Potential dog incident

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Malice

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So I went to McDonalds with my girlfriend Jenn and my roomate Jessica. It is on the edge of the highway and as we were leaving they spotted a dog laying in the grass about 10 feet off from the parking lot.

Now, this isnt just any dog. It is a very large example of a wolf-dog hybrid, and there it is chilling in the grass. So of course they scream "puppy!" and start slowly walking towards it. I cannot believe what I am seeing. I am an animal lover too, but I figured everyone knew you do not approach random large stray dogs on the edge of the freeway. Hell, my parents always taught me not to get too close to any dog unless the owner cleared it.

So they start to approach the dog and I at first calmly say "Hey, dont go over there, what are you doing?" They respond with "Its only a puppy!"

:what:

At this point I am screaming, using a good deal of profanity, for them to in no uncertain terms get the HECK away from that dog. They tossed a french fry at it and it gave them an annoyed look. Eventualy it got up and ate the fry and sort of layed back down and eyed them. With me still yelling at them to get in the car, they finnaly saunter calmly away laughing at my nervousness.

They still do not believe me that it is a BAD idea to approach a dog like this, especialy an obviously stray dog that is an agressive breed and 80-90 lbs to boot.

Did I over-react? Nothing came of it this time, but next time this happens with someone should I physicaly move them away from the dog?

I have been around big dogs, I play wrestle with my Australian shepherd and let him put my head in his mouth. But I really do not think this kind of behavior is safe.

Did I over react? Not strongly enough? What should I tell them to convince them of the danger here?
 
I wasn't there and maybe you don't know dogs, but yes, I'd say that you really over reacted.
Biker
 
...over reacted

you didn't need to scream at them, they need to learn not to throw people food at dogs. frys are unhealthy for dogs as well as people.
you should just warn them it's not a good idea and if the dog attacks, then you can say "I told you so"...I hope that you don't though have to shoot the poor dog, I might bite you if I was a dog and you were throwing clown food at me.
Your friends can certainly be an example of why smart folks don't eat mickyDees :neener:
 
Getting serious about anything safety related around women is a mistake, they assume it is directed at them rather than the subject of your concern. Though in this case given the way you describe it I'd wonder too. I still offer an opinion but some people need to learn hard lessons the hard way. These days I let em.
 
I have an 80 pound lab shepherd mutt. Has a head the size of a bowling ball. Stocky, mean looking, huge teeth. If you were to see him sitting at the front door you would never get out of your car. He would look at you and wonder why you didn't get out and pet him.

The kids ride him like a horse. They tackle him when he tries to sleep. He loves it.
 
Dog

Never approach a strange dog uninvited. Let the dog come to you. Keep your face back and out of the first strike zone and keep one hand between you and the dog's chest so if it lunges, you have something to ward off a direct hit. Let the dog sniff the back of your closed hand before attempting to pet it, and touch him briefly between sniffs.

Any dog that weighs as little as fifty pounds can be a serious threat to a 200-pound adult male. Dogs with short muzzles(Bulldogs) are crushers. Dogs with long muzzles (Collies) are slashers. They can all bite to the bone and destroy muscle and tendons. Even a 25-pound dog can do lasting damage if he is serious about the attack. A bite and release isn't an attack and seldom does permanent damage. That's a warning.

Signs of potential trouble are:

Ears laid OR pulled back and up. Head low/tail up. A wagging tail is NOT a sign that all is well. Circling while closing the distance. A low, continuous growl is a sign. Short, soft growls mean nervousness/fear. Head up/tail wagging in wide arcs is a good sign. Tail wagging in short, stiff arcs means beware. Head down, forelegs flat, chin near the ground, butt high, tail wagging wide is dog body language for "Let's play!"
 
"a very large example of a wolf-dog hybrid"
================================

I kept one of these creatures for an acquaintance once for a few weeks while he was deployed. _I_ don't think you were over-reacting, and I think they were being dangerously stupid- if it really WAS a cross.

These things do not work like dogs do, the 'pack heirarchy' is stronger and dominance issues can be a problem. There is no indication I know of that actual attacks by wolfdogs happen any more often than with some dog breeds, but failing to establish and maintain dominance over time can be critical in provoking attacks. Doesn't sound to me as if your two puppy fanciers were getting off on the best foot to establish dominance with a strange animal. They should leave animals they don't know and understand strictly alone.

I never had any problems with the one I dog-sat, but the owner told me the things I needed to know (and gave me permission in advance to kill the wolfdog if necessary). For example, he had to have his water changed first, then his food put down. If you fed him first you couldn't get close enough to change the water until he was done eating. I always carried a pistol when I was around him.

lpl/nc

edited to add- have them read this:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v5n4/5n4wille.htm
 
My wife used to be that way with dogs.....

