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by Mindhunt on 03 October 2013 - 18:10
Not a rant about wealthy people, just stupid people who are clueless
I just got an email from my good friend and behaviorist/trainer who found out that a couple had purchased a female from the litter Isis and my friend's awesome male came from and were going to euthanize her because she "became too much work" (not the real reason). They apparently wanted a GSD because they "heard the breed was very protective and smart". They live in a very wealthy neighborhood with lots of property. They have never entertained the idea of the dog as a member of the family, she is a tool like their BMW. They have never socialized her, never trained her or had her trained. They open the door and let her out at night to "guard the property" and it does not have any fencing. Well she has now bitten a UPS man on the leg (no broken skin but a nice bruise) and a mail carrier was nipped (no broken skin and no bruise). My friend was asked by the county to evaluate her to see if she is salvageable (both UPS delivery person and Mail carrier were dog people and felt she was more fearful than aggressive because she slunk up to them after and rolled on her back with her tail between her legs and just lay there whining, but they had to report it). This is how she found out about this dog and her relation to our dogs. My friend found her fearful but with just a little consistency, reward, and patience, the dog is friendly and LOVES playing with other dogs. She is 8 years old and spayed but with a bite history, it looks doubtful she will be rehomed although we are trying hard to find someone. She was ruined by stupid people. She is darker in real life.
This is not the first time or the 10th time we have tried to save a dog that was in the hands of stupid clueless people. The one that sticks out most in my mind is the following.......
About 13 years ago, my breeder of Loki had a K9 trainer they knew purchase one of Loki's litter sisters. The K9 trainer was offered a considerable amount of money by a wealthy couple who wanted a "guard dog" and he sold her to them. Well they were completely clueless and when she acted like a puppy, they kept her locked in a crate in a windowless lightless room 24/7, only letting her out twice a day to potty. They said she was "destructive and too excitable, jumping and whining and a messy stupid dog" she would potty in her crate and they would leave her in it to teach her. When she would whine, they would go into the room and would rattle a tin can that had big bolts in it to "break her whining cycle" (read it in a book) or throw it at her. Next came the banging on a pot loudly right next to her head while the other one would bang on her crate. She would grab her tail and spin in the crate, whining when stress so they decided to use an air horn (the kind that come in a can) to blast at her while banging on her crate and screaming at her. Thank goodness after 2 years of doing this, they decided to call the breeder to get their money back because the dog was "broken". The breeder gave them their money back and took the poor wreck of a dog, calling her Tizzy. Well with lots of work on their part and help from the vet with tranquilizers during thunderstorms and July 4th, and carefully controlling her environment with gradual introduction of the outside world, they were able to calm her somewhat and eventually potty train her, she was a smart dog but became almost mentally disabled due to the treatment. When I saw her the 1st time, she was a broken dog for lack of a better description, grabbing her tail and spinning like mad until she was exhausted. She became this sweet dog that was damaged but able to control somewhat her need to spin when stressed. She also began to demonstrate her considerable intelligence but never to the level she would have been capable of if she was in a proper home. Her eyes when I first met her haunt me to this day.
As part of my doctoral program, I am currently providing therapy for the pervasive mentallyy ill who have more than one mental illness (trauma related). I have seen on more than one occasion how dogs (any animal for that matter) parallel humans in that abusive, cruel, or just neglectful treatment can cause them to develop behaviors that are considered mental illness in an attempt to cope with their environment. When the mentally ill are given humane and caring treatment with a supportive, calm, and secure environment, it is amazing what they are capable of. I hope that the litter mate of my dog finds such a refuge.
Rant done and thank you.........
I just got an email from my good friend and behaviorist/trainer who found out that a couple had purchased a female from the litter Isis and my friend's awesome male came from and were going to euthanize her because she "became too much work" (not the real reason). They apparently wanted a GSD because they "heard the breed was very protective and smart". They live in a very wealthy neighborhood with lots of property. They have never entertained the idea of the dog as a member of the family, she is a tool like their BMW. They have never socialized her, never trained her or had her trained. They open the door and let her out at night to "guard the property" and it does not have any fencing. Well she has now bitten a UPS man on the leg (no broken skin but a nice bruise) and a mail carrier was nipped (no broken skin and no bruise). My friend was asked by the county to evaluate her to see if she is salvageable (both UPS delivery person and Mail carrier were dog people and felt she was more fearful than aggressive because she slunk up to them after and rolled on her back with her tail between her legs and just lay there whining, but they had to report it). This is how she found out about this dog and her relation to our dogs. My friend found her fearful but with just a little consistency, reward, and patience, the dog is friendly and LOVES playing with other dogs. She is 8 years old and spayed but with a bite history, it looks doubtful she will be rehomed although we are trying hard to find someone. She was ruined by stupid people. She is darker in real life.
This is not the first time or the 10th time we have tried to save a dog that was in the hands of stupid clueless people. The one that sticks out most in my mind is the following.......
