been told !! I ask you, what dog mad 3 year old would take any notice, stupid woman !! Anyway, despite the fact that Suzi had provocation (I remember the bone had rolled away from her, and I went to pick it up and give it back to her, she must have thought I was taking it away), there is absolutely no way in a million years that a well balanced dog should have savaged a toddler's face like that, it was completely uncalled for. Had this been my dog, and someone's else's toddler, I would have been absolutely devastated and sought expert advice. No dog should EVER bite such a young child, whatever the reason, except possibly fighting for its life.
No dog I have ever had has ever ever ever growled at a child. The worst any dog ever did was Hal just before he died. It was a very hot summer's day, and a 14 year old teenager was stroking his tummy outside the pub when she leaned very hard on his stomach. He was suffering from kidney stones at the time, and this probably hurt him, and he just growled, nothing more, just a warning growl. I was angry with him and told him off, and he instantly put out his tongue, a sign of supplication, and the young girl apologised for hurting him and started to stroke his ears. He licked her hand, and all was well.
I've rambled on again as usual, sorry !!