Absolutely incredible thing to see

[KHornet]

Never heard of the sit down thing, but sure sounds like it is an inbred instinct to me.
Paul

 

[Pistolero]

Never heard of sitting either, but probably makes the attacker get overconfident, and
lets them keep their hind legs fully "cocked". Interesting. Learning things, I like it.

Bill

 

[Rick]

Never heard of the sit down thing, but sure sounds like it is an inbred instinct to me. Paul

Dunno if it's bred into them but that's what my coon dog did and she's the biggest wimp ya saw. Was at the local dog park and a woman shows up with a male Dobie half again the size of my dog. My dog was just sitting about 15 feet from me looking around and this Dobie charges all teeth and it wasn't playing. My dog just sat there, didn't blink or flinch. The instant the Dobie was close enough my dog had him by the throat and flipped over on his back and held him there. She didn't draw blood but it was pretty obvious the Dobie was hurting. I was quite proud of her that she defended herself so well, didn't think she had it in her. But yeah, from a sitting position. I guess it made for easy access to a nice soft throat.
.

 

[Ian]

Charming stories of such lovely family pets. These are all the reasons I like my house cats, and will never own a dog nor allow one anywhere near my home.

 

[Brad]

having met Rick's dog I will say she is well behaved and very friendly. John's was the same way. That said, I was in the company of "the boss".

I am personally not a dog person. Just not my cup of tea. We have cats that allow us to cohabitate.

 

[Rick]

Charming stories of such lovely family pets. These are all the reasons I like my house cats, and will never own a dog nor allow one anywhere near my home.

Spoken like someone that doesn't know how real a dog's love is. I'd like to be half the man my dog thinks I am. I'm sure your cats will be your first line of defense should someone break into your house in the middle of the night. No doubt they will warn you when there is someone there and of course be the first to protect you should they get inside. Well, maybe not huh?
.

 

[smokeywolf]

We love most all critters great and small, but have a special affinity for horses and wolfdogs. I grew up with horses, beagles, cats and a German Shepherd.

Had a lady-friend who grew up on a farm. She had a giant Doberman that took to me and I to him immediately. She'd named him Mongo after Alex Karras' character in "Blazing Saddles".

 

[Ian]

Spoken like someone that doesn't know how real a dog's love is. I'd like to be half the man my dog thinks I am. I'm sure your cats will be your first line of defense should someone break into your house in the middle of the night. No doubt they will warn you when there is someone there and of course be the first to protect you should they get inside. Well, maybe not huh?
.

Nope, but I damn well know by the scars all over my body how dangerous and untrustworthy they can be. See, the problem is a dog may "love" you, but not anyone else, which makes them dangerous to EVERYONE else. This is a disconnect that most dog owners have, and act irresponsibly because of their blindness and assumptions. When that happens, people get hurt or killed by dear little Fido. Now, I have no doubt that you and Smokeywolf and some others here are responsible dog owners, but that puts you in the very small minority.

For the record, my cats have injured no one, ever, and doing so is not in their job description, either. Home defense is in the job description of Mr. Winchester 1300, and ADT.

 

[smokeywolf]

The biggest mistake most pet owners make is assuming they can predict what their animal will do next.

I love Timber as much, if not more than any other animal I've ever had. But, I don't trust that he will act or behave in a way or manner that I can predict or depend on. I can't think like he thinks.

Most dogs, cats, horses, etc. don't trust each other. Love your pet/partner with all your heart, but don't trust him or her to always and predictably do or act as you want or think he or she should or will act.

One more little detail; as a rule, I trust humans even less.

 

[Ian]

I trust humans even less.

I feel the same way!

 

[fiver]

dogs are not that hard to read.
it's just that the owners expect them to act the same way at home and when they are out in another setting. [they won't]
I can see the interaction between my dogs here at my home and Littlegirls dogs at her house, and how they change depending on if they are here or if they are there.
you can also see how they change rolls if people are present and depending on who [person or dogs] is present their roll will change again.

the oldest girls little dog goes from being every body's best buddy here at our place to being the more aggressive/alert low dog [look-out for the group] when she is at the youngest girls place [especially if my idiot dog isn't there] barking at everybody.
that's when the youngest girls [under-dog] dog takes over being the goofy best buddy to everyone else, and her older dog becomes the Alpha to the oldest girls little dog.

this is the same little dog that when she is out alone [no other dogs] will do stupid tricks for strangers trying to get them to pet her or give her a treat.

 

[Pistolero]

Don't have dogs now, but do like them. Always paying attention to how the dog
looks, can usually read them pretty well, but not guaranteed. Still, I like dogs.

Have a cat now, one died a couple of months ago.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

Lost my last two dogs a few years back within a year of each other. Have no pets now, as we figure
our life style and the amount of road time we do each year would not be fair to animals and having
to board them. Never really cared for cats, but Brad has one that I wouldn't mind having.

Paul