Must be a female thing........until I let her out of the truck at camp and she said she would walk to the trailer. Well, halfway down the road, a pit bull comes out of the brush and starts barking at her. Natch, she left her pistol in the truck. I heard the commotion and went for a look see. I always carry my AK and after placing a shot between the front paws, the dog ran away......Wife NEVER goes walking at camp without her pistol or rifle now.........It seems like a "command" voice would have worked better than a "screaming" voice.......but, I was not there......chris3
 
but next time this happens with someone should I physicaly move them away from the dog?
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Not just no, but HELL NO! There's a 110lb ball of muscles and razor blades who already thinks one of you is out to get him. Then you come running up screaming and try to grab your roommate. Is the human attacking the other one? Is he attacking me? Will he kill her and then come for me? Is this some kind of predatory human behavior where one of them distracts me while the other charges in for the kill?

Better rip out both of their throats just to be sure.
 
but next time this happens with someone should I physicaly move them away from the dog?
Click to expand...
No.

There is one time and one time only you put yourself between someone or something a dog is about to attack (or is already attacking) and that is when there is nothing else you can do and if you don't someone who you need to protect is going to get hurt.
 
If you think an Australian Shepherd is a big dog then yes, you should avoid getting too close to dogs.

And yes, you did overreact, but it's a human male instinct to protect attractive young human women, so it's just biology.:p

The best thing you can do if you want to be safe but not paranoid is learn about canine communication. Dogs are actually not too hard to understand, but they're way different from people. It can be easy to think a dog is threatening when it wants to play, but it can be just as easy to think it's playful when it's actually threatening.

Dogs generally don't see us as prey. They do, though, feel scared of us sometimes, and at some point, some dogs figure a good offense is the best defense. A dog's offense can kill us, since we're pretty pathetic animals physically, especially after a few generations of city life.

The best thing to do is educate yourself. Then you can be confident instead of profane. Confidence will get you laid, laid, and then laid. Profanity will just get you kicked off the radio, goddamn it.:)
 
I don't see the point in getting agitated and excited when someone is doing something I think stupid. I just voice my concerns and let them go on about their business. There are people who learn from others, and there are people who have to get burned to figure it out.

Pilgrim
 
Did I over-react? Nothing came of it this time, but next time this happens with someone should I physicaly move them away from the dog?
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No, not really. Not very smart on the girls part.

Although you should really have called the animal patrol or somesuch. Better for the dog and the safety of others.

Plus that way if there was an RFID or just dog tags they couldve returned him to the owner.

I once had a dog (probably 50-60 pnds) approach (as in trot...) towards me. The owner was behind it, telling it to stop.
It wasnt looking very friendly, but it wasnt growling.

I just stopped, tried to be somewhat calm and didnt look it in the eye (supposedly eye contact is taken as a challenge). It arrived sniffed my leg vigorously and the owner came and got it.
 
I've seen a 30 pound dog open up a human hand like a can-opener.

Nothing can be made idiot proof, because they always make a better idiot.
 
I have a bad habit of letting people make their own poor choices. I would have voiced my advice that what they were doing is a poor idea, and if they persisted I would have taken a comfortable seat on the hood of my car and checked to see I had my cell phone and first aid kit handy, with a fresh batch of "i told ya so's" on standby. Life is too short to make a spaz out of yourself for people who cannot take a well intentioned bit of advice.
 
c_yeager said:
I have a bad habit of letting people make their own poor choices. I would have voiced my advice that what they were doing is a poor idea, and if they persisted I would have taken a comfortable seat on the hood of my car and checked to see I had my cell phone and first aid kit handy, with a fresh batch of "i told ya so's" on standby. Life is too short to make a spaz out of yourself for people who cannot take a well intentioned bit of advice.
Click to expand...

LOL

Let me add that Darwinism and Dating do mix.:)
 
30 Pound Dog

eastwood44mag said:
I've seen a 30 pound dog open up a human hand like a can-opener.

Nothing can be made idiot proof, because they always make a better idiot.
Click to expand...

I'll go ya one better than that. I saw a Dachshund take a woman's index finger nearly off at the second joint. People get nipped and they think they've been attacked by a dog. Got a little reality check for'em...
 
I've read that a Yorkshire Terrier has bitten someone fatally. Couldn't find the details.

It'd be stupid to go around afraid of the things, though.:p
 
Ryder said:
Getting serious about anything safety related around women is a mistake, they assume it is directed at them rather than the subject of your concern.
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Oh God, I realised that the other day.
It's true, it's very true.
>_<
 
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