Flock Guards And Herding Dogs In Wyoming

Sheep herders in Wyoming are using Great Pyrenees / Akbash crosses to guard against predators (cougar, wolves, coyotes). I have heard of these crosses, but it is awesome to see a real picture of one.

They are also using Border Collies to herd the sheep. 

Elephant Butte Is Full Of Elephant Bull....

"Own a vicious dog like a pit bull and live in Elephant Butte and you must carry special liability insurance"

Don't you love biased reporting like that?

A vicious dog is one that is wildly dangerous. A rabid dog would be vicious. It would be indiscriminate in who or what it would attack, and is mentally unstable. There is NO valid justification for calling any dog breed "vicious". It isn't factually correct.

But, there will always be places like Elephant Butt, I mean Elephant Butte, NM, that will pass unconstitutional laws. I can't wait for them to be sued in court, because this little town will go bankrupt, and we'll then be able to make those politicians there get a real job.

Man Saves Dog From Robbers

I've heard about increasing numbers of dog thefts in the past 5 years. It has gotten to the point where criminals will openly confront a person walking their dog, and then rob them of their dog.

"A Jersey City man snatched his dog back from robbery suspects who opted to take his pet when he told them he didn’t have any money"

There really isn't any good answer for this kind of thing other than to move to a different town. We all know that some places have lower crime rates than others. It should always be important that you live somewhere safe, for yourself, your family, your kids, and your dog.

I linked to this story which demonstrates just such a holdup. Suspects have been arrested and the dog is safe. But, it could have turned out much worse, for both the dog and the owner.

UPDATE: Dog Attack In London Injures 5 Police Officers

Now, we have the rest of the story...

A musician suspected of being a violent kidnapper has been charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act today after five police officers were allegedly mauled by his dog during a raid.

More thoughts:

1.) I still think the reporting of the original story was faulty and sloppy. Dog lovers have become skeptical of dog attack stories because so many of them have been faulty.

2.) This is a tragedy for the police and their families. They do tough jobs that no one else is willing to do.

3.) It appears they did the raid without being armed. So, they had to call in for backup to come in and kill the dog. In the US, there's no way the police would have gone in to get a violent kidnapper without being armed. If they had been armed, then this wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as it did.

4.) This dog is also a victim. It died doing what it was taught to do.

5.) If this guy is found guilty, he should go to prison for a very long time. But, it is the UK, so he might just be let off with a warning and given a new place to live with subsidized rent and free food.

Working With Rescue Dogs

I have worked with many rescue dogs. I have always volunteered my time and services for rescue. I couldn't just train dogs and also not give back.

Here is the story of "B", a rescued Australian Shepherd mix I worked with. The dog was found running loose on an Arizona Indian reservation. He started out untrained, fearful and aggressive. Today, he is a great pet, and is safe with strangers and guests. Here is how I did it... 

Now We Get The Rest Of The Dog Bite Story

So, earlier, we got the story that some police officers were attacked by a "pit bull" type of dog. I criticized the story because it was incomplete. Now, we get a fuller picture:

1.) The dog had a history of attacking people before. But, apparently not much was done. If dogs are allowed to attack innocent people, there should be a process to determine if the dog should be removed from the owner. I'm not in favor of this most of the time, but if the dog is being allowed to be a menace to the neighborhood, if the owner has a criminal history, and if they won't restrain their dog after reasonable complaints and follow up have been done, then find the dog a new home.

2.) The dog had apparently mauled a bicycle rider in the past. The attack was severe. So, why wasn't anything done?

3.) The police went on a raid to find a suspected violent kidnapper and were mauled by the resident dog. They apparently were there to issue an arrest warrant, and broke down the door to a house in the process. It isn't clear from the article if the dog lived in that place or not. I'm not sure the dog or it's owner had anything to do with the kidnapping case. It looks to me like it was that the police officers were in the wrong place at the wrong time, in a neighborhood where the owner had previously allowed his dog to menace the neighbors. When the police broke down the door of one house, the dog escaped and attacked. That doesn't indicate a vicious dog, however. Any guard dog would be expected to attack a home invader. They aren't humans. They aren't going to distinguish between police officers and home invaders.

