Chihuahua TERROR?
I have to see this for myself. Sounds like a horror movie in the making.
Residents of a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, are battling to reclaim the streets from packs of Chihuahuas which have brought terror to wide-eyed kiddies obliged to run the canine gauntlet on their way to school. According to this chilling report on Fox, gangs of the diminutive mutts numbering as many as 12 roam the streets of …
1) Shoot.
2) Shovel.
3) Shutup.
Sadly, the "owners", who obviously have no clue as to how to train a canine good citizen, are the real problem ... and it's illegal to shoot humans for being stupid, so the problem will not go away.
Three or four house-pet dogs (from a couple-three houses) running together without human supervision are nearly a pack of feral dogs. Five running together are a feral pack, and will no longer listen to humans.
The size of the dawgs doesn't matter. It's the lack of direction of a human pack leader ... If you are the leader of your pack, I won't have to protect my livestock from your ill-behaved dogs.
EOF
Chances are that these dogs don't have an owner as such, - either run-aways, dumped by owners, or bred from existing un-owned dogs.
Unfortunately these days I would guess there's a good chance that a fair number were bought as fashion accessories (especially as they seem to be mostly small "handbag" dogs) then dumped when the owners realised that dogs aren't dolls and do crap, need feeding, cost vets bills, bite people when treated badly etc.
I've noticed that as a generalisation people who own very small dogs have a greater tendency to fail to discipline them, probably because for many people they are baby substitutes (think old dear with yappy bad mannered toy poodle or King Charles spaniel). They also seem to think that because they are small it isn't as important as with big dogs to make them behave, though the 2 worst injuries I've ever received from dogs were from a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire terrier and I've had a LOT to do with bigger dogs too.
I've been around a lot of dogs over the years, many of which their owners have said "You can say hello, but be careful sometimes he snaps" etc. Most of the time, I've had no issue with these dogs, ever. Even the big growlers, I however have had repeated problem with the yappy dogs, yorkie sized etc. Basically what I've found is big dogs are easier to judge.
There are big dogs who are soft as muck, other bigs dogs who are timid and will growl out of fear, until they know you're no threat... After which they're soft as muck. And others who will growl because they're unsocial, these ones should imo be muzzled at all times in public. Sadly they aren't, normally because their owners are idiots (these dogs have normally been abused, and eventually get taken off these crappy owners. But by that point the damage is done)
Then there are the little dogs. The ones who are soft as muck are still soft as muck. The timid ones will either run and hide, or they will snap without a moments notice. The vicious ones will snap without a moments notice.
Basically big dogs will tell you to bugger off, while little dogs with try to pick a fight. A bit like drunks. (Every time somebody has picked a fight with me, it's been a short arse)
It's really funny to see a large dog look downwards at the Chihuahua and then turn away in defeat. If there were thought bubbles, you'd see "OK, I'll go away. Yappy little dog, could eat it in a bite. What is it thinking? Why am I leaving..." with the words getting smaller and smaller.
Allegedly the temple dogs were crossed with small European breeds that were popular with sailors of the time (small is useful on a ship). After the temples were broken up large packs of the pre-chihuahua dogs then roamed the country side hunting and living feral "as wolves" - though on a smaller scale. It's from these frisky chaps the modern breed is a alleged to have been developed...
I once mentioned this story to a friend in the US, who coined the phrase "Land Piranha" in a cheesy Mexican accent...
The prospect of teacup-holding Englishmen thinking that these Chihuahuas would hold still for a bend-it-like-Beckham corner kick is amuuuuusing. You are gonna get bit!
I don't know why they just don't unleash a bunch of squirrels. That breaks up the chihuahua's pack thinking in seconds!
Dogs are best trained by feeding them porridge and tying a pretty bow on their tails. You then hop around on one foot for 30 minutes muttering "doggy be good, doggy be good". At the end of that 30 mins you will have the best trained pooch you could ever wish for.
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Has he gone yet?