[lit-ideas] Re: Can't have a gun? Get a dog
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 09:43:40 -0700
You may be misjudging Buddy. What you describe is what any well-trained
guard dog should do. He should prevent anyone from coming into the house
until someone further up the alpha-chain says it's okay. After the okay is
given the visitor is safe. Now whether Buddy would actually do anything if
you pushed the issue is debatable because so many large and potentially
dangerous breeds have had the "dangerous" pretty much bred out of them;
however, knowing something of the Bernese Mountain Dog's history might make
one wary of taking a chance:
From Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs, page 45: "The ancient Romans used
Bernese mountain dogs as fighting dogs and sent them into battle armed with
heavy iron-studded collars. Subsequently the breed became excellent
guardians of the herds especially in the hilly regions of Switzerland. They
are untiring, often unruly, resistant to the coldest winters, and excellent
defenders of stable or home. Because of their amenability to training, they
have also been used by the police. . . ."
Lawrence
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David Ritchie
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 9:12 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Can't have a gun? Get a dog
On Jun 1, 2006, at 8:09 AM, Omar Kusturica wrote:
> I've got to admit that I have always suspected the
> people who take big dogs to protect them of being
> cowards. Not sure about guns.
>
Sometimes the dogs themselves seem like cowards, or print union members
in the era of Harold Wilson. Our friends have a Bernese Mountain Dog,
about the size of a small bear. When you arrive at their door, he
barks like he wants to take your arm off. They call out, "The door's
open." You step in. The dog goes, "I'm only paid for the barking.
The actual preventing should be done by a skilled member of the United
Brotherhood of Attack Poodles. So I'm done." And he lies down and
goes he back to sleep. "Buddy" is his name and being very
friendly--after a diverting display--is his game.
An ideal combination, I suppose. All the signs of a house defender and
none of the danger that the dog will turn on you. I asked what they
were bred for. Carting cheese from here to there in the Alps, is what
I was told. Who knew there were cheese dogs?
David Ritchie,
Portland, Oregon
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