4.) The attack was very bad. "One officer had his arm broken between the animal’s jaws, while others had chunks of flesh torn from their legs and arms. Some will require plastic surgery, and one could lose several fingers."

5.) The dog is alternately described as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and in another paragraph, a mix of some kind of bull terrier and Doberman. From the blurry pictures, it appears to be some kind of bull terrier or mix. I have written before regarding why dogs like this typically attack. It would be useful to know what kind of life this dog has lived. Who names their dog "Poison"? To me, that says a lot. And now the dog is dead, shot to death by the police, and the 25 year old is under arrest.

6.) The neighbors have complained about this dog, but no one did anything. Apparently this dog was reported 3 years ago. And then there was the previous bike attack. Yet nothing was done. Why is that?

7.) The police say criminals are deliberately breeding "vicious" dogs to be used as weapons. I am guessing that is what they believe happened here. There is no such thing as people breeding "vicious" dogs... they might be breeding a certain type of dog, but such a dog is made vicious by how it is raised and treated. This is media hype, because the article insinuates that maybe Staffordshire Bull Terriers should be also banned in the UK. Note that this apparently wasn't a purebred dog. It was a mix. So, you can ban one dog, and another will take its place.

8.) Since no one followed up on the previous dog complaints, the police were apparently unaware that there was a dog at that home, and were unprepared for such an attack.

Severed Dog Heads Found In LA Trash

OK, this is pretty sick... and I hope they find out who killed these dogs.


When you find severed dog heads in the trash... I immediately think we are dealing with a budding serial killer

Why Do Police Shoot Dogs During Raids?

Five police officers were attacked by a dog during a raid by a "pit bull" type of dog. Apparently the injuries were serious for 4 of the officers.

My thoughts:

1.) A "pit bull" type of dog could mean anything. We've seen this before. It could have been any breed or any mix of breeds. I hate it when reporters do this kind of reporting. They had the ability to find out who did the raid (police), what they were doing (a raid), where they were doing it (London), what happened to the police (4 injured seriously, one somewhat injured), who was arrested (a 20 year old man)... yet the focus of the story, the main point of the story... about a dog that bit them... we know next to nothing and apparently no effort was made to figure out anything about the setup, what kind of dog, what was the setup for the dog bite, what happened to the dog, and so forth. It's just lazy, sloppy reporting. 

2.) If strangers break into your home with violent intent, and that is what the police officers did, then this dog didn't do anything wrong. The bites, though unfortunate, were justified. I hope this dog gets a good pat on the head, and if it has a stable temperament, is adopted by someone else.

3.) If you are a criminal, your dog isn't going to stop the police. Most times, the police come in and shoot all the dogs in their way. The dogs die because of your criminal activities.

If A Dog Bites Another Dog, Will He Bite A Child?

If a dog has bitten another dog, does that indicate that the dog will be dangerous with a child? If a dog has tasted blood, does that make the dog vicious? Are pit fighting dogs more dangerous with kids? What are the things you should consider when deciding if a dog is going to be safe with your son or daughter?

Akbar The Great

Akbar the Great, a Moghul emperor of India during the 16th century, was known to have had 1,000 Cheetahs which he used to hunt antelope for sport. Cheetah have been used much like greyhounds for centuries, and were tamed to do that type of hunting. The sport of Cheetah hunting continued on until the middle part of the 1900's.

Why Do Coyotes, Foxes And Wolves Attack Dogs?

We regularly read stories of wild canines attacking dogs. Coyotes, foxes, wolves and even the Dingo will attack dogs. So, what is all that about, and what can be done to prevent it? What about using guard dogs to fight back against wild canines? What about hunting them? What if you are a rancher?

Homeowner's Insurance And Dogs

The Insurance Information Institute in Washington, D.C., reports dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims paid in 2010, costing nearly $413 million. In an effort to get a handle on the costs, some companies include "dangerous dog" clauses in their homeowners policies that effectively place certain breeds on a "blacklist," meaning the insurer won't cover a home containing those breeds.

Insurance companies have no idea how to limit their exposure regarding dog bite claims. So, their solution has been to ban coverage for certain breeds. However... how's that been working out for them? Not so good. Claims are rising, not falling.

