What's wrong with people part, part 212

I feel like this is becoming the main theme of my life. Why oh why do people put their dogs in situations that could harm them and/or others.

Before I get started, none of this involves my dogs....this time.

Part 1. A dog I've walked for several years, 4 days a week got bit a few weeks ago, when he was with me, by a dog being walked by another dog walker. I've walked Guido since he was 4 months old. There's not a mean bone in his body, he's not an obnoxious or annoying dog. He has good dog sense, he's one of the dogs I use to help socialize large breed puppies. I wouldn't take him around very small dogs, not due to aggressive or roughness, just general goofiness.

He was bit from behind, just while he walking by, doing nothing. He wasn't even looking in the direction of this other dog. It turns out this dogs has a history of this. why oh why was he running loose in a dog park with several other dogs?

Part 2. Someone Bill knows was bit by an off leash dog in the park near our home. (Yes, the same park where an off leash dog attacked Indy. Yes, the same park I rarely take my dogs to even though it's walking distance and the main reason we live here). Bill's friend was riding his bike by, and the dog came running toward him, then chased him and bit him.

There's this attitude in Frick park that as long as your dog doesn't go around viciously mauling dogs and people for no reason, and comes back (meaning doesn't run away entirely) they should be allowed to run and play off leash in the park. No one seems to think there is anything wrong with rushing towards anyone and anything. I wish people could understand your dog has no business going anywhere near anyone, without being invited. Even a friendly lab, rushing over to say "hi" could scare my little dogs, if they jump on my dogs they could seriously injure them.

I'm a huge supporter of dogs having the privilege to be off leash, but it has to be earned and there needs to be common sense. Be honest about your dog! Don't ruin things for everyone because you haven't put the time into truly training your dog. Every time a dog chases a bike it increases tension between bikers and dog walkers. Things have changed so much there, that it already has been ruined for us. Prior to this past Spring, I walked my dogs there just about every day, rain or shine for almost 10 years and that's been taken away because of people with no sense or concern for anyone else.

My pack does still get out, we drive in the car about 20 minutes to another park, that so far still is safe and fun for my dogs to play.

Rare happy photo of Kittie

Kittie can be a really silly dog, though she can be quite serious about her work. She almost never looks silly and carefree in photos though. She looks like all my elementary school photos; uptight, panic stricken but trying to look happy.

Here's a rare photo that really shows Kittie for who she is! A happy little nerd, who loves to run more than nothing else.

Young Dogs & old Dogs

A group shot taken this Fall of, Kittie, Abby & Indy "the three young ladies" as they're called around here.More and more lately it feels like I have two separate packs in my house. The young dogs and the old dogs.....even though Kittie, a member of the young dog pack is only 7 months younger than Willy. This Winter, I've really seen the differences, Rudy & Willy don't want to go for walks now that it's cold out, while the young ladies would stay out all day if I let them. This wouldn't be so bad, but there's the guilt of not doing agility with the older ones, so when we go to train, or away to seminars or trials, guess who gets left behind??

I know it's a normal shift, but I hate to think of them being left behind all the time.....even if they don't seem to mind one bit.

Dreaming about the farm

We live basically in the city, it's a really nice neighborhood overall, I should be happy here. A huge park, movie theater, several restaurants and cafes all within walking distance. A short drive to down town.....or more rural areas, really I should be happy, but I'm just not, no matter how much I try to convince myself.

I want to live where my neighbors are a bit further away. I want some land so the dogs can have more room for agility and to just run around and be dogs, without worrying about what psycho dog we're going to meet around the next corner, I want to have a garden again.

Both of our jobs are centered around the city, we don't want to spend time commuting. I'm used to being able to go home and get my dogs in the mid afternoon, that wouldn't be able to happen, and then I still wouldn't be happy.....so it's a tough no win situation.

Until I can figure it out, I'll just dream about our farm.

http://www.wolflakefarm.com/index.html