[PyrNet-L] CHAT, BEHAVIOR: training & our new pet ordinance

[MagEBroD@aol.com]

   I share a lot about Albert and his antics and what a playful clown he is.
He always makes us laugh and is one very happy-go-lucky bloke!!  I do need to
get him trained a bit better though. Little too much vim & vigor sometimes!!
His rambunctiousness is a bit much sometimes, yet I wouldn't trade him for the
world!! I know that one of these days we'll probably miss his
rambunctiousness, too, when he gets older and mellower. (If he ever does!!) A
bit more control would be good though. Especially since they just passed
stiffer dog ordinances here. Now you can be fined and maybe your dog impounded
if your dog chases, runs after, jumps at or upon a person or domestic animal
or vehicle while off your property. Albert sometimes tries to jump on people
if they act like they are being playful with him. So we've been trying to get
him to sit and settle down around people. (Even before ordinance was passed.)
It's mainly when people act playful or try to do wrestling motions with him.
   I realize we do need some laws to protect people and animals. In fact my
hubby just got attacked on the job repeatedly the other day by a Pomeranian.
(He's a letter carrier.) Kind of strange: I was attacked viciously by a
Pomeranian last year!! Took 5 mos. for foot to heal and it looks bad still!
Hubby faired better. He used a lot of pepper spray on the dog each time to get
away.
   Now that we have stricter ordinances, I guess it's a good thing Albert was
making friends with the local police officers lately!!!! They are the ones,
along with animal control,  who make the decisions whether to fine or ignore
complaint or impound the dog!  SMART DOG, my Albert!!  Plus many of the police
officers have dogs themselves, too, so hopefully they will be reasonable in
their enforcement. 
  He does need to get to where he'll never try to jump at all, though, no
matter what someone acts like.  I know many people I know are now not letting
people come up to their dogs at all now, since the new ordinance went into
effect. If people ask if they can pet their dog, they say "NO. it's really not
a good idea."  I understand their worries, yet Albert does so love to be
friendly and visit all over wherever we go!!  Hoping I can work with him some
more and get him to control his rambunctiousness some more. That's the only
part of our new ordinance I'm worried about. The barking/ noise part is pretty
strict, too, but he's not too much of a nuisance barker. The other side of the
coin is that although the ordinance got stricter, the personnel to enforce it
just got cut in half! They had to let an animal control officer go!! 

:)  &  :)````  (me grinning & Albert grinning & drooling!)

Janice Vocke
MagEBroD@aol.com
Shelton, Washington