It's time to change a lot of things, but those things don't include breed bans. They don't work, and as you can see, the costs keep on rising. You'd think insurers would be a smart bunch, but I can't see how that claim can be made here.

There are better approaches to deal with this kind of thing that could dramatically reduce the costs... But, hey, why ask a dog trainer?

Using Dogs To Detect Oil Spills

Shell Oil is training dogs to sniff out spilled oil beneath snow, ice and frozen beach sediments.

What a great idea!! There are many uses for dogs. This is something that we can't so easily duplicate with technology. And it is cheaper to use a dog than to develop a special sensor that can work in rugged, subzero environments.

Of course, Greenpeace says it is impossible for dogs to do this kind of thing. What a bunch of loons. Dogs were used 50 years ago to detect leaking natural gas, before companies used that rotten egg smell, in deeply buried pipes. The dogs could detect the leaks, and then the pipes could be dug up and fixed. Greenpeace says this because of political motives, not because they have any science to back up their ridiculous claims. If arson dogs can be trained to find chemicals used to start fires, petroleum products I might add, then they can easily sniff out oil leaks. It is a no brainer, except for those with no brains. It is one thing to have a cause, a belief in something, it is another to make up lies just to get your way. When your lies are exposed, you look stupid and it hurts your cause.


In fact: "The dogs – border collies Jippi and Blues, and dachshund Tara – were able to pick up the scent of oil up to 5km downwind of a spill."

Pack Of Wolves Attack Dog In Jackson Hole

A pack of wolves attacked and injured a dog in the Jackson, Wyoming. Now, the US Fish and Wildlife services plans to capture and kill them. Seriously? Does that make any sense at all? If you live in a wilderness area, then deal with living in a wilderness area.

Wolves are territorial, and they will kill wolves (and other canines) that intrude. It is their instinct to protect their food source and their young. They will also attack and kill other animals to eat them. That's what predators do. I don't think it is right to kill wild animals that are doing what they naturally do. This isn't like going after a rabid wolf, we are talking a healthy pack doing what healthy packs do.

Why, oh why, do we need all these governmental bureaucracies and all their pinheads? Something needs to be done. And the public needs to man up and accept that life in the wilderness requires you to protect your pets, not the government.

Cities Limiting The Number Of Dogs You Own

So, listen to this garbage...

“They smell. They bark. They have excrement,” explained attorney Jeff Gold, who fully supports laws limiting pets.

Well, armpits also smell, people talk, and they have excrement, too. How about outlawing that, too? Sounds like a dog hater to me. And even if the guy loves dogs, I think anyone that would make this kind of statement is also the kind of busybody that I wouldn't want to live around. I think we all have had enough of the Nanny State in our lives, we don't need any more fussbudgets messing with our right to own a dog. And I've had about enough of lawyers, haven't you?

Here is a woman that moved into a town that only allows you to own 2 dogs. But, she has 4 dogs. So, she is moving. Good. That is what she should do.

There are always reasonable limits to everything in life. And we can all have our opinions about what is that amount. But, laws should also have a reasonable basis, sometimes with science to back it up. I would bet that a 2 dog limit could be challenged in court on Constitutional grounds and defeated. But, who has that kind of money? Pit bull advocates challenged laws on Constitutional grounds and won on that basis as well, challenging the definition that pit bulls were inherently vicious. That just didn't stand up in court.

Anyways, if you are a dog hater, then move to Wausau, Wisconsin. It would be interesting to see how full their animal shelter is, and how many dogs are put to death in that community because of the 2 dog limit. I think they are a bunch of losers, and they all deserve one another.

Eva Mendes Babysitting Ryan Gosling's Dog?

To convince her beau of six months she's serious, Mendes, 38, offered to babysit his beloved dog

Well... maybe. I never really believe these types of stories. I know that celebrities have press agents, and they will put out stories to get their clients faces in the news.

I also never believe in doing things to prove your love to someone. It is a losing game. They either love you for the right reasons or they don't. The chemistry is there or it isn't. Pathetic gestures to prove your love lower your attractiveness to a potential mate, and also degrade your self image.

