yup.

"Off leash dogs of any kind are typically not a problem."

- They sure are in most major urban centers. Books full of scientific studies have been written on the free-roaming feral packs of dogs in Baltimore, for example. Researchers studied them to gain insight into Canid behavior as whole (the entire Family) and to examine the evolution of dogs.

Maybe you just meant dogs in rural areas?

My experience is that they that gets to be a problem too. And it can cut either way. My Dad's wonderful dog, Lumpy, was poisoned by an adjacent farmer. We're pretty sure Lumpy didn't do anything "bad" but other dogs have and the guy sets out poison.

TerryH noted the depressing pictures of dead pets. I agree, it's depressing but it happens more often through stupidity or negligence than anything else.

I am frustrated with the people (many as it turns out) who say "I'll let nature take it's course", or "that's just the nature of the breed". Oh, REALLY? What exactly is natural about your domesticated "breed" "roaming" in your neighbor's yard or the local park? Nature is not at work here. Man's delusion about his dog as a wild animal is at work. You buy this domesticated cat, dog, bird...whatever. Treat it as if you are SUPPOSED to do the dirty work, and look out for it. Because that is what you signed up for. Act as if you are the "brains of the outfit", the one with the opposable thumbs, and an advanced cerebral cortex. The one with the car, the one who pays the vet bills to have your pet spayed or neutered, the one who gave it a name (what animal in nature ever gets a name?), and the one who is ultimately responsible for the kind of life it has. If you do your best to care for the animal, then you can say "oh what a surprise" when it suddenly dies, or a neighbor kills or shoots your dog or cat. Otherwise, you should have seen it coming.

no you have that wrong. Aussie love to herd things that move. they need a job. herding is man's attempt to control the natural hunting instincts of a Wolfe, to man's ends. if they aren't taught the correct way to herd they will make it up on their own. you cant herd cats

since you haven't given the dog a job yet, he has found his own.

my Aussie protects his fence line. but if my neighbor that he has an awesome relationship with, him comes by he just sits at the gate waiting to get a pat on the head.

Merle has yet to catch any of the animals that have wandered into his yard. but he sure tries every day.

Aussies need lots of exercise. get some animals he can herd and he will be much happier. i have heard people start them off on ducks, and move up to typical farm animals from there. agility is another exercise that will benefit both you and your dogs.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1217879203.jpg

Yup.

Bored dog.

not bored waiting for a snowball toss
off to find that peskily rabbit
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1217887495.jpg
unfortunately the look back Frisbee catch i have at my desk isn't digital

Meant Tims

ok. i usually have two hrs of play time every day after i get home to take care of.

My statement was misleading. I was not intending to mean feral dogs but was actually meaning pets as in walking pets off leash or playing games off leash; if they are trained to do so. I do that all the time in my neighborhood. It scares a few people to see someone playing with a dog off leash and I try to anticipate that and take precautions. But dogs do not typically "attack". That is all man made. I think most dog bites occur when the dog is chained up or in a fenced in area.

Many times walking my dog I have met others with dogs that seem to go nuts when they get close to another dog. The owner thinks that either his dog or mine is trying to start a fight. Every time you can convince them to unleash their dog they see that all his dog wanted was to run a little and play. That's good if you can control the dog off leash.

I had an English Pointer that was poisoned by a neighbor. Our dog lived on a farm and was let out during the summer 4 or 5 times each week. On one of those times someone took aim at him with the poison. I could never prove who it was but it was heart breaking.

Some people just don't like dogs. I respect that but not when they start poisoning them or otherwise abusing them.

I agree and I'm sorry to hear about the poisoning. I know how you feel. I take my Golden off leash a lot. The old lady next door keeps telling me it's illegal & I keep telling her it isn't. She does not realize I have a special card from a trainer allowing my dog to be off leash and the City ORd. specifically recognizes that.

But be sure you don't get cught by an over eager dog control person in your city.

As Paul pointed out earlier Oregon has a specific law re dogs harassing a farmer's animals. BUT it is limited an only applies to bona fide farmers and livestock.

