Dog Abuse??????

SaveTheAPBT · 05-28-2007, 05:47 PM

I sometimes dont have the time or energy to go running with my sweet loving pit bull terrier, and i know this breed requires a lot of excercise. so instead i get out the my bicycle and have him run beside me for about 10-15 mins. i usually am going in the middle hottest part of the day because this is when i have time. he seems to get really excited when i go get the bike out and for the first 10 mins of running is running ahead of me or right next to me. today a lot of people were in their yards doin various things and then all of the udden a car rushes ahead of me turns in front of me and and rolls down the window it is a older woman in about her late 60's almost hysterical. she is telling me that what im doing is animal abuse. she said that the hot pavement is bad for his feet. also saying i should be reported to authorities. i dont think i am doing anything wrong. i have been told that running your dog is the best way to excercise it because it works almost every muscle they have. i check his pads after everytime i run him and they have never bleed and/ or look like they are being damaged. Am i wrong for running my dog in the middle of the day on the pavement? if i am i will stop immidiately but marley seems to love doing it and im not sure how to get him the excercise he needs otherwise. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Renoman · 05-28-2007, 05:54 PM

Running your dog in the middle of the hottest part of the day is not best thing to do. The sun is at it's hottest, the pavement is at it's hottest and even though you're not running him long, it's still not the best time of day since they can overheat so quickly and the hot pavement can damage their pads.

The woman may have been over-reacting since she wasn't aware that you only took him out for 15 min.

Is there any way you can take him out early am like 4 or 5 a.m. - it's actually the best part of the day and quite nice for walking or running. And nosy old ladies are not usually out at this time

Ginny01OT · 05-28-2007, 06:53 PM

Cesar Milan is always rollerblading, bicycling, etc. with dogs--I don't know the time of day but I have seen clips of Florida and California where it is very hot. Ten minutes is not horrific as long as the dog is well hydrated and the humidity level is not too high. Use common sense, if it is too hot for you or there is a heat advisory, then it is wise to forego the bicycle and go for a little lazy walk.

RonE · 05-28-2007, 07:13 PM

During one particular winter it was unseasonably cold, even for Wisconsin.

My big lab needed his walks so I would put on a gazillion layers (polypropylene long underwear, neoprene face mask, ski goggles, gloves plus snowmobile mittens, etc.) It would take me fifteen minutes to get ready for a walk, and then I could barely bend my arms or legs, but the dog, with his undercoat, always acted like it was a lovely spring day.

Several people wrote letters to the editor. Others honked their horns at me and made obscene gestures. (They wouldn't roll down their windows. They might not roll back up.) It was actually kind of comical.

Use your own good judgement. Maybe err on the side of caution. But don't let someone driving by in an air-conditioned car set your exercise schedule.

Jen D · 05-28-2007, 07:26 PM

How about a mountain bike then you won't have to worrie about the people in cars!

DogAdvocat · 05-28-2007, 08:41 PM

As others have said, common sense should prevail. If you can walk comfortably on the pavement without shoes, then it should be okay for your dog. You need to remember that a dog will try to keep up with you even if he is injured or overheated. In the same way, dogs can get sunstroke and become overheated when lounging around the pool with you. You may enjoy soaking up the sun, and your dog may not want to leave you, and may suffer in silence. But I think even more importantly is that there have been a lot of accidents and injuries for both bike rider and dog if the dog makes a mistake and runs the wrong way. A dog who spots another dog, or a cat running across his path, may cut in front of the bike before you have a chance to react. If the dog normally runs behind or beside your bike, he can get tangled in the wheels and cause you to fall. Bike riders are at risk for car collisions normally, but if a car cuts you off suddenly, or backs down a driveway while your attention is on the dog, what chance do either of you have? Bike riders need all their attention on road hazards, and having a dog along just increases the risks.

So just beware of the hazards, and consider if you really want to take the risks and risk your dog's safety. Or maybe there's a safer way to do it?

Dogstar · 05-28-2007, 08:50 PM

If it makes you feel any better, I had a lady with a grossly obese dog (a neighbor of my parents) CALL ANIMAL CONTROL and report me for starving my corgi. Jester was on the thin side (18 month old male, typical for teenaged intact male dog) but hardly starving to death. And I got told at the dog wash a few weeks ago that I should "Not abuse my dog in public if I wanted to keep him" for *gasp* TRIMMING HIS NAILS. THE HORROR. (Okay, he was pretty horrified, but he was also being a brat- and he wasn't quicked, he just was being a turd.)