About 13 years ago, my breeder of Loki had a K9 trainer they knew purchase one of Loki's litter sisters. The K9 trainer was offered a considerable amount of money by a wealthy couple who wanted a "guard dog" and he sold her to them. Well they were completely clueless and when she acted like a puppy, they kept her locked in a crate in a windowless lightless room 24/7, only letting her out twice a day to potty. They said she was "destructive and too excitable, jumping and whining and a messy stupid dog" she would potty in her crate and they would leave her in it to teach her. When she would whine, they would go into the room and would rattle a tin can that had big bolts in it to "break her whining cycle" (read it in a book) or throw it at her. Next came the banging on a pot loudly right next to her head while the other one would bang on her crate. She would grab her tail and spin in the crate, whining when stress so they decided to use an air horn (the kind that come in a can) to blast at her while banging on her crate and screaming at her. Thank goodness after 2 years of doing this, they decided to call the breeder to get their money back because the dog was "broken". The breeder gave them their money back and took the poor wreck of a dog, calling her Tizzy. Well with lots of work on their part and help from the vet with tranquilizers during thunderstorms and July 4th, and carefully controlling her environment with gradual introduction of the outside world, they were able to calm her somewhat and eventually potty train her, she was a smart dog but became almost mentally disabled due to the treatment. When I saw her the 1st time, she was a broken dog for lack of a better description, grabbing her tail and spinning like mad until she was exhausted. She became this sweet dog that was damaged but able to control somewhat her need to spin when stressed. She also began to demonstrate her considerable intelligence but never to the level she would have been capable of if she was in a proper home. Her eyes when I first met her haunt me to this day.
As part of my doctoral program, I am currently providing therapy for the pervasive mentallyy ill who have more than one mental illness (trauma related). I have seen on more than one occasion how dogs (any animal for that matter) parallel humans in that abusive, cruel, or just neglectful treatment can cause them to develop behaviors that are considered mental illness in an attempt to cope with their environment. When the mentally ill are given humane and caring treatment with a supportive, calm, and secure environment, it is amazing what they are capable of. I hope that the litter mate of my dog finds such a refuge.
Rant done and thank you.........
by Ibrahim on 03 October 2013 - 19:10
Mindhunt, I find nothing good enough to say to you................... maybe Thank You will be good !!. Thank you
by Mindhunt on 03 October 2013 - 19:10
Ibrahim - I haven't heard from you in a bit, how are you and your pups? Thank you for what? I was just so fed up, guess this poor girl caught me on a vulnerable day...... 
by Ibrahim on 03 October 2013 - 19:10
I am fine and pups are great.
Well what you said above is very true. Here we have a lot of such people, I know of many stupid things people do to their pets, but I don't know how to tell things in a fantastic way like you did, thank you for the topic and for being able to write it down in such a lovely way, I enjoyed the reading till the last word
Well what you said above is very true. Here we have a lot of such people, I know of many stupid things people do to their pets, but I don't know how to tell things in a fantastic way like you did, thank you for the topic and for being able to write it down in such a lovely way, I enjoyed the reading till the last word
by Mindhunt on 03 October 2013 - 19:10
Thank you Ibrahim, that was kind and a needed boost . My friend just gave me the bad new that our dogs' litter sister is being euthanized. I can't take her because of my rental situation and quite frankly, my girl doesn't play well with other girls. My friend can't take her because she has multiple dogs and is laid up due to a broken ankle (dog related, the things we tolerate for our babies) and relying on friends to help her out.
. My friend just gave me the bad new that our dogs' litter sister is being euthanized. I can't take her because of my rental situation and quite frankly, my girl doesn't play well with other girls. My friend can't take her because she has multiple dogs and is laid up due to a broken ankle (dog related, the things we tolerate for our babies) and relying on friends to help her out.
by laura271 on 03 October 2013 - 19:10
I'm very sorry to read the sad news that she's going to be PTS. This will very likely happen in the (near) future to one of my dog's brothers. 
by starrchar on 04 October 2013 - 00:10
Reading these sad stories makes me feel physically ill. So many dogs suffer due to human stupidy and downright cruelty. I fault the owners for treating the dogs so poorly, but I also dont understand why a breeder would sell to people like this. I realize that sometimes it is difficult to read people, but when someone tells you they are purchasing a dog as a guard dog wouldnt that be a red flag?
by Hundmutter on 04 October 2013 - 03:10
Can I say "Thanks", also, Mindhunt ? These stories do not make
pleasant reading ('Tizzy' had me in tears), but they are a useful
reminder of the fact that there are indeed some very stupid dog-owners
on this planet. 'Charr, I agree we should all regard the "wanting a Guard
Dog" thing as a red flag, always have; I do wish breeders had some kind
of crystal ball where they could check out what puppy purchasers are really
going to be like / do to their dogs !
pleasant reading ('Tizzy' had me in tears), but they are a useful
reminder of the fact that there are indeed some very stupid dog-owners
on this planet. 'Charr, I agree we should all regard the "wanting a Guard
Dog" thing as a red flag, always have; I do wish breeders had some kind
of crystal ball where they could check out what puppy purchasers are really
going to be like / do to their dogs !
by starrchar on 04 October 2013 - 09:10
Yes, thank you Mindhunt for your caring and compassionate heart for these poor dogs, and for doing whatever you can to help them.
by fawndallas on 04 October 2013 - 10:10
My heart goes out to the dog. Please be assured that the dog will be in a more peaceful place, better than what anything or anyone can provide on earth.
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