I "hear you". My husband has been bit by neighbors' darling dogs, for no reason at all. Once he was riding his moped. Another time he was just getting the mail at the end of our driveway. A third time he wasn't bitten, but was charged at by a German Shepherd baring his teeth and growling while we were taking a hike in the woods. Again, for no reason.

We also have sweet dogs in the neighborhood; usually the smaller breeds. They are always welcome here.

I think it all depends on the pooch.

Also , it depends on the owner. Some people feel their dogs can do no wrong.

We always had dogs of our own when the kids were young; some were crazy....others were not. They all have distinct personalities. We also had cats which are a lot easier.....with no complaints from neighbors.

We are now happily pet free; it's much easier to travel without worrying about the pets. With five grandchildren to keep up with, we are happy, just the two of us.

p.s. When our daughter and her husband visited in the past, they always brought two huge dogs which are known for their incessant barking. Now that the dogs are older and one has died, they no longer travel with the dogs and the cats. Our neighbors are grateful and have ceased calling to complain of the excessive barking, no matter if they are indoors or out on the back deck or on the front porch..........they always begin the complaint with , "We know you have company visiting, but
we just can't take it anymore".

These huge Tibetan Mastiffs have also knocked over my frail mother, knocked over my husband.......again while on a hike..........and no one says anything.

Anyway, we did take our own dogs to dog training school ; sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn't. Again, it depends on the pooch and the breed.

The ones I would avoid would be dobermans and pit bulls . We have read of so many of those attacking people for no reason at all.

Love these, Bare. Thanks for sharing.

okay

Ay carumba! That's scary! A reminder to all of us not to venture too closely to the ponds with your appetiz.... oops, I meant to say little doggies.

This is probably the most amazing post I've ever read on TOTV. Wow. :ho:

Glad you both bounced back from that ordeal.
 

My dog is staring at me trying to get me to turn off the thunder and lightning. Sounds like you did something like this for Bounce.

Great sayings.........

Here's a mystical thought.........we were told that our "grand puppies" who grew into those two massive Tibetan Mastiffs who ruled the home, were bred originally to "protect" the temples and the monks (in Tibet).

This would be why they would sprawl straight across the bottom of the staircase.......or across the threshold of the doorways or at the top of the steps near the bedroom hallway...........they were protecting us.
This is what we were told. It was difficult, to say the least, for anyone to step OVER them, impossible to go around them.....they just wouldn't budge as they were guarding our temple.

I would guess this is also why they barked incessantly.

We had free spirits of our own , with the two Irish Setters........
I could write a book about them....

Again, great post.

Try This!
 

Lock your dog and your wife in your car trunk for 30 minutes. Open the trunk and see who's happy to see you....


A life without a dog is diminished.

***For the Golfer guy who was in Iowa, Kentucky, etc. I'm from Iowa City and went the same route via Army Airborne.

You are right. The word is out. I have been contacted by the Sentinal as well as TV and radio. The Villages reporter was excited about it. Then her editor squashed the story. I guess they thought it might hurt sales of houses next to water.

:faint:

Please keep us posted when this will come out. :024:

Where did this happen at? Which village did it take place at? What time of the day was it? Did anyone help you or you by yourself?Love to hear more about this. Is it in any of the newspapers,television or radio? Did you contact the police or community watch regarding a killer gator? Tell more.

I think someone is pulling on OUR back leg.

When I first read the story, I thought it was posted by a Troll. But then PT seemed to know the people involved, Post #40? PT, are you messin' with us? :confused: Whatever, it's a great story!

We briefly considered a community in the Keys, but we would have had to cut Crosby in half. And then declare each half eight pounds overweight...

Pets are not pets anymore; they're family members. Even most motel chains have acknowledged that. So has the medical community acknowledged the benefit of owning a pet. I personally have trouble warming up to people who don't care to have a pet.

Pulling the gators leg. Villages man saves dog: Villages grandfather saves dog from jaws of gator - Orlando Sentinel

It was at 1177 Harley Circle The Villages, FL 32162 Google address for map.

Great video. Lovin Bounce. What a brave man. Sheesh. Hope I would have the gumption to jump a gator in the lake if he got one of our dogs...oh wait.. That's why we made sure we had no water out back except the pool. :)

That's hysterical, and I'm the wife.

WELL...I'll be danged. It WAS a true story.

We seniors are incredible. Bounce you are a lucky dog.

Just saw the story on the news. The gator was killed by wildlife officials. He is to be stuffed and will be at the front of the mans house.

Great story, not sure I would have the courage to do what he did. Steve and I would LOVE to have a dog, we both had dogs at one point and there is nothing like the love and loyalty you get. Right now it would be selfish to have one since we are both working long hours but maybe when we get down there. The only drawback is the ability to just go on vacation whenever we want. In the meantime, the cats will have to do. It's funny, neither of us were 'cat people' but we have really formed a bond with the two we have.

Unfortunately, NOT......

Villages man saves dog: Villages grandfather saves dog from jaws of gator - Orlando Sentinel

This is really an incredible story. Lucky Bounce to have such a brave and loving Dad!

You are so modest and humble in recounting your story, whereas it must have been quite a harrowing experience. You are a true hero. That pooch will be forever devoted to you and you deserve your new moniker of "Gator Gus". What an adorable pet.

For those with us with grandchildren and babies among that mix, toddlers, etc., it serves as a cautionary tale that there are alligators in those ponds.

When we'd take our teenaged children (at the time) to Sanibel Island which is known for their Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve, alligators abounded, yet the owners of the rental houses would pooh pooh it.
Better had we known how many there actually were and where they roamed (out of water)........but they didn't want to hurt the tourism.

We'd walk on the beach even.......and see the gators along the edge near the trees, sunning themselves........our daughter would warn her dad NOT to go up so close as they could SPRINT REALLY FAST.......Did he pay attention?? Of course not. When he'd take them canoing in the Ding Darling Preserve, there would be snakes hanging from the trees and I'm certain the alligators were in the water...........plus when we'd walk through the high grasses to get to the beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Gives me the willies even thinking about it.

I just sent your story (Orlando Sentinal which I read every morning) to all my adult kids and such.......

In ending, we were very naive in our twenties when we lived for one year on the east coast of Florida.......during the heat of summer, early a.m., we took our 2 year old and 5 year old to a lake (more like a pond) nearby for a picnic........knowing we'd have to go back to our house before the heat of noontime, we held their hands and waded into the lake.........then packed up the car and left.

One week later, we read in the newspapers that a teenaged girl had been attacked and killed in that same lake/pond by a large gator..........we just weren't aware of the alligators at that time. After that, we knew. GLAD YOU ARE SAFE and the pooch as well. You will become the new alligator hunter in your neighborhood at TV, for sure.

Love the DOGS! Not crazy about the owners!

His screen name is "GatorGus" wonder if he came up with that name before or after this happened? Wow all of this in just his 2nd post? Boy what are the odds.

So I guess we know where Steve stands in the poll on dogs.

I agree whole heartedly.
I wish I was more like my dogs are all the time.

:doggie: Puppymomma

Tadpole in training.

Yes!

The more peopled I meet the better I like my dog.