Our county just requires that dogs be under voice control.

I'm not disagreeing with you guys, but are you sure your dogs were poisoned? We have been farmers in my family for over a hundred years, and I have to tell you, we have never poisoned any dog. It is incomprehensible. We have, however killed, shot and poisoned many gophers and rabbits. I know people put out poison for squirrels out behind my house about ten years ago when the squirrel population got out of control. I could see how a large dog, roaming around out there in the fields, could get hold of some poison by accident. But how heartless does a person have to be, let alone a neighbor, to poison your dog?

Want to see hatred? Get a Pit Bull.

mule you might want to clarify that. i know there are people on this board that might take that as a threat.

not me though...my neighbor has some Staffordshire/great dane mixes. they are great dogs but HUGE. 2 brothers that just wanna play all the time. and man are they fast. if they aren't on a leash and holding tight when the gate is opened they are 10 blocks away before you can run one. luckily they have come back every time so far. i bet it puts a scare into a few people but all they wanna do is go for a little run.

my Aussie was 3 when they came home as puppies and he showed them who was boss, not rough just was playfully with them till they started to tower over him. now 2 yrs later he tries to herd them, but they will have nothing of it. too much energy to corral unless they want to be.

I am in general agreement with your position but I'm sure you would agree it is not 100% true.

Wife, before we were married, was out for her daily walk. Neighbor had the sprinkler being worked on. Workers left a gate open. Neighbor got home, let her 2 GSD's out. They bolted right out of the yard, down the block and attacked my wife from behind. She never saw them coming. Still has the scars on one thigh.

The other issue is harm to the animal.

Year and a half ago hoped in the car with the wife and kids, goin out for Sushi.

Was raining a bit and dark so visibility was poor.

Ran head on into the dog that was running loose down the street. Had no time for any attempt to avoid it and actually would not even have tried as that would have put my family at risk.

We all felt the dog bounce around under the car.

Kids were traumatized.

Dog was dead.

Letting dogs run loose in an urban environment is simply selfish and irresponsible in so many ways.

Ours is not "bored", he swims on his own in the pond for often 30 minutes at a time, tries to catch bluegill, chases birds around the pond for ridiculous amounts of time, plays fetch or keep away the stick with me at least twice a day, chases the cats when he sees them in the open, chases rabbits from our yard, chases us in the kayak in the pond, hangs out in the hangar with me for a bit every evening for a wrestling/play session or two etc etc. At 2 1/2 yrs old, he is in perfect shape. No I did not train him to herd sheep, but he knows what NO, DOWN and SIT means as did the other dogs I have owned for 30+ years. He gets attention every morning and evening by myself and my daughters. We live in the country in our house, the dog (and cats) lives outside in his doghouse. He gets shots, heartworm pills and shaved once in the summer. If he ever gets deathly ill, he will likely get a bullet by me rather than thousands of dollars at a vet.

Such is life where and how I grew up and now live. YMMV ;)

I've had folks petting my dog while he's wiggling & licking. They're saying how pretty & sweet he is. Then they ask what he is. The two words, Pit Bull freeze them. Some get over it & tell me how surprised they are that he's so sweet. others stop & walk away. I've had numerous conversation with "All Pits should be killed" type idiots." I know the dog comes with extra responsibility & I accept that.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/clap.gif

shoe's one the other paw
 

Wild dogs killing wild things is understandable. Pet dogs killing wild things is understandable.
Pet dogs killing wild things while their owner stands by is not. I confronted a "trailer trash" pit bull owner who goaded his leashed dog on after the dog had gone onto private property (off the sidewalk) and grabbed a young possum. Unfortunately I arrived too late to save the possum. I was irate; the guy at first thought I was friendly and offerred the comment: " Hey, ny dog just got rid of a possum for ya." Hearing my angry protest, he dropped the friendly veneer and starting cursing and threatening. But, since I had my five cell mag light, backed off when I told him to. Lucky for both of us...

Heaven help the dog and/or owner should my beloved cat be attacked. No three strike rule here... At the very least the dog would step off the planet.