Hi peeps! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

As most of you know, I spent the holiday at my in-laws home in Las Vegas (Pahrump, actually). May I just take a moment of the boards time to express my gratitude to be home!! Not only was playing musical dogs rather stressful but the mentality behind it was excruciating!

I was told my dog was too obsessed with me, which wasn't healthy (although their dogs were doing the same thing and freaking out every time one of them left a room) because he showed loyalty and followed me around everywhere.

I was told my dog was a monster because he showed aggression (and scared the !@#$ out of everyone when THEIR dogs were aggressive towards my dog) Interesting though, up until this weekend I never felt my dog a threat to anyone. On occasion I thought that he was just too sweet for ppd work. Boy, did that change. I saw a dog that was downright vicious when it came to protecting me. A dog that sat in front of me at all times facing out at everyone until he felt completely comfortable concerning them. It was a real eye opener. Don't get me wrong, I have always been very serious when it comes to the training of my dog. I have never taken it lightly but this weekend something came out in my dog that showed me that my sweet little boy could certainly back it up if he had to. It very much put it into perspective that to have a dog with so much power, so many teeth and so protective would put me into a frame of mind that must stretch outside of my immediate surroundings and always be aware of what might be coming my way.

I was told that to feed my dog RAW was uneducated and "old fashioned" and dangerous and bad for the dog. Although the comments on his beautiful teeth abounded until they asked how often I brushed his teeth and I said "every time I feed him a juicy raw bone'

I was told that my dog was a pitiful creature for having me as a "parent" and that I was cruel to "lock" him up in a kennel.

I was also told that I cared more for my dog than my family. Now how can I care more for my dog when I was being so cruel and old fashioned?????

Man! It's good to be back where people understand me and believe as I do. Someone made a statement in another post about someone wanting an "extended family" in their forum but I'm telling you, that is exactly what you guys are to me! A family of friends that 'get it'. I'm just glad it's over and I am out of that hostile environment. Don't get me wrong, I love my in-laws but to watch them feed their dogs cooked rice and chicken everynight with commercial bisquits for snacks and to see those animals so neurotic with anxiety and fear biting issues, all over the beds, couches, laps of their people was almost just too much for me to take.

Thank heaven for Leerburg, it's people and all the "no nonsense" training I've received here.

P.S. I was really disappointed that I didn't get to hear "if you feed him raw meat he will be aggressive" I might have said "we only feed raw dog on occasion" ROFLMBO!!
Oh well, maybe next time, lol

 Quote: robbinmann

P.S. I was really disappointed that I didn't get to hear "if you feed him raw meat he will be aggressive" I might have said "we only feed raw dog on occasion" ROFLMBO!!
Oh well, maybe next time, lol

AMEN. I heard it enough times for several of us.

Sounds like a stressful holiday for everyone!! I know what you're talking about though. My family is like that with dogs, have them, don't really understand them and seem to always have problems with them, either behaviour or health. It's even harder when you tell a family member not to do something with your dog and they look at you like you're nuts!

 Quote: robbinmann

I was told my dog was too obsessed with me, which wasn't healthy (although their dogs were doing the same thing and freaking out every time one of them left a room) because he showed loyalty and followed me around everywhere.

I actually find this to be a bit of jealousy on peoples part. When you have a dog that is obedient and in tune to the handler/owner, people tend to want that out of their dogs. And, instead of inquiring and learning how to do it, they make comments like this.
My family tends to be the same way.

My dogs are part of my family, however, they are treated like dogs and not people and that seems to be one of the most difficult things for most "pet" owners to come to grips with.

Your doing just fine Robbin, don't let em getcha down.......

 Quote: carol boche

 Quote: robbinmann

I was told my dog was too obsessed with me, which wasn't healthy (although their dogs were doing the same thing and freaking out every time one of them left a room) because he showed loyalty and followed me around everywhere.

I actually find this to be a bit of jealousy on peoples part. When you have a dog that is obedient and in tune to the handler/owner, people tend to want that out of their dogs.
My dogs are part of my family, however, they are treated like dogs and not people and that seems to be one of the most difficult things for most "pet" owners to come to grips with.

Your doing just fine Robbin, don't let em getcha down.......

Totally agree, Carol. (surprise, surprise ) I can't count the number of times I've been told my dog and I are too attached (Caleb) or that he "knows too many commands" or that I shouldn't kennel him and should let him sleep in bed , or that he's too thin, etc. etc. I do think there's a hint of jealousy involved b/c we have a great, close (mind-reading almost) relationship, and he does things that most dogs would not do w/out force or bribery, just because I asked him to. I have gotten this from not only moronic family, but also from egotistical sport people who value how their dog "explodes" on the field more than their relationship w/their dog. They think I've "ruined" him for sport b/c he's too close to me, and looks to me for everything. Oh, and he's far too well-behaved. Obedience=bad, bad, bad! Um, I don't DO sports....but anyway...

Robbin, for a PPD, I think you WANT this relationship. You want him paying that much attention to you, and being in tune w/you. You want him to stick around if need be in a real situation. Dogs like they're describing will head for the hills. Don't listen to anyone when it comes to you and Levi. Their dogs are all corn-fed eunuchs.

I LOVE MY FAMILY. My family so 'gets it' when it comes to dogs...it made the holiday really nice and peaceful. We had three large and dominant dogs ( one of whom is VERY dog aggressive)all in my sister's apartment with no incidents or near incidents.

So sorry that you had to endure such craziness Robbin; it sounds like a whole boat-load of 'not fun'. I can't even imagine; my head would explode. I wouldn't have been a very popular house-guest in similar circumstances, I think. At the very least they should have had enough respect for you to keep comments to themselves; you ARE the one that knows what you're doing, after all. Your dog sounds awesome.