I know there are many rants about dogs owners, but I have to add my 2 cents and ask ...am I justified in being angry, or I'm I expecting too much?
We have had a lab for 7 years. She has had 3 planned pregnancies, and we had her spayed after her litter last year. No unwanted or unplanned breedings. We kept her daughter from last summer's litter, and she is currently going through her first heat cycle. We have very large yard, with an underground fence, which she respects. I keep her in the laundry room if we are not home, at night, or if she can't be supervised. The problem - is the neighbor's dogs! There have been at least 2, intact male dogs hanging around the house. I can't let my dogs in my own yard without putting them on a leash first. I know that at least 1 of them is travelling about a mile, and the owner lets him off his chain to run at night. The other is about 1/4 mile away, and we have had trouble with this dog before. Yes, I know - a female will draw every male around to the house when she is in heat - but shouldn't the male dog's owners be responsible for their dogs? I don't want to breed the dog at this point - plans are to do so in a few years after she turns 2, OFA certified, etc....I am a responsible breeder and have an excellent track record with breeding, placing puppies, training, etc., so please don't criticise me for not getting her spayed.
The bigger picture - we have free range chickens, and nigerian dwarf goats with babies. The goats are in a pen, and it is pretty well predator proof, but these dogs have also expressed an interest in the farm animals. They have been on my back porch chasing my cats, and fighting with my older female lab. I have explained to the one owner that we have the farm animals, and I don't want their dog here, because I don't want anything to happen to my birds or goats. They come get the dog, and it's back again within a few hours. Ironically, both of the males are labs, and they are nice enough dogs, but (*&^! I am about at my witts-end! I don't want to shoot the dogs, but believe me - it can and will be done if they get into my animals. I can't seem to get the owners to understand that they need to keep their animals at home.
I know, there are a lot of people who choose not to neuter, after all, they don't have to worry about their dog getting pregnant. But what about people that choose NOT to spay their females, and go to great lengths to be responsible breeders? What about the small farm animal owners that have to be on defense all the time to protect their animals? After walking BOTH of my dogs on leashes in MY yard last night and running stray dogs out of MY yard and away from MY goat pen, and breaking up dog/cat fights on MY backporch...I'm about ready to blow! The dog owners aren't getting the hint when I am nice, and I don't want to be a 'bitty' about it since I have to live near these people, but enough is enough!!!
We have had a lab for 7 years. She has had 3 planned pregnancies, and we had her spayed after her litter last year. No unwanted or unplanned breedings. We kept her daughter from last summer's litter, and she is currently going through her first heat cycle. We have very large yard, with an underground fence, which she respects. I keep her in the laundry room if we are not home, at night, or if she can't be supervised. The problem - is the neighbor's dogs! There have been at least 2, intact male dogs hanging around the house. I can't let my dogs in my own yard without putting them on a leash first. I know that at least 1 of them is travelling about a mile, and the owner lets him off his chain to run at night. The other is about 1/4 mile away, and we have had trouble with this dog before. Yes, I know - a female will draw every male around to the house when she is in heat - but shouldn't the male dog's owners be responsible for their dogs? I don't want to breed the dog at this point - plans are to do so in a few years after she turns 2, OFA certified, etc....I am a responsible breeder and have an excellent track record with breeding, placing puppies, training, etc., so please don't criticise me for not getting her spayed.
The bigger picture - we have free range chickens, and nigerian dwarf goats with babies. The goats are in a pen, and it is pretty well predator proof, but these dogs have also expressed an interest in the farm animals. They have been on my back porch chasing my cats, and fighting with my older female lab. I have explained to the one owner that we have the farm animals, and I don't want their dog here, because I don't want anything to happen to my birds or goats. They come get the dog, and it's back again within a few hours. Ironically, both of the males are labs, and they are nice enough dogs, but (*&^! I am about at my witts-end! I don't want to shoot the dogs, but believe me - it can and will be done if they get into my animals. I can't seem to get the owners to understand that they need to keep their animals at home.
I know, there are a lot of people who choose not to neuter, after all, they don't have to worry about their dog getting pregnant. But what about people that choose NOT to spay their females, and go to great lengths to be responsible breeders? What about the small farm animal owners that have to be on defense all the time to protect their animals? After walking BOTH of my dogs on leashes in MY yard last night and running stray dogs out of MY yard and away from MY goat pen, and breaking up dog/cat fights on MY backporch...I'm about ready to blow! The dog owners aren't getting the hint when I am nice, and I don't want to be a 'bitty' about it since I have to live near these people, but enough is enough!!!
