From: CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes)
Subject: Re: East Bay Regional Parks/dog restrictions
Organization: Texas A&M University
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:17:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.172127.19699@u.washington.edu>
    cbrand@cac.washington.edu (Carol Brand) writes:
 
>>Does this include the 9 year old that broke into my house, and stole
>>$4,000 worth of my property?  I think not!
>
>This is a very interesting point, and one I had hoped would come up in
>regards to dogs and protection.  Chris and a few other have stated that
>they want their dogs to bite, because it provides protection for
>themselves and their property.
>
>I look at things a bit differently and I wonder how others on the net
>feel.  Chris's above statement makes me nervous.  What if a dog really
>lays into a kid?  Do we own anything that's worth perhaps permanently
>hurting a child ('cause no matter how you cut it, a nine year old is a
>child).  Are stereos and tvs more valuable than people?  What if a
>neighbor kid just hops a fence to retrieve a ball?  What if a biter ever
>accidently gets out?  Homeowners insurance and an alarm system seem
>cheaper and more reliable than using a biting dog.
 
Yes, the 9 yo is worth more than my stereo, but not more than my
sense of security in my own home.  It's like this:  if someone
(an adult) broke into my home, I would shoot them (and I follow
the old rule that goes "don't point unless you mean to shoot, and
don't shoot unless you mean to kill").  Would I shoot a 9 yo?
I don't know.  If it was a 9 yo that I beleived to present a
danger, then you bet.  If not, then I probably wouldn't.
 
But all that is somewhat irrelavant, rarely is the dog going
to kill the kid.  And, IMHO, if some kid does get hurt (even
seriously) for being in my yard, then he (the kid) deserved it.
 
As far as the dog's getting out:  Most dogs that are protective
(NOT the same as aggressive) of their home are not going to try
to protect something somewhere else.  Why should they, it's not
their turf.
 
 
>Another thing that concerns me, is my dog's safety.  I don't know if this
>happens very often (maybe y'all on the net know more), but I am very
>worried that my dog would be hurt or killed trying to defend my property.
>I would much prefer that my dog bark her head off and then happily show a
>thief where the good silver is.  Sterling in replaceable, my dog is not!
 
On the other hand, if the dog were to kill the intruder, that's one
fewer person in the criminal element we have to worry about.  I don't
know about you, but I think that's a good thing.
 
 
>I understand worrying about personal protection, especially if you are a
>woman.  Again, I would prefer a dog that barks his head off if a stranger
>is near.  This would give me time to get my dog and myself out the
>window.  Anyone who is sick enough to break into my house to hurt me,
>would not hesitate to hurt my dog.  Again, learning to protect yourself
>through self-defense courses would seem more pratical.  Afterall, you
>might not have the dog with you when the attack comes.
 
 
Gee, I seem to remember almost every cop I know (and I know alot of
them seeing as how my mom is a cop) says that a dog is the BEST
home protection you can get (far better than a gun).
 
 
>A couple of people have stated that one of the main reasons to have a dog
>is for protection.  My main reason for having a dog is love and
>companionship.  I see it as my job to protect my dog, not visa versa.
 
If those are your reasons for owning a dog, then great.  I happy you
have found a dog that satifies your desires.  But MY reasons for owning
a dog are different.  I want a dog that will serve ME.  If it
won't, I'll give it away and find a different one.  And the fact that
my reasons are different from yours doesn't make my reasons wrong.
I guess that's one reason why there's so many different breeds.....
 
      --------------------------------------------------
Chris Barnes            |
cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |  Bow season starts in 3 days!
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