"DSK" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
Apparently, people can't help being people, either. Even the so-called
"good
dog owners" are usually skanks who have no business living within miles
of
other people.

Doug, you seem to be having a bad day. I'm sorry to hear it. If you're
going to be a pessimist, at least use it as a reason to be pleasantly
surprised more often.

Actually, I'm having a GREAT day, but mentioning dogs to me is like
mentioning skinheads to a survivor of the holocaust. :-) I'll admit, though,
that I have met ONE good dog in 20 years. Just one.


... Example: I was out working in the garden once when a guy
stopped to let his dog crap on my lawn where it meets the street. He had
the
equipment to pick it up afterwards, but as everyone knows, that doesn't
matter. Other dogs find those spots interesting because of the scent.
So, I
politely asked him to not stop his dog on my property in the future. He
said
he planned to clean it up. I said "Great, but even so, please don't stop
here any more". His next response was something like "That's some
attitude
you have toward your neighors", to which I responded "Would it be OK
with
you if I haul my trash cans down to your place and dump them on your
lawn?"
He said "That's not the same". My final comment was "If you'd like to
continue having a dog, you'll not stop here in the future". He didn't.
But,
why should anyone need to go through this hassle? He should've gotten
right
to the correct response to my request: "Sure...no problem".

To a large extent I agree, and don't let my dogs crap on other peoples
lawns indescriminately, but OTOH is it that big a deal? Did you get a
written guarantee when you bought your house that NO dog (or any other
living being, for that matter) would ever leave anything on your
property that you didn't want? Would you kill a dog, who was otherwise
better company and has more to contribute than most humans, just for
pooping on your lawn?

It's one thing to keep them on a leash. It's another thing entirely to argue
with the property owner over a simple (and totally valid) request. But, what
the hey. The world's full of slobs. Last night, at my son's high school band
concert, there was an entire family talking through the music. Adults.
Unbelievable. The principal finally led them out the door. WTF? Where do
people like this come from? We used to say they were raised in a barn, but
that's an insult to cows and pigs.


If it really is that big a deal, move to an exclusive no dogs allowed
neighborhood. They exist. Several of our neighbors want to outlaw dogs
in our neighborhood... they want to outlaw boats in the driveway, too,
and pass rules about what kind of Christmas decorations you can have.

Actually, I'll be moving outside the city a bit. Legally, you can liquidate
any animal which destroys food crops, as long as your method doesn't
threaten your neighbors, like shooting a .30 caliber rifle toward someone's
home, with no idea that the round's gonna travel for a long way.


We finally got a real dog catcher who behaves like a jack-booted thug.
After
the legally required third complaint, he doesn't even knock on the dog
owner's door - he just takes the dog if he sees it, and sends them a
letter
in the mail. Spooky. Nasty. Priceless. :-)

Sounds like a good deal, especially if he also rounds up unwanted cats.

No self-respecting cat would fall for animal control tricks. :-)

Doug Kanter wrote:
Actually, I'm having a GREAT day, but mentioning dogs to me is like
mentioning skinheads to a survivor of the holocaust. :-) I'll admit, though,
that I have met ONE good dog in 20 years. Just one.

Glad to hear you're having a GREAT day. Mine has only been mediocre. For
one thing, I'm having a hard time rounding up boat parts for a job I'd
like to complete Friday evening.

As for dogs, some people just plain don't like them. And some dogs are a
good reason to not like dogs. But IMHO most of them are better citizens
than most people. Dogs are intrinsically honest & pathologically loyal.
They reduce stress & the crime rate. It's unfortunate for people & dogs
both that our world is changing such that there is less & less of a
place for them, when about 20,000 to 125,000 (depending on how you try
to figure it out) years of evolution have fitted dogs for life within
our civilization.

Personally, I figure a man who cannot train a dog is not fit for the
higher stages of evolution, either, like owning weapons or driving
powered vehicles.



.... Would you kill a dog, who was otherwise
better company and has more to contribute than most humans, just for
pooping on your lawn?


It's one thing to keep them on a leash. It's another thing entirely to argue
with the property owner over a simple (and totally valid) request.