Dogs That Guard Property

Are all dogs territorial? What can you do about dogs that won't stop barking when guests arrive? What about dogs that guard your car? What makes a dog watch for strangers? And how do you make things better for yourself and your guest, and prevent attacks on innocent people or animals?

What Is Babesia In Dogs?

Here is a dog rescued from a pit fighting operation. The dog was in terrible condition, in life threatening condition. We all know that pit fighting is cruel and illegal. But, this caught my eye:

"But when Julep was made available for adoption, the agency found she had Babesia, a common infection in dogs used for dog fighting, as well as hemolytic anemia"

So, I looked it up. Babesia is a protozoan parasite transmitted typically by fleas. It has a lot of very bad, life threatening effects.

As you must be aware, those that fight dogs don't love dogs. The people that fight them are criminals. They hide like cockroaches, and do their brutalities in hidden places. Those that glorify pit fighting are the useful idiots that perpetuate this kind of barbarity.

Why would pit fighting dogs get a tick borne disease like this? Well, it should be obvious that dogs that are kept as pets don't normally get this kind of thing. So, you can guess the kinds of filthy conditions these dogs are subjected to, with no medical care, and no one treating them with any kind of dignity.

Should K9 Police Officers Get Paid Overtime To Care For Their Dogs?

K9 police dog handlers are saying they want to be paid, not only for their work during shift hours, but also for the time they spend caring for the police dogs after hours.

So, a lawsuit has been filed for back pay.

I really don't know if this suit has legal merit or not. What does the employment contract and the law say? I don't know. But, I will say this... I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here. You take the job, the care of the dog comes along with the job. You could have turned down the job. Many jobs don't have set hours, and you don't get paid for what you do during that time. Most business owners, and most commissioned salespeople, bring their work home with them. They work on holidays, they work on days off, they work early in the morning, late at night, and wake up in the middle of the night to take care of things, too. So, I really don't feel sorry for people that have a job.

I remember being unemployed (I've been self employed for most of my life). The feeling sucks. It is better to have a job. If you can't work something out with your employer, then get a different job. I'm not a big fan of taking people or businesses to court. It's a waste of life energy.

And in this economy, it is better to be one of the 80% with a job. And public servants need to recognize that private citizens are paying the bills, and if they are strapped for money, working long hours, and not being paid for the things they do for work after hours, they aren't going to be too sympathetic about your case.

So, if you are a police dog handler, and you want to be paid for off duty work, then I guess it's your right to sue for it. That doesn't mean you'll get it. And if you win the money, it might cause the K9 program to be eliminated because the city is strapped for funds. So, you'll get your raise, but lose your job, and you'll be labelled as a troublemaker for future employment. That's just the reality. It might not be fair, but that's the way the world works.

Yes, People Do Steal Dogs

Dogs are stolen all the time. They are sometimes stolen to be resold for drug money. Sometimes they are stolen to be used as bait dogs for illegal pit fighting criminal operations. Sometimes, they are stolen because someone covets what you want and they want it themselves. Sometimes they are stolen for weird psychological reasons, such as by stalkers or those that want revenge on you or your dog. And sometimes they are stolen for ransom.

In this story, there was a police sting to try and capture criminals that stole a dog for ransom. According to the news report the owners put up a Lost Dog flier. They received a call saying that the dog had been found, but the person demanded $500. So, the police were called by the owners, a meeting was set up to exchange the dog for the money, but when it all came down, the police were there instead of the owners. The guy tried to run, but was caught and arrested, and apparently others were involved in the crime but these dognappers haven't yet been arrested or identified. The dog was found at this guy's place about a mile away.

Now, I have to give the normal boilerplate disclaimer: everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty. These guys could be innocent, right? OK, now that was said... if this guy and his buddies are convicted, then this deserves some serious prison time, don't you think?

Also, it is STUPID to leave dogs unattended in your yard. Especially if you have a cute or valuable dog. I've seen a lot more dognapping cases over the past 5 years. There are people scoping out your home and things every day. You need to realize that. If these people think they can get something of yours, they will try. Many times, stolen dogs never make it back home. They die along the way. Keep your dogs inside when you are away, OK?