People are stupid. I think biking with your dog is great fun, and not any more dangerous than riding a bike normally- a breakaway springer type leash holder is nice (or a proper bikejoring set up, if your dog is trained- and I'd train the dog and use the second with a strong dog like a APBT) but I *would* try and find a way to do it in the cooler hours of the day by the end of this month, depending on where you live.

PsiElement · 05-28-2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogstar

If it makes you feel any better, I had a lady with a grossly obese dog (a neighbor of my parents) CALL ANIMAL CONTROL and report me for starving my corgi. Jester was on the thin side (18 month old male, typical for teenaged intact male dog) but hardly starving to death. And I got told at the dog wash a few weeks ago that I should "Not abuse my dog in public if I wanted to keep him" for *gasp* TRIMMING HIS NAILS. THE HORROR. (Okay, he was pretty horrified, but he was also being a brat- and he wasn't quicked, he just was being a turd.)

People are stupid. I think biking with your dog is great fun, and not any more dangerous than riding a bike normally- a breakaway springer type leash holder is nice (or a proper bikejoring set up, if your dog is trained- and I'd train the dog and use the second with a strong dog like a APBT) but I *would* try and find a way to do it in the cooler hours of the day by the end of this month, depending on where you live.

ROFL.. clipping nails is ABUSE. That's hilarious.

Some people are just nutso.

Jen D · 05-29-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogstar

If it makes you feel any better, I had a lady with a grossly obese dog (a neighbor of my parents) CALL ANIMAL CONTROL and report me for starving my corgi. Jester was on the thin side (18 month old male, typical for teenaged intact male dog) but hardly starving to death. And I got told at the dog wash a few weeks ago that I should "Not abuse my dog in public if I wanted to keep him" for *gasp* TRIMMING HIS NAILS. THE HORROR. (Okay, he was pretty horrified, but he was also being a brat- and he wasn't quicked, he just was being a turd.)

People are stupid. I think biking with your dog is great fun, and not any more dangerous than riding a bike normally- a breakaway springer type leash holder is nice (or a proper bikejoring set up, if your dog is trained- and I'd train the dog and use the second with a strong dog like a APBT) but I *would* try and find a way to do it in the cooler hours of the day by the end of this month, depending on where you live.

My mother has a corgi named Theo and I take that dog to the vet to have his nails done I would rather trim the nails on a lion then a corgi. It doesn't matter how cute and funny they can be!

Dogstar · 05-29-2007, 07:41 AM

Actually, my corgi Indy is fine- he doesn't LIKE it, but he tolerates it. (Just gives me dirty looks and sulks.) This was my collie, Mal, who is SUCH a drama queen. :P

Chloef_2799 · 05-29-2007, 02:21 PM

I would have to agree with what others are saying. Taking him for a walk during the hottest part of the day isn't the best thing for him and if the pavement is to hot for your bare feet it is too hot for him. But I think that lady went a bit nutso IMO.
But maybe you could wait until the end of the day when it isn't so hot or if you are up for it (I'm a morning person so it doesn't bug me to wake at the crack of dawn ready to go) you could wake early and walk your dog then? I understand you not wanting to go out sometimes, I get like that but then Chloe starts nipping at my feet and I have to take them for a walk haha!
Also be happy that lady was telling you to be more caring for your dog. Most of the people who own pit bulls on this forum are usually yelled at by people because they don't have their "ferocious baby killing machines" muzzled and caged.
I have had people yell at me for putting a harness on Chloe and recently some lady called me cruel for holding Sadie in my arms while we walked through petsmart and leting Chloe walk. Sadie would get into EVERYTHING and I had to bring them down the treat isle to get them some bully sticks and cheweys. I ignored her which I think made her even angrier. It was all I could do to not burst out laughing because she was swelling up and kept saying "hey lady, can't you hear me? Aren't you listening to what I am saying?"

xoxluvablexox · 05-29-2007, 02:32 PM

I think the hottest part of the day is from about 10 AM to 2 PM. If you walk before or after that time period then it will probably be more confortable for you and the dog.

Jen D · 05-29-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogstar

Actually, my corgi Indy is fine- he doesn't LIKE it, but he tolerates it. (Just gives me dirty looks and sulks.) This was my collie, Mal, who is SUCH a drama queen. :P

Is Mal the youngest? Other then the nails does the corgi try and run thing around the house more then the other?