I've had property owners attempt violence just for walking my dog past
their house. In one case, a man and his wife who had newly moved into
our neighborhood both came out and screamed at me because my dog stopped
& sniffed at their mailbox. We have a neighbor who used to tease my dog
through our fence and then complain the dog barked at him.


... The world's full of slobs. Last night, at my son's high school band
concert, there was an entire family talking through the music. Adults.
Unbelievable. The principal finally led them out the door. WTF? Where do
people like this come from? We used to say they were raised in a barn, but
that's an insult to cows and pigs.

Yep. For some people "born in a barn" would be an improvement.


Actually, I'll be moving outside the city a bit. Legally, you can liquidate
any animal which destroys food crops, as long as your method doesn't
threaten your neighbors, like shooting a .30 caliber rifle toward someone's
home, with no idea that the round's gonna travel for a long way.

AFAIK there are similar laws in most states. If you want to get rid of
your neighbor's dog, tell the police and/or animal control that you
think he acts aggressive. Very little tolerance for that anywhere.

One of my friends had a neighbor sic a big Rottweiler on his dog when
they were out for a walk. He was reluctant to report the neighbor, whom
I think sounds like a psychopath.


Sounds like a good deal, especially if he also rounds up unwanted cats.


No self-respecting cat would fall for animal control tricks. :-)

Yes they would. Cats are hard-wired to respond in certain ways to
certain stimuli. All you have to do is know how they're programmed.

Dogs are programmed too, but they have an advantage in that they can be
re-programmed more easily & reliably; and to a wider variety of tasks.
It's no accident that the first behaviorist psychology research was on dogs.

Regards
Doug King

Marshall Banana wrote in message ...
Also Sprach Doug Kanter :
"Marshall Banana" wrote in message

Between the couch cushions. In our house, it's higly probable that the
cat could have eaten them.

That's some cat. Does it attack dogs? If so, can I rent it?

Actually, yeah, he does. Not necessarily successfully, but he HATES dogs,
and his flight-or-fight instincts seem to be permanantly wired to
fight. He's definitely not a wimpy cat, unlike his sister. I wasn't
kidding about eating the spools of fishing line either, he has a fetish
for any kind of stringy stuff. Wire, dental floss, fishing line, strips
of paper from the shredder, shoelaces, rubberbands, etc. all have to be
locked away.

Dan

Sounds alot like my tom cat. When I built my house, the woods behind
had some feral cats in it, they'd **** on my porch and such. They
slowly moved away, because my watch cat would run them off of his
territory.

"DSK" wrote in message
...

Glad to hear you're having a GREAT day. Mine has only been mediocre. For
one thing, I'm having a hard time rounding up boat parts for a job I'd
like to complete Friday evening.

Did you find the parts?


As for dogs, some people just plain don't like them. And some dogs are a
good reason to not like dogs. But IMHO most of them are better citizens
than most people. Dogs are intrinsically honest & pathologically loyal.
They reduce stress & the crime rate. It's unfortunate for people & dogs
both that our world is changing such that there is less & less of a
place for them, when about 20,000 to 125,000 (depending on how you try
to figure it out) years of evolution have fitted dogs for life within
our civilization.

Maybe. But, people often like to own dogs for which there is no place, at
least in an urban environment. Example: My ex's cousin had a border collie.
They behave as if they'd been injected with amphetimines first thing in the
morning. Good for rounding up sheep or keeping up with a kid on a bicycle,
but not a good breed to be locked indoors all day while the owners are at
work. So, I met my ex at this lady's house one day for dinner after work.
The previous day, I'd just picked up a REALLY expensive suit, and I was
wearing it. The dog came tearing through the house, leapt onto the front of
the suit before I could react, got its claws stuck in the outer chest
pocket, and removed the entire left front panel of the suit. The owner's
reaction: "Oh! Jackie's so happy to see you!". I kid you not. The owner was
NOT happy when my ex informed her that we were not rich, the the suit cost
$800.00, and that a check was expected. :-) And, the owner could never
understand why I would not be in the same room as her dog from that day
forward.


Personally, I figure a man who cannot train a dog is not fit for the
higher stages of evolution, either, like owning weapons or driving
powered vehicles.

Funny....I have the same opinion of people who can't grow lettuce. :-)


.... Would you kill a dog, who was otherwise
better company and has more to contribute than most humans, just for
pooping on your lawn?

