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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThe Vicious Doberman in the Parked Car
This evening I was out with a friend, running around doing errands, shopping for a birthday. We stopped off to get something to eat. I got a huge pizza and couldn't eat all of it. She got some ice cream and ate the rest of my pizza. Anyway, we were sitting outside eating our goodies when I notice a Doberman sticking its head out of a parked car. I did not see the owner get out. I really, really wanted to pet that Doberman badly. So, I got up, walked over to the car, saw that the windows were down far enough for the Doberman to stick its head all the way out. As soon as it saw me coming... out popped her head to get petted. No barking. No noise of any kind. Just sweet looks of loving the attention I was giving her. Then I saw a man approaching the car (the owner!) "What do you think, she's a pretty vicious attack Doberman isn't she?" he asked. We discussed the stories of our respective dogs. His was a rescue who had had heartworm when she was little. She had a lot of therapy. "But she never made any fuss. It didn't bother her at all," he told me. I told him about how my Ellie had come from a disreputable breeder here in Boulder. It became obvious his dog was hungry for dinner, so we said goodbye and he left.
Meanwhile, in the car parked two spaces over there were two fuzzy mutts that looked like the must have had some Australian shepherd in them. As soon as I got within two feet of their car, they let me know I wasn't welcome. Bark, bark, growl, bare teeth!
Isn't it strange how we associate the Doberman with a vicious attack dog and the shepherd mutts with gentle family dogs?
PS. Later there was a Chihuahua, but I'm already wary of that breed.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,069 posts)The cocker lived next door when I was about 4 years old and he snapped at me, which put me off dogs for awhile. Years later I was also snapped at by a chihuahua, but that only put me off chihuahuas.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)There was a neighbor with a really small Chihuahua. When I first me her, she barked and growled and nipped. After five minutes, she started jumping up to lick my face. Let's just say that the Chihuahua today was admired from a distance.
htuttle
(23,738 posts)It looks like a chihuahua with larger than normal jaws.
I keep thinking that his conception was either really funny (not to mention ambitious) or really horrifying, depending on which of each species the mother and father were.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,069 posts)He had a dachshund body but the head and fur of a black lab. His conception would have been similarly amusing or disturbing.
3catwoman3
(23,748 posts)The mechanics of mating would be damn near impossible, wouldn't they?
Midnight Writer
(21,469 posts)1) Dogs are totally unpredictable. A dog that is friendly everyday may get set off one day by something we do not even perceive. They are territorial and protective of other members of their perceived "pack". The only dog under control is one on a restraint or in an enclosure. Sorry, all you dog whisperers out there, but you all need to control your pets.
2) A dog's owner will always tell you THIS dog doesn't bite and will always deny it even when witnessing the attack.
sweetroxie
(776 posts)Most of the ones I have known are quite aggressive, except for those who are so timid it's a shame. I absolutely adore dogs, but I am genuinely afraid of
German shepherds. There's a look in their eyes that is quite menacing. I'm sure if you know the dog from puppyhood they're not so scary.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)He put on a good show that would scare most people, but I knew he was a pushover.
I have to say that about 95% of all German Shepherds I've ever come across could not care less about getting petted by a stranger.
But the dogs in this car had the general shape of an Australian Shepherd, not German Shepherd. They just had different coloring. One was brindle, and the other was black.
Another dog that I'm wary of is the Cane Corso. There is a man who works at the local gas station who brings his dogs to work and lets them stay in his van (they are well trained and stay put.) One day I went over to the van because I wanted to pet the dogs. Well, the Cane Corso just gave me a dirty look and started growling very low. I wasn't going to mess with her!