Posted by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In a message dated 11/15/99 5:17:28 AM Central Standard Time, Marilyn Day
writes:
<< So much for my protective alarm system. >>
Marilyn: Your post gave me great big chuckles! It reminded me of when we
lived in the not-so-safe Capitol Hill, Washington, DC area called
"Southeast." I was living up against the edge of the wastelands of numerous
housing projects and felt threatened on the streets daily, even in broad
daylight (was mugged on my doorstep, knife to neck in '86 when I was
dane-less). Rockford (my 1st dane) changed all that in '92. The meanest,
baddest boys in the 'hood would cross the street to avoid passing within
yards of us! Little did they know poor Rock is the worst kind of wuss -- it
was a struggle getting him to pass garbage cans, trees with low branches,
bicylces (even if parked) and/or [God forbid] empty plastic bags blowing in
the wind! However, in my research of the breed I had read a most marvelous
book by a Brit (written in the '40's or '50's I think) and among other pearls
of wisdom, he advised that Danes by nature cannot be made into attack dogs,
or you would break their spirit. Instead, he advised anyone facing trouble
with a dane in tow to bend over and whisper loudly "Not yet," then to make
the hastiest escape possible! I employed his advice in one fashion or another
many times, pretending that Rock's skittish about-to-wet-himsef behaviors
were actually portents of a ferocious attack! Whenever anyone asked me,
"That dog bite?" I always replied, "Not unless you mess with us."! And this
produced the BEST dane passerby comment I have ever heard anywhere in our
travels all over the US: "OOOeee! That's the biggest f***-ing doberman I
have EVER seen!" Needless to say, I did not bother to educate that man about
the breed!"
LOL,
Melissa Greer Solomon
and Rockford, who now patrols the dangerous (e.g., squirrel-infested) woods
of Durham, NH!
