canine rules

I know that I've posted in the past about my frustration with the lack of manners and respect that children seem to have nowadays. And now after going to the dog park a few times over here, I've realized that people aren't teaching their kids or their pets how to behave.

I don't have kids of my own, but as any pet owner can attest, my pets are the part of my "family." The picture is of us watching TV some night (yes, those are jammy pants, not what I wore to work).

So, here are some of my hints and/or gripes about people and their dogs:

1. Little dogs have as much right to the dog park as the big ones. Please teach your large dog how to behave around small ones and not to bite, nip or approach them with the teeth bared. Little dogs are not fetch toys.

2. And when little dog reacts to a larger dog behaving in a way as described in #1, don't blame the small dog for being pissed. It's like watching a teenager hit a toddler and blaming the toddler for "being three." Before you say anything about not letting them near big dogs, Reese and Kona are fine around them -- it's only when they are threatened that they react negatively (just as you would).

3. Don't tell me "sorry, he/she just doesn't like small dogs," and then let your dog come near us again. It's your dog that's out of line, so either put a muzzle on him/her or don't come to the public park.

4. Please don't pick up a dog obviously has a handicap without asking its owner first. And when she gives you permission and reminds you to "hold the back legs b/c they're weak," please do it because it's like holding a baby and not supporting its neck.

5. Even though you may have a 100 lb. German Shepherd at home, please teach your kids to gently pet small dogs, instead of thwacking them such a force that would get them in trouble if they touched you or their siblings that way.

6. When your dog pees on my disabled dog that can't move very fast, saying "Oh Carl, don't do that" in a tone that is similar to "Oh Carl, pink is just not your color" is not going to teach your dog how to behave.

7. I come to the dog park to let my dogs get some exercise and I enjoy watching them have fun. The last thing I need is to be interrogated by every person that walks by me. The truth is, it's really none of your business what happened to my dog, just like you probably wouldn't ask a parent at a park why their kid has a limp.

8. But if you just can't help yourself and ask because you want to make sure the same thing can't happen to your dog, and I respond with a one-word answer -- chances are you're the 10th person to have asked that same thing in the last 30 minutes and take it as a clue that I don't want to talk about it (one of my friends didn't believe how bad it was until she came with me once; I'm not exaggerating).

9. When approaching someone that has a dog with an obvious problem, the first words you utter should not be "was it just too expensive to have the operation to fix him?"

10. And when you have the nerve to ask the question, don't be surprised when someone like me says, "No, two different doctors in two different states said it wouldn't be worth the pain that he would have to go through for the surgery and rehabilitation, much like the choice you're going to have to make in a couple of years when your knees and hips blow out."

Being rude or inconsiderate to someone's pet is the same as behaving that way to the owner. I know many think that they're just animals and don't know any better, but they do and so does their owner. It's just a matter of having common courtesy-- something we don't seem to pay much attention to anymore.

And though it's not like I let this frustration consume me, I just need to vent out once in a while, and I still don't think it's anything that I should have to get "used" to. Why should we perpetuate the cycle of rude or irresponsible behavior by constantly excusing it?