Melanie Chang writes:

If someone's dumb enough to let
themselves get "sucker-punched"
by the dog they stupidly went up
and fondled without permission,
it's most likely death for the dog,
that's what's friggin' what.

Okay, let's all back track here a bit.

First, my "sucker punch" comment
was embedded fairly deeply in a
discussion of what goes on when
people who, as a matter of profession,
HAVE to handle MANY unfamiliar
dogs. What I was trying to convey
was that once in a great while, a
dog that is not giving off any
worrisome vibes will suddenly prove
to be significantly more difficult
than expected. Sometimes they
will even go so far as to bite. It
does happen, but it is rare enough
not to instill paranoia in most people
who work the "front lines" of handling.
Ask any groomer, vet tech, ACO, shelter
handler, boarding kennel employee, etc,
etc, etc. In point of fact, there are
gazillions of nips and even bites in
these contexts that, as a general
matter, don't spell doom for the
dog.

Now, two fair points that I should have
conceded (in one case) and been clearer
about from the get go: (1) There is a
big difference in what is proper "on the
job" versus out in the parking lot. (2)
As I semi-stated elsewhere already, the
specifics of Kelly's approach (ie "leading
with the face") IS several steps removed
from what can be considered proper
anywhere.

What wrankled (and wrankles me) is
the apparently widespread consent
with Jack's apparent contention that
this probably very brief and fluid
incident between a seasoned Pit Bull
person and what sounds like an utterly
typical Pit Bull was highly risky. It was
not risk-free, but nothing that Kelly
conveyed about the situation makes
it sound at all unlike what happens
zillions of times a day between people
less experienced than Kelly and dogs
less reliably accepting of strangers
than Pit Bulls.

JohnR
Pit Bull Libertarian

Never sneer at the power of a little
pink squeaky toy!

"John F Richardson" wrote in message
...


Now, two fair points that I should have
conceded (in one case) and been clearer
about from the get go: (1) There is a
big difference in what is proper "on the
job" versus out in the parking lot. (2)
As I semi-stated elsewhere already, the
specifics of Kelly's approach (ie "leading
with the face") IS several steps removed
from what can be considered proper
anywhere.

sorry, i should have stated that i let the dog smell my hand first (back
side up, of course), but it didn't really fit into the "flow" of the story.
silly me for worrying about writing style first.

-kelly

"John F Richardson" wrote in message
...


Now, two fair points that I should have
conceded (in one case) and been clearer
about from the get go: (1) There is a
big difference in what is proper "on the
job" versus out in the parking lot. (2)
As I semi-stated elsewhere already, the
specifics of Kelly's approach (ie "leading
with the face") IS several steps removed
from what can be considered proper
anywhere.

sorry, i should have stated that i let the dog smell my hand first (back
side up, of course), but it didn't really fit into the "flow" of the story.
silly me for worrying about writing style first.

-kelly

"John F Richardson" wrote in message
...


Now, two fair points that I should have
conceded (in one case) and been clearer
about from the get go: (1) There is a
big difference in what is proper "on the
job" versus out in the parking lot. (2)
As I semi-stated elsewhere already, the
specifics of Kelly's approach (ie "leading
with the face") IS several steps removed
from what can be considered proper
anywhere.

sorry, i should have stated that i let the dog smell my hand first (back
side up, of course), but it didn't really fit into the "flow" of the story.
silly me for worrying about writing style first.

-kelly

"Melanie L Chang" wrote in message
...

Kelly has 1.5 pit bulls and as far as I know is not "seasoned" in the
sense that you are.

uh, 1.75, thank you very much. Manu is adamant that he's no more than 1/4
lab.

and i guess working in breed rescue counts for nothing.

whatever.

-kelly

"Melanie L Chang" wrote in message
...

Kelly has 1.5 pit bulls and as far as I know is not "seasoned" in the
sense that you are.

uh, 1.75, thank you very much. Manu is adamant that he's no more than 1/4
lab.

and i guess working in breed rescue counts for nothing.

whatever.

-kelly

"Melanie L Chang" wrote in message
...

Kelly has 1.5 pit bulls and as far as I know is not "seasoned" in the
sense that you are.

uh, 1.75, thank you very much. Manu is adamant that he's no more than 1/4
lab.

and i guess working in breed rescue counts for nothing.

whatever.

-kelly