If all else failed, then yes.


It's one thing to keep them on a leash. It's another thing entirely to
argue
with the property owner over a simple (and totally valid) request.

I've had property owners attempt violence just for walking my dog past
their house. In one case, a man and his wife who had newly moved into
our neighborhood both came out and screamed at me because my dog stopped
& sniffed at their mailbox. We have a neighbor who used to tease my dog
through our fence and then complain the dog barked at him.

Well, these people are just plain dumb. :-) But, the first couple may have
had some bad experiences in the past. Think about it: Let's say I step in
something left my someone's dog. Perhaps it takes me quite a bit of time to
clean off not only my shoes, but also the floor and carpet in my house. For
argument's sake, let's call it 4 hours, including the trip to the store to
rent the carpet shampoo machine. Hasn't the dog owner stolen my time, not to
mention my money?

The key is this: Some people have functional noses. Others enjoy the smell
of ****, although a few years with a good psychiatrist can usually solve
that problem.


One of my friends had a neighbor sic a big Rottweiler on his dog when
they were out for a walk. He was reluctant to report the neighbor, whom
I think sounds like a psychopath.

What was the guy doing? Using other peoples' dogs as test targets, in lieu
of burglars??? Your friend needed a handgun at that moment.

Glad to hear you're having a GREAT day. Mine has only been mediocre. For
one thing, I'm having a hard time rounding up boat parts for a job I'd
like to complete Friday evening.


Doug Kanter wrote:
Did you find the parts?

As of 5:30, no BUT after a couple hours stuck in traffic I found what I
hope will be a reasonable facsimile

...people often like to own dogs for which there is no place

Definitely agreed. And people train their dogs very stupidly... which
isn't really the dogs fault, but it doesn't mean you have to like them
afterward. As you can tell, I like dogs a lot in a general way, but
there are definitely ones I will not tolerate.


.....the owner could never
understand why I would not be in the same room as her dog from that day
forward.

You show admirable restraint. I'd have body slammed the thing. The owner
probably will never understand.


Personally, I figure a man who cannot train a dog is not fit for the
higher stages of evolution, either, like owning weapons or driving
powered vehicles.


Funny....I have the same opinion of people who can't grow lettuce. :-)

heh heh heh
agreed... I can grow lettuce... not to win prizes, but as a small town
Southern boy I am familiar with the rudiments of agriculture.


I've had property owners attempt violence just for walking my dog past
their house. In one case, a man and his wife who had newly moved into
our neighborhood both came out and screamed at me because my dog stopped
& sniffed at their mailbox. We have a neighbor who used to tease my dog
through our fence and then complain the dog barked at him.


Well, these people are just plain dumb. :-) But, the first couple may have
had some bad experiences in the past.

Or they may just be flaming jerks. Like some "folks" that hang out here.....

I say, they can scream at me about my dog, as long as I can react
similarly to their kids.

... Think about it: Let's say I step in
something left my someone's dog. Perhaps it takes me quite a bit of time to
clean off not only my shoes, but also the floor and carpet in my house. For
argument's sake, let's call it 4 hours, including the trip to the store to
rent the carpet shampoo machine. Hasn't the dog owner stolen my time, not to
mention my money?

I'd agree somewhat, thinking that it's not 100% the dog owners fault if
you track it in. Your shoes do come off, right?



The key is this: Some people have functional noses. Others enjoy the smell
of ****, although a few years with a good psychiatrist can usually solve
that problem.

You might like a cartoon I recently saw... a woman is talking to her
dog, who is looking at her quizzically: "Sit. Stay. Make up for
everything else that's gone wrong with my life."


Regards
Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
.. .

... Think about it: Let's say I step in
something left my someone's dog. Perhaps it takes me quite a bit of time
to
clean off not only my shoes, but also the floor and carpet in my house.
For
argument's sake, let's call it 4 hours, including the trip to the store
to
rent the carpet shampoo machine. Hasn't the dog owner stolen my time,
not to
mention my money?

I'd agree somewhat, thinking that it's not 100% the dog owners fault if
you track it in. Your shoes do come off, right?

You've never seen me on a day when I get into the garden work trance. I'm a
freight train. There could be a small child splattered on my t-shirt and I
won't notice until I peel it off at the end of the day. :-)