The initial contact was not my initiative, but I was volunteered to take Jock for a walk. We have been hearing Jock barking incessantly, and it has gone on for weeks, so that even the most even tempered neighbours were driven to complain. In these situations there are always reasons, and the dogs involved can suffer. As it was the council fined the owners, with options to increase the penalty. You will see from the photos, that Jock is a very nice dog. His owner has a six year girl, whose name is Dakota, who is very fond of him. Jock's owner works shift work.
I worry about Dexter and other dogs, and meeting Jock is an opportunity to further his socialization. Once the initial problem of bringing Jock into the backyard, and getting them out together, I hope the dogs will socially adjust to one another. Probably Jock has not experienced the close company of other dogs as well.
After two or three outings now they seem to get along. Sasha is enthused by Jock's presence and is tired out when we return. Dexter has always been the energetic one, but he has met his match in Jock. As for me, I am exhausted by it all as well. I have to watch that the leads do not caught up and situations do not develop from than entanglement.
Dexter is all attention:
Sasha is calm and relaxed:
To my surprise, Dexter showed no inclination to join the game of soccer:
It might never be the same again:
"Look, no hands":
Not forgetting Sasha, reflecting in the winter sun:
The ears have it, Jock:
Here we all go together:
There you go, Jock:
Taking it easy comes naturally:
Everyone included - some more than others:
We will get out of this parochial mood and line up to join Friday Ark.
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7 comments:
I love the photo of all 3 of them though how you walk them all at once is amazing. I find chels more than i can handle at times...:)
You have some insight there Abbey. I can imagine that Chels is a handful at times. I was prepared to put up with it because I concerned that Jock was not getting the outing and the exercise he needed.
Now his owner has told me today that she does not want me to take Jock out anymore. That would be fine if either she and her separated partner would take Jock out, but I do not think that is the program. I think it means that he will be left to grieve and bark in the backyard.
I suspect that Jock is about the same age as Chelsea, so I guess you will understand that he needs that opportunity to get out. I am left with the feeling that I have let Jock down by not making a better case for his need for exercise.
You did your best Duckpond so dont feel bad... it drives me nuts that people buy big dogs then don't exercise them. Then they have an unruly pup on their hands that they cant control and they get rid of them....did she say why she didnt want Jock to join you?
A quick recap. Jock has a reasonable size yard but had been barking without stop and so had been reported to the Council would fined Paula,his owner. These penalties escalate.
I figured since I take my dogs out I should be able to get Jock to join them. (The meeting and greeting thing is a problem that I have not managed well. In fact, yesterday, Dexter bit me on the calf - I now know what incisors are - and I have not told anybody.)
Paula has a young daughter who tends to come to Jock and hug him, and as far as I can see there was not problem there, but if Jock is now kept in the backyard and has the "muzzle" (gentle leader) there may be a problem. Her concern was twofold. Firstly, she said she took Jock down to the beach where he attacked a pregnant friend's dog. Secondly, she said that Jock did not obey her.
Jock is a healthy animal. In my opinion,He needs exercise, ideally by his owner.
There is another element in the picture, and his name is Hayden, who is the visiting husband. As far as I am aware he has not volunteered to take Jock out.
Like you suggest, I do not believe that Paula has understood what Jock's needs are, and that he will not remain a puppy forever. Dog are different from humans in many ways, but alike in having a developmental patterns that should not be frustrated.
If any of the foreseeable dire consequences were to occur, I will be the convenient person to blame. Ownership of animals also carries with it responsibility for their welfare, and that requires basic knowledge and attention to them.
It comes down to this - there is no problem if Jock gets regularly taken out for a walk, but if he is not there could be several problems, and that is what concerns me.
Mmmm a German Shep, like my Dane (and indeed all dogs) need formal training...Chels gets 1/2 hr every second day...If Jock doesnt listen to her its because he is not trained to... and hes not been socialised... I take Chels out anywhere I can think of with other dogs and children as Danes are timid dogs and will bite from fear
Dogs are pack animals & one human needs to be the Alha dog, its as simple as that... Sorry DP, Im preaching to the converted...lol...
give her my address... we have the same situation next door to work where they bought a labrador pup for a disabled boy...It remains locked in the yard... tis criminal...
oh a gentle leader is not a muzzle, though easily mistaken for one...Basically Paula will have an unsocialised, untrained, un exercised large dog... tis a mix for trouble
Hold on, Dexter bit you... are you ok?
Good point Abbey about Paula assuming the principal role, but yet the dog needs exercise. As you say, if humans do not step up to the responsibility there is a recipe for trouble.
It was a great bite on a calf. It was like a knife going through butter. I have distinct bite marks with blood and a little swelling, otherwise no problems. That will teach me.
The good news is that Jock is not barking now. However when I walked passed his house yesterday he got up, tail waging in the expectation that I would be taking him out.
I spoken to some of the neighbours. I guess we will monitor the situation. Hopefully, Paula will take the situation in hand.
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