PJ's Daily Dirt - by PJ 1

Six months ago, I adopted a rottweiler. I admit, at first I had not much knowledge about dogs besides playing with them. I've always been dog friendly and always wanted one. As many people perceive rottweilers to be very aggressive and dangerous, I would like to add that all guard dogs can be aggressive and dangerous. I don't appreciate the fact that everyone makes assumptions that rottweilers are the only one. This was only due to the fact that the media played a significant role in portraying this. Anyway, B (my dog) has been very obedient and has never once bit me since I've adopted him. We think that he was disciplined when he was a pup. He is now two years old. As any other owners would do, I trained my dog and soon enough, he began to learn these new words. My recent accomplishments has been 'ball', 'toy', 'kiss', 'doggie' and 'car ride'. This is only to name a few. I often go to a dog park and meet other dog owners. It really depends on the owners whether they are going to accept B. Usually when the dog owners have dogs that are small to medium size, they would get intimidated and scared. I get that but some of them jump to conclusions asking me whether my dog is obedient or does he bite. I mean, is that really necessary? If B weren't to be obedient or trained at all, as a responsible dog owner, would I bring him into the dog park with other dogs? The answer is simply NO. On the other hand, there are dog owners with bigger dogs and they are much more comfortable with B because of his size and I suppose breed's 'reputation'. As I've mentioned before, B has not once bitten me before. He likes to play around by nibbling your arm but would never dare to bite. If I were to be showing any signs of pain then he would immediately stop and lick it better. He knows better than to mess with me!


Does he look harmful to you?
This brings me to my story of the day. Sorry for long rant. I took him to the dog park today and this old man approached me from the other side of the fence that he wasn't going to take his dog in because B was too big for him. I respected his wishes and I told B to stop trying to get the old man's dog's attention. He behaved and continued to do his business. Not much later, another man took his two dogs (one big, one small) out of his car. As all dogs do, they go up to the fence and try to sniff each other but the man didn't want to take his dogs in because the smaller dog was a trouble maker. I was glad because I knew that if the small dog wanted to start B, it would be hard to stop him. I am not that big in size. The dogs got along well even though they were on opposite ends of the fence. BUT THEN...the old man came back with his dog and started to show aggression to the second man's two dogs. The instant B smells aggression, he would go for it. B chased the dog up and down the fence as I helplessly tried to grab a hold of him but to no avail. The problem wasn't me not being able to hold him but the old man!!! He kept walking his dog along the FOUR FENCES even after I have calmed my dog down. It was like shoving it into B's face. My point is that, people perceive that smaller dogs are never the cause of problem but it is the bigger dogs. That is incorrect. It usually starts with the smaller dogs because owners think that because they are small, they can't do no harm. However, they are the one that provoke the bigger dogs. And when the bigger dogs had have enough of it and retaliate, they blame the bigger dogs!!! Some owners have got no clue about their own dog and criticise other people's dogs. I find that shameful that they even have a dog to begin with. I feel for the dogs. B is resting on my feet and just reminds me how gentle he is. Sorry if it seems like I know it all, I don't but at least I know how to control my own dog.


- Lily