As reguards to owning a dog. I would love to get a big dog but unfornunately my girls and I have been spending about 50 hours a month in our volunteer work along with all of our other activities. It just wouldn’t be fair to bring home a dog when we all have so little time to spare.

Yes, my dogs were allowed in the house, but then again it was my house. I would not expect others to enjoy having them in their homes.

I agree produce is subjected to many types of vermin – yes I do wash my produce. However, what is your thoughts on the food court area? Many foods are prepared and sitting on the tables of the booths. I do know that the larger dogs can easily reach that level.

I’m happy for you that you are drawing a wonderful salary – as far as gobs of free time – give the Humane Society a call, I think they would love to hear from you. Maybe just a little sarcasm (or sense of humor) on my part.

Yes life is beautiful – enjoy it!!

>> “… I did not expect strangers to have that same regard for [my dogs] …”

Well, I agree with you 100% … and since no one else brought that up, would you like to discuss that?

>> “… I do not feel the Farmers Market, with the produce and all foods there, is the place for dogs to be walked, or to socialize.”

And I’m sure a lot of people have your same opinion … differing opinions is what makes this country great. Were your dogs allowed in your house? In the kitchen? Do you believe dogs just getting near food could be a problem for food safety? Like I mentioned previously, farmers have lots of pets and other animals, as well as the wild critters: rats, gophers, etc. … isn’t that one reason we wash produce?

A butt-load of money, Jean … along with gobs of free time. Life is beautiful. What else would you like to know?

There are many places that dogs are welcome outside of the home. I do not feel the Farmers Market, with the produce and all foods there, is the place for dogs to be walked, or to socialize.

I don’t know if Larry’s position as Market Director is a paying job, but he seems to have a lot of time on his hands.

I see what you mean about a stroller, but that keeps them safer since they can’t spook a dog by running up, for example. You referred to your kids — plural — in the stroller. Sounds like a great time to adopt a large, adult dog, from a rescue organization.

Because of the number of dogs being destroyed just because people no longer wanted them or had to give them up (a move, etc.), rescue organizations popped up and began working with the local animal shelters to save the wonderful pets. When someone brings in a Golden Retriever, for example, because they can no longer keep him, the shelter will call the local Golden Retriever Rescue organization to come pick him up.

Those people spend a lot of time with the dog, often in different homes, so as to provide a full dossier when they put him up for adoption. It includes the dog’s interaction with kids, other animals, older folks, if it’s house broken, and on, and on. You’d be bringing home a dog with few to no surprises. Kids learn a lot growing up with big dogs.

And, you missed that one question.

Thanks.

When my kids are in their stroller and face to face with a big dog with everyone trying push and shove to get by one another it’s just kind of scary. I know that most people who have a dog that is prone to attack would not bring it, but it only takes one irresponsible person to bring a dangerous dog for someone to get hurt.

I appreciate that dog owners have the right to bring their animals to certain places and I do think its good for dogs to be around people, but if it affects my children’s safety then that is a problem and concern for me as well as other parents.

>> “… make the market a little bigger maybe spread out the booths. It feels so cramped down there …”

Just wondering, but considering your ideas, have you ever been to this Market?

And regarding your girls and dogs, that only takes a little effort: teach them to respect strange dogs, and not approach them. That’s a parent’s responsibility.

Larry

That’s very humbling — I’m coming up from my bow, now [not to be confused with bow wow].

Seriously, though, thank you for the very kind words, and the support. It didn’t take any time at all to write that previous comment … at least not that I noticed.  

I have a very good friend, Robin, who is truly a champion for small dog rescue, and probably much larger canines, too (like in the 9-18 pound range), as well as staying on top of legislation and other issues. Robin is not only trying to put out fires, but she’s also trying to prevent them. She loves what she does … and it is truly passion that drives her.

I bet you’ve felt it as well, Marilyn, but I’ve always sensed a camaraderie between dog people.  I mean it could be that we are all a bunch of aliens, but on the other hand, it’s something about being able to relate to another species … and they back in return. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been warned about a dog that will not like me at all on the first visit, as well as the second, and within minutes, that dog and I are on the floor together, having a good old time, discussing local trees.

HELLO? CAN YOU STOP WITH THE LITTERS, PLEASE?

Dogs are actually the only animals that humans created, and then, in general, we treat them like garbage.  In 2008, I wrote an article about the pet overpopulation problem, which ended-up running on NowPublic.com.

Not being able to get national statistical data, I found a county in California with five years of historical data. Granted, it was not very scientific, but it provided a true ballpark of what reality was at the time. Extrapolating the numbers to the national level, provided a picture beyond surprising, and frankly, sickening.

About 61-million (61,000,000) pets were euthanized nationally each year, between 2000-2005 — shockingly, that’s about 25-thousand pets per day across the country. And people still say, “It’s not fair to have a female and not let her have at least one litter.”

I currently have two rescues. I lean towards the canines that will probably not be adopted, and instead, euthanized — dogs that usually pay for their master’s mistreatment of them, with their own lives. And although the reason has still eluded some experts, black dogs, by far, are euthanized more than any other color of dog.

No country takes such a serious pride in their national breed as Germany does. Female canines must be certified healthy and without any defects before permitting them to have their first and subsequent litters. If they are found to have genetic defects, they are sterilized.

THE VERY ABUSED RESCUE

In 2006, I rescued the most vicious canine I ever had — a pure-bred, somewhat rare, mostly black German Shepherd. He had been dumped way out in the woods, and almost starved to death. It took me a good 4-5 months, of growling back-and-forth, to teach and assure him that not all humans are mean, abusive jerks … and that no human will ever hurt him again. Deep down, he’s nothing but a loving, affectionate dog. He doesn’t bark. He never tries to run. He only wants to greet every person whose nearby. His friendliness can be very time-consuming.

He likely was a very expensive animal when he was bought as a puppy. From what he’s been able to “tell” me, he was hit, beaten, had things thrown at him, had been taught, unsuccessfully, to be mean, meaning he was consistently treated with hostility, and apparently he was owned by a Harley rider. Even though the motorcycle connection came out clearly, and continues to, I, myself rode motorcycles for 30 years, and never knew a motorcyclist who was mean to dogs. I only mention that as it was just very interesting how he shared that part with me. It’s all in observation and patience.

He has become one of the most gentle canines I’ve ever owned. After his first few months of training, he has exhibited not even a hint of aggression … and during that period, the only aggression he showed was directed at me. I expect that, because I continue to push his limits. With a dog that size, and with a truly unknown history of abuse, I need to feel extra confident that if someone were to fall right on top of him, he would not take it as an offensive action, even if it hurt him a lot.

With all that growling back and forth, I would actually growl like a dog right back at him when he growled at me. One day, i realized something had changed. We were no longer growling anymore, but he was still making a similar sound, stopping long enough for me to respond, then he’d do it again.

GROWLING IN C MAJOR

The first thought that came to me was to change my pitch, so I went higher on the next growl, and he mimicked me. I did my best not to laugh … not at him, but at our accomplishment. Then I went low, and he continued to follow me. As time went on, I tried different things, including going from a low pitch to a high pitch in a single growl … and he was able to pull that off, too.

I believe that people, in general, have a very skewed understanding of these animals. I tend to think that many people look at a Shepherd and assume that they are always on edge, always a bit spooky, and always ready to attack. To me, that’s a Great White Shark. I can’t quite get the picture in my mind of me and a Great White, lying next to each other on the floor growling the scale in C major — well, maybe just once.

Dogs naturally only attack other dogs, and not people. Wolves are the same way. There’s no record of any event where a wolf pack attacked people, like so many movies have portrayed them. Generally, wolves fear people, and do everything they can to avoid them. But with our “entertainment” people see that wolves attack people, so some people see that as a right to shoot and kill wolves. But again, in reality, they are pack animals, which means they live, travel, and take care of each other as a family.

Here is a photo of that “mean” Shepherd we rescued (about 18 months later), as well as a copy of the NowPublic.com story.

Larry

Just like you would not walk up and grab someone’s possession, no matter what it was, respect someone’s dog and ask for permission. A canine can be spooked, especially the small ones. And if they’re spooked, just from someone reaching quickly to grab it, or hug it — these are all actions that a small dog, in particular, will take as an offensive move. Their only defense is a bite.

I happened to be watching this, when my daughter was about 10-11, standing, facing a woman about the same height, who was holding a Jack Russell. My daughter was not even paying attention to the dog, when for no apparent reason, it lashed out to bite her.

If it had reached her, it would have bitten her right in the face. Like I said, the dog was a non-issue, as the woman and my daughter were casually talking. Little did the woman or my daughter know, she got too close in that’s dog’s mind.

Frankly, I’ve never owned a dog less than 50-pounds, and that was a mixed breed … and she was my biggest concern. She never showed aggression to people, but she was able to run down, catch, and kill a squirrel.

Most of my dogs have been 80-105 pounds. Keep in mind, all dogs began as a wolf. Just imagine all the weird inter, outer and just odd mixed breeding that had to be done to reduce the size of the animal. Weird science.

Thanks jb.

Larry

My children also love to visit with them. However it’s very important that people remember that you should always ask the owner if it’s ok before approaching, or allowing your children to approach a dog.