fire and control

Or Dog-proofing your Child?

I was explaining to some people today that their male un-neutered Pit Bull was most likely escaping their enclosed kennel in the back yard because he was interested in mating with the dog next door (their female Pit is thankfully spayed).  As I was talking I, of course, had Mackenzie with me.  Normally when I am talking to people it involves talking about training so she had her eyes fixed on me and was in a sit position.  So I go on talking to this couple and I notice their little girl is very interested in Mackenzie.

A few seconds later I see that she has taken Mackenzie by the neck with both hands and is restraining/attempting to choke her.  I saw her out of the corner of my eye and was about to yell at her when she stopped.  I thought maybe it was an accident (Mackenzie was surprisingly calm about it so I figured the little girl hadn’t been applying enough pressure to actually bother her).  I continue talking to her parents and AGAIN the little girl does it.  This time however she moves from just grasping Mackenzie’s neck to actually holding her muzzle closed with one hand while sticking her face in Mackenzie’s face.

Thank goodness Mackenzie is pretty child-proof, (she’s been accidentally kicked, dragged, poked, pulled, stepped on, choked, etc. by kids yet she still loves most of them).  When I caught the little girl with her hand around Mackenzie’s mouth I said “Hey!  What are you doing?” and the father also got mad at her later for doing that.

I can’t imagine it would make for a good headline if that little girl did something like that one too many times to either one of their pit bulls…

—

In unrelated news I’m currently planning Spencer’s 3rd birthday party…

Every week on one of my days off we go to this elementary school park (which becomes a public city park after school hours) and let the dogs run around off-leash (which is probably illegal but there is usually NO ONE there at that time anyway).  I was thinking that since most of his birthday presents would relate to going to the park including but no limited to:

some new Chuck-it balls:

a new supercool Orka frisbee (no picture online since it’s a fairly new product I believe)

a Kong on a rope thingy:

that why shouldn’t we celebrate AT the park.  Usually we just meet one of my clients and her Aussie Matilda, but I was thinking we could invite a few more people and their dogs and let them all run around and play and have doggie birthday cake and take pictures.  Wow, I just got giddy thinking about it.