www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Priests Dobermans and Homeowners Insurance

Have you kept big dogs before?

Hi Alice:

I discussed this with someone once. He said that sometimes the brain of a doberman grows too large for its head and that is why they have a reputation for 'snapping'.

This is a myth that has been bandied about for years. It is not true. There are times when dogs will flip out because they have a brain tumour which causes pressure on the brain but this can happen with any breed.

In Christ:
Converted Viking

In Christ:
Converted Viking

Deacon Borislav,

Don't worry about your post becoming political. First of all, from your description, I quite understand why you would want a doberman. For what it's worth, my dad always wanted one, but the rest of his family (including me, probably) just used to 'make fun' of him for it. But now I understand him and his reasons much better, so I repent of having anything against dobermans!

As for ConvertedViking, thank you for your response. I don't want either you or DB to think I was suggesting you might be pastorally insensitive for thinking it was alright for a cleric to have a doberman (or other such breed). I still can not help but wonder, though, why, when dogs like Pit Bulls were bred to fight, they still have appeal today. I know that is a subjective position; it's just one I can not shake. Having said that, I can't discount the sincere appreciation some people have for their breed - especially when that breed takes good care of them.

Hello Father Deacon:

Finally the Doberman looks really cool! I know that may sound a bit shallow, but YES I love the sleek and muscular look of the dog. The Mercedes of dogs so to speak...


Ah yes I can see it now. Father Deacon in his black riasa and aviator shades with a big black Doby at his side. Very cool.

So protection, looks and the fact that it is a good family dog...

Does that make sense?

Most certainly.

In Christ:
Converted Viking

HEHEHE

Exactly!

Don't forget the cowboy boots!!!

Hello Slavophile



As for ConvertedViking, thank you for your response. I don't want either you or DB to think I was suggesting you might be pastorally insensitive for thinking it was alright for a cleric to have a doberman (or other such breed). I still can not help but wonder, though, why, when dogs like Pit Bulls were bred to fight, they still have appeal today. I know that is a subjective position; it's just one I can not shake. Having said that, I can't discount the sincere appreciation some people have for their breed - especially when that breed takes good care of them.

No problems here. The appeal to these breeds is that they are extremely loyal and will die protecting their owners and family's before letting any harm come to them. As for the Pit Bull, it is their fighting spirit that gives them the good qualities that they have. They must be managed correctly though and this is where one must have the knowledge of the breed and the dog handling skills. A bit of history here, the Rottweiler once upon a time was known as the Butchers Dog and was used to pull a cart full of meat from slaughtered animals. Legend has it on the return trip the purse of money from the transaction was placed around the dogs neck, no one in his right mind would try to rob the owner.

In Christ:
Einar

Sorry. I guess it is obvious by now that I am nuts about dogs, especially the big scary ones.

Seriously, I just get bent out of shape when certain breeds are singled out as being nasty mean killers by the media. I try to be an advocate for these breeds.

In Christ:
Einar

No problem here. I actually agree with every word you are saying.

As much as I ADORE dogs (though admittedly not all breeds), I see that some are getting very defensive here about them so let's remember something a priest said on an Orthodox forum I look at: animals are animals and God has given man dominion over the animals, so we should avoid 'sentimentality' when relating to them because that can be sinful.

In Christ,
Alice, Moderator

Dobermans have a been of an image problem due to their frequent use as attack dogs. The breed is a harrier, bred to be able to bring to bay larger animals and to run fast.

The combination of being notably faster than humans, bred for the hunt, and used in attack and guard duties due to their breed being suitable for hunting...

This leads to the common misperception of the breed as mean; they are very much not.

It also didn't help that they were used as the "badguys" in the Benji movies... and have been shownon several TV series as aggressive, if usually well disciplined, guard animals. (Magnum PI is the most memorable.)
But as with all medium-large and large dogs, their size alone presents a potential hazard to children.

I don't want to fan any flames, as I do accept that what both Deacon Borislav and Converted Viking is true, but...

As we've all been discussing this, the following story has appeared on the BBC website. Take a look at the footage. Yikes!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8368548.stm

Father Deacon:

This isn't getting political. It's just an exchange of ideas and opinions. Opinions, you know, are like sweat socks: eveyone's got two and most of them smell. Political? I define that as someone who has a public office and who lies to people. You don't fit that one.

BOB

Slavophile:

Yes these things happen and it's all the more tragic that the service dog is trained NOT to fight back while in harness and working.

BOB

Now this is the type of thing that just makes me absolutely furious ! Why was this dog loose? The owner should be bought to book. From the description of the fellow, he sounds sort of thugish. Drinking a can of beer in an underpass? He doesn't sound like a nice fellow to me.

In a very real way this was an attack on the lady. We had an incident here in Durham or Chapel Hill I can't remember which, where a drunk driver ran over a seeing eye dog and injured the person.

Converted Viking

Hi Alice:

I guess I am a big sinner then. I do care a great deal about my dogs and they are my buddies. It is true that God did give us these animals and we have been given dominion over them but I do believe that we are to be kind to them and not mistreat them. To so is a sin against Gods creation in my opinion. Dogs are amazing animals and I am still amazed at all of the good they can do for us. To this day I will not forget a young girl I saw working with her seeing eye dog, it was truly amazing.

In Christ:
Einar