Re: [PyrNet-L] Our letters and opinions need to be based on whole truth!!

["Janice Swenson" <janices@jump.net>]

On 20 Dec 98, at 9:31, Terese Arsenault wrote:
> Janice is very accurate in describing a bite. I've groomed numerous rescues
> trying to give them that "adoptable" edge. Over the years I've been nailed a
> few times. Bites are very painful and usually get infected. The underlying
> tissue damage is often worse than what you see. The wounds do take time to
> heal. It is an unpleasant experience.

This is correct.  I've also been nailed by one of my own dogs and 
sorry, I've long since sent him to rainbow bridge.  I came close to 
having surgery on my arm and the bites got the tendons and 
ligaments in my arm.  I'm right handed and my right arm got nailed 
and it's not the stronger of my 2 arms anymore.  I've had the 
cortisone shots done into the joints with the probability of tearing 
again because of the weakening.  

> Ownership responsibilities are one of the first topics I cover in an
> obedience class. I want to impress upon the pet owners that there is more to
> gain from obedience than a dog that will sit. The law is not very forgiving
> concerning bites and neither are insurance companies. 

This is reality, folks.  The laws are not forgiving anymore in any 
situation.  I keep a lock on the fence gate all the time because I 
don't want kids going in my back yard for any reason or a gate 
getting accidently opened.  I do an awfully lot of teaching for my 
dog's sake and safety, to protect them against what I can't 
predict....the kid who doesn't listen to mommy and daddy, the kid 
who doesn't know how to behave and the people who will pet the 
dog anyway.   

I was doing a therapy visit at our nursing home with Linsey.  A 
mother and child came through the door and the boy didn't even 
stand as tall as Linsey.  All she had to do is move and he would 
have been knocked down.  He could not stay away from the dog 
and listen to mommy and Linsey following her teaching just sat 
and let the boy be a boy and I also put her in a down stay so she 
could be petted and fussed over.  Everytime they'd start going 
down the hall the little boy would break away from mommy and 
keep coming back to find the big doggy and here we'd go again.  
Linsey took all this in stride.  And I don't know how many times I've 
had Bianca (in the past before she was retired) out to have a child 
come up unexpectedly and not listen and grab her around the neck 
in a big hug or pull a tail or something and she not do nothing.  And 
this is even on property.  

> The fact is the dog bit
> and that is essentially enough.

No offense here, but I really stress if your dog has bitten to get 
professional help immediately.  Do not wait.  It's really simple.  
Dogs only do what works.  Once they discover a behavior that 
works they will continue to do it and they only have to get away 
with it once for it to become something learned.  

I also assist rescue and do rescue and our rescue won't mess with 
a dog that has bitten a person other than taking and euthanizing 
because we can't afford the liability from a lawsuit.  This is the 
reality of rescue.  

Just my $.02.  

Happy Holidays to all!


Janice, janices@jump.net
Admiral & Linsey (newfs), Bianca & Sonny (pyrs)  
http://www.jump.net/~janices/
Leander, TX
Visit Old West Newfoundland Club's website at  
http://www.jump.net/~janices/ownc/