As a dog owner, here are 5 situations that freak me out

[hlthe2b]

2. Geebus. Are you sure you really want to be a dog owner?

I feel, personally, as a responsible dog owner that I have the requirement to teach others who know far less than I. And, if that means helping them socialize their animal, helping them identify behavioral problems and the best way to address them, encouraging them with respect to "GOOD" ways to show their appreciation for my and others' pups, and on and on, then I am absolutely fine with that.

I adore dogs, regret that there are "bad" dog owners, but feel that the majority are simply in need of education.

And, as for children, I NEVER fail to take time to put my pup in a "sit" for them to pat her under their parents watchful and approving eye. Otherwise they do NOT learn how to safely approach strange dogs and may become the very ones who will lobby AGAINST off-leash dog parks and other dog-friendly "perks". And, on that score, while I certainly do not condone anyone taking a known aggressive dog to the park (and have performed my share of breaking up pending fights), these parks do not belong solely to YOU. And, yes, that is the best place for pups to learn how to interact appropriately with other dogs. It behooves all of us to help them do so once they are safely through their initial post-adoption adaptation to new owner phase and have their vaccine-immunity well in place.

Tolerance